<em>Martin Meijer, who moved to Dubai in January, is the managing director of the residential design and build company KLC-Dubai.</em> I grew up all over England; we moved a lot when I was a child and I've lived in London - both East and West - and in the home counties. In London we lived in a tower block that was once featured in a magazine for being rife with ne'er-do-wells. My mother and stepfather worked really hard to get us out of there and into the suburbs. I also lived in Winchester, where I bought, refurbished and ran an old rundown pub. I stripped it out and turned it into quite an arty, funky place. The first time I left the UK was to go to China, where I spent a very culturally broadening year as a designer. Well, my early home life was quite unsettling. My dad disappeared when I was four and my mum, a student nurse, moved us around a lot. I was looked after by nannies and relatives and I remember running away when I was five to get to my nanny's house. When I think of home from a design perspective, I think of it as what an individual or family needs. For me, it is a place to relax and recharge. Absolutely. I got into this field partly because I wanted to see things established and built. I always liked to make my own things though; I once built a sofa because I couldn't afford the one in the shop. I think I owe some credit for my current career to my stepfather. He once told me that, unless I applied myself, I was wasting my time at school and should get a job - which I did. I started working as an engineering technician, which I found quite boring, so in my naivety I went to the unemployment centre and asked for a job as a trainee architect. And they found me one! I was really lucky to get it and it put me on the path to what I do now. I've been quite fortunate in that the company I work for has provided a lovely house in The Meadows. I furnished it all myself, with pieces from various stores in Dubai. I also brought some art and sculpture from England to give it my own personal touch. It does, to a degree. The colour scheme is quite neutral, with earthy tones. It doubles up as a meeting place and occasionally as a showroom, so I've probably pared down my personality to make the style a little more commercial and give it broader appeal. I think my style is quite varied, as I tend to design based on my experiences and surroundings. I don't have a specific style, I have many styles from which I draw and these have been gathered from observation, fashion, media, experiences and clients. My tastes are quite modern, and I like to create spaces that are uncluttered, simple and usable. I'm a declutterer, definitely. If I had more time I would probably be tidy too. I tend to put things down and pick them up later. From a financial viewpoint, it's always best to spend as much money as you can in the best location, but for me, it's what's inside the house that really counts. Bringing my own personal touches to reflect my roots. Moving to Dubai, I brought a few key pieces, mainly art. I have some paintings, including a picture of Ganesh, which reflects my Malaysian roots, and a Chinese chair, which was given to me by my mum. I didn't ship a whole lot over. As a child, one of my fondest memories was of staying with a couple who owned a sweet shop. The colours and smells have remained a strong memory, but the overriding impression was of the family's warmth to each other - something I didn't have growing up. My favourite home as an adult was the tiny flat I had near the pub in Winchester, because I put so much blood, sweat and tears into it. It used to be an old blacksmith's shed and I totally refurbished the tiny front room and mezzanine floor. I stripped down the walls, polished and rubbed and waxed the exposed beams. I rewired all the lighting to add up lighting into the roof. A friend who was a steelworker put in a steel surface in the kitchen, which I built from scratch. I laid new tiles and gave the whole place the ambience of a contemporary barn. I do like to get hands-on although I only do that for myself, not for other people. It's quite hard for me to answer that one. There is a side of me that would like a settled home and another part that would like to travel the world in a Winnebago. If I was to settle, my dream home would be half country manor and half Magic Planet. I love the history and the connection with family that comes with old places, as well as the sense of roots that I'm still trying to find for myself. The Magic Planet part appeals to the kid in me; I like to have fun. Having grown up with many different homes, I don't feel a need to be in one place all the time - at least not until I have children of my own. I think that's when I will put down some roots.