- Interior
The Ranch is the first American project of VSHD Design, an interior design studio from Dubai. With an enormous surface area and a long series of regulations, the house turned out to be a challenge for the competent studio. The result, however, is impressive. The interior architects chose to carefully combine all the elements so that the interior of The Ranch has a good vintage-modern balance.
VSHD Design uses innovative techniques to create designs that are timeless. The studio, headed by interior designer Rania Hamed, has clients in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Cairo, London, Amman and as of recent also in Florida. The Ranch is located within the Four Seasons Resort of Orlando in Florida. The property proved to be a huge challenge because, in addition to the general regulations, additional building regulations applied due to the unique location. The additional rules stated that the house had to fit stylistically with the neighbouring properties. Despite the challenges, Hamed managed to create a home in a style that combines traditional and contemporary elements.
The covered inner garden is the space that connects every part of the house.
Structural elements were hidden as much as possible, with the exception of the heavy wooden beams, to meet the modern style that the customers had in mind. The Tuscan style of the house was generally restrained but Hamed added a reference to it here and there, including a courtyard garden, and grey stones on the facade windows. The colour palette is sober with black and white as the main colours.
The customers wanted the house to have a boutique atmosphere, so the architects opted for large windows and luxurious materials. Wellness also played a part in the home’s stylistic transformation, this is prevalent in the bathroom design which features a large space with individual shower and toilet cubicles. A small steel spiral staircase leads to the home gym with a steam cabin. In The Ranch's enormous surface area there is enough space for six individual suites on the first floor. Each suite is designed in its own style and has a kitchenette and an elegant bathroom. ‘The client’s brief focused on a concept where each room should have a completely different, yet thoroughly modern theme,’ explains Hamed.
The covered inner garden is the space that connects every part of the house. In this area, all the different styles come together and form a harmonious centre. The Mediterranean concept of an indoor garden is combined with the modern, industrial black and white colours of the walls and window frames and the eclectic furniture. The Ranch, with its large surface area and many prescriptions, was a unique challenge for the Dubai studio. The interior architects were able to successfully combine all the elements of this huge house.
Photography by Koen Van Damme