Dubai Property Transformation: From Run-Down Villa to Bespoke Family Show Home
A British couple converted a Dh4.4 million villa in The Meadows into a five-bedroom residence featuring a sunken living room and home gym. The renovation serves as both a primary residence and a physical portfolio for a UAE-based furniture design brand.
Key takeaways
- A British couple invested Dh4.4 million to transform a derelict three-bedroom villa into a luxury five-bedroom residence.
- Major structural changes included a sunken living room, a kitchen expansion, and converting a garage into a private gym.
- The property serves a dual purpose as a family home and a showcase for the owner's UAE furniture brand, Custom No.9.
What Happened
Furniture designer Amy Durnford and entrepreneur Fred Durnford purchased a three-bedroom villa in Dubai’s The Meadows community for Dh4.4 million in the summer of 2021. After a year of searching for a renovation project, the couple selected a run-down property specifically for its mature greenery and park-facing location. Following the purchase, they executed an extensive structural overhaul that converted the original layout into a modern five-bedroom home with four bathrooms.
The transformation involved closing the attached garage to create a home gym and doubling the size of the kitchen. Significant architectural changes included extending the ground floor into the original terrace area and excavating the garden level to install a sunken living room designed to blend indoor and outdoor spaces. Upstairs, the footprint was expanded in three separate locations to add two additional bedrooms and a home office.
Why It Matters
The project reflects a shift in resident behavior following the Covid-19 pandemic, where tenants opted for long-term property investments over apartment rentals. For the owners, the villa functions as more than a residence; it acts as a live-in show home for Durnford’s furniture and interiors brand, Custom No.9. The renovation demonstrates how investors are targeting older, established Emaar communities to create bespoke luxury properties that suit specific lifestyle needs rather than relying on standard developer layouts.
Key Facts
- The property was purchased in 2021 for Dh4.4 million in The Meadows.
- The original three-bedroom floor plan was expanded to five bedrooms through three separate upstairs extensions.
- Structural modifications included converting the garage into a gym and adding a maid’s room with an en suite.
- The garden features mature trees approximately 25 to 30 meters tall, which were a primary factor in the purchase decision.
- The home is located within a five-minute walk of the Meadows Town Centre and near major community lakes.
- The owners relocated from rental properties on Palm Jumeirah and Dubai Marina to establish permanent roots in the UAE.
Sources reviewed
Project Chintan independently synthesized and analyzed information cross-checked across the sources listed above.
