Rasheda Khatun has drawn on her knowledge of colour theory and its application to literally set the tone of her Dubai Marina home. As we move through her apartment, different feelings are subtly evoked as the colour emphasis changes from room to room, reflecting the varying functions and requirements of each space.
Khatun describes herself as a wealth and wellness adviser and believes that effective wealth management is a foundation for all aspects of life and well-being. She runs her own company, Rasheda Khatun – Live the Life You Love, and has lived in a two-bed corner unit of Ariyana Tower, Dubai Marina, for a little over four years.
“Previously, this apartment had a lot of orange in it, which is fast moving and I was constantly on the go,” she says. “But then, I realised that what I needed in my life was a bit of tranquillity and space to slow down, because I believe that when you give yourself that time to breathe, you get more clarity and, ironically, you get more accomplished overall.”
Khatun selected a gorgeous shade of teal for the living room and has noticed that her guests revel in her new environment and appear more relaxed. “I think they even speak more quietly and more slowly,” she laughs. “What I noticed was when I looked at teal, it was immediately calming and that my breathing changed.”
So, the refurbishment was a journey in colour? “Yes, you start with that, and then you introduce other complementary elements. If you keep it too Zen, people will come round and do Ohm sounds. I don’t want that, which is why I needed the jazzy carpet!”
To complement the striking black-and-white rugs bought at Ikea, Khatun sourced zigzag navy-and-white cotton twill online for sofa cushions. A happy accident over the intended dimensions resulted in some of the cushions being a little smaller than anticipated, but the variance in cushion sizes and fabric on the sofa adds interest and texture, and help to draw the other elements of the room together. “I love a shabby chic/modern look and because I wanted something homey and grounding, I also brought in earth, green and neutral colours and introduced natural elements with wood furnishings.”
An unusual, high-backed arm chair in an “eccentric patterned paisley” was brought in to the new scheme when it was reupholstered in a textured oatmeal fabric. A new set of blinds in the same material was also made and, as the previous ones had never been fully drawn, they drop only halfway, thus framing the floor-to-ceiling windows for just half the expense.
In fact, Khatun is full of praise for Azores Furniture in Satwa, as her budget for making sofa cushions, pillows, a bed throw, reupholstering two chairs, stools and a sofa bed, as well as making the new blinds, came to under Dh4,500, including fabric — which is probably less than the price of just one small sofa elsewhere.
Khatun’s favourite find is a pair of wooden side tables from The One Fusion, which she chose for their functionality, likening them to the usefulness of those stackable three-tier coffee tables popular in the 1970s. Like chess pieces, they can be moved about, used for drinks or to put feet on, and “the shape is so cool”.
A focal point for the living room comes in the form of a long wooden sideboard supported by a pair of large earthen urns from Marina, which sits between a pair of wall-mounted French-country mirrors from The One Fusion. The clean lines of the open furniture are maintained as a clever box that contains the plugs and wiring of the TV above has been constructed, painted in teal and hung (unnoticed) beneath the sideboard.
On admiring one of the apartment’s large green bamboo plants, I realise on (very close) inspection that it is an artificial silk plant. Khatun says that it has been a very convincing investment: “When my father was here, he called to tell me he had watered all my plants – and I had bought quite a few like this”.
Khatun has set aside a dedicated space for working from home and created a clean and ordered office environment in the second room by swapping a double bed for a newly upholstered sofa bed. The room is white, with “blasts of colour” to add zing to creative thought time. “I believe the stimulation of vibrant colours and contrast immediately shifts your brain into gear and I don’t think you would be as productive in an all-white room,” she says.
A giant-pencil lamp is a quirky feature of the office and was a birthday gift from Khatun’s designer-friend, Janelle Malone, with whom she worked on various aspects of the apartment’s redesign. Both are fans of Pinterest, considering it an excellent source of inspiration and a means of exploring colour combinations for interiors before taking the plunge.
The light-filled master bedroom builds on a neutral base, with fun and feminine hot pink accents. As Khatun reflects: “You have always got to keep a bit of jazz in the bedroom.” A corner focal point and an ideal spot for reading comes in the form of a hot pink chair, another reupholstery project. Khatun admits that she was never, ever drawn to sit there in its previous white leather incarnation but, since it’s been lovingly zinged up, it’s now a space from where she likes to “survey the empire” and admire the urban landscape stretching beyond.
Identical white frames pop from the wall and contain a series of Pucci design prints in both the bedroom and the living room. It’s subtle and effective, as they act as mood boards with no particular image standing out, and work collaboratively as a group to reflect back the colour themes of the design scheme.
Khatun has recently taken part in UAE Money Talks, an online programme with MyDubaiMyCity.com. The production team were so drawn to the ambience and configuration of her apartment that they filmed the set in her home. “That was really cool; on this very sofa, so watch this space,” she says. It would appear that she is right in her belief that applied colour theory certainly does play a part in shaping your environment — and also driving forward exciting future projects.
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Company%20Profile
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65
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirectors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EScott%20Beck%2C%20Bryan%20Woods%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAdam%20Driver%2C%20Ariana%20Greenblatt%2C%20Chloe%20Coleman%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
SPECS
Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
Price: From Dh599,000
On sale: Now
Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Disclaimer
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
Top New Zealand cop on policing the virtual world
New Zealand police began closer scrutiny of social media and online communities after the attacks on two mosques in March, the country's top officer said.
The killing of 51 people in Christchurch and wounding of more than 40 others shocked the world. Brenton Tarrant, a suspected white supremacist, was accused of the killings. His trial is ongoing and he denies the charges.
Mike Bush, commissioner of New Zealand Police, said officers looked closely at how they monitored social media in the wake of the tragedy to see if lessons could be learned.
“We decided that it was fit for purpose but we need to deepen it in terms of community relationships, extending them not only with the traditional community but the virtual one as well," he told The National.
"We want to get ahead of attacks like we suffered in New Zealand so we have to challenge ourselves to be better."
BRAZIL%20SQUAD
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Email sent to Uber team from chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi
From: Dara
To: Team@
Date: March 25, 2019 at 11:45pm PT
Subj: Accelerating in the Middle East
Five years ago, Uber launched in the Middle East. It was the start of an incredible journey, with millions of riders and drivers finding new ways to move and work in a dynamic region that’s become so important to Uber. Now Pakistan is one of our fastest-growing markets in the world, women are driving with Uber across Saudi Arabia, and we chose Cairo to launch our first Uber Bus product late last year.
Today we are taking the next step in this journey—well, it’s more like a leap, and a big one: in a few minutes, we’ll announce that we’ve agreed to acquire Careem. Importantly, we intend to operate Careem independently, under the leadership of co-founder and current CEO Mudassir Sheikha. I’ve gotten to know both co-founders, Mudassir and Magnus Olsson, and what they have built is truly extraordinary. They are first-class entrepreneurs who share our platform vision and, like us, have launched a wide range of products—from digital payments to food delivery—to serve consumers.
I expect many of you will ask how we arrived at this structure, meaning allowing Careem to maintain an independent brand and operate separately. After careful consideration, we decided that this framework has the advantage of letting us build new products and try new ideas across not one, but two, strong brands, with strong operators within each. Over time, by integrating parts of our networks, we can operate more efficiently, achieve even lower wait times, expand new products like high-capacity vehicles and payments, and quicken the already remarkable pace of innovation in the region.
This acquisition is subject to regulatory approval in various countries, which we don’t expect before Q1 2020. Until then, nothing changes. And since both companies will continue to largely operate separately after the acquisition, very little will change in either teams’ day-to-day operations post-close. Today’s news is a testament to the incredible business our team has worked so hard to build.
It’s a great day for the Middle East, for the region’s thriving tech sector, for Careem, and for Uber.
Uber on,
Dara
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
Tree of Hell
Starring: Raed Zeno, Hadi Awada, Dr Mohammad Abdalla
Director: Raed Zeno
Rating: 4/5
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
SERIE A FIXTURES
Saturday (All UAE kick-off times)
Cagliari v AC Milan (6pm)
Lazio v Napoli (9pm)
Inter Milan v Atalanta (11.45pm)
Sunday
Udinese v Sassuolo (3.30pm)
Sampdoria v Brescia (6pm)
Fiorentina v SPAL (6pm)
Torino v Bologna (6pm)
Verona v Genoa (9pm)
Roma V Juventus (11.45pm)
Parma v Lecce (11.45pm)
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
Company%20Profile
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The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
RedCrow Intelligence Company Profile
Started: 2016
Founders: Hussein Nasser Eddin, Laila Akel, Tayeb Akel
Based: Ramallah, Palestine
Sector: Technology, Security
# of staff: 13
Investment: $745,000
Investors: Palestine’s Ibtikar Fund, Abu Dhabi’s Gothams and angel investors
EXPATS
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Brief scores:
Toss: Rajputs, elected to field first
Sindhis 94-6 (10 ov)
Watson 42; Munaf 3-20
Rajputs 96-0 (4 ov)
Shahzad 74 not out
