Unveiling the World of Interior Design: Anam Clarke's Insights

Step into the world of interior design and architecture with Anam Clarke, a passionate and experienced interior designer with over 15 years of experience in the UK and the Middle East. Her artistic flair and attention to detail have made her a renowned figure in the industry, and her commitment to excellence is unparalleled. 

As the owner of the Designer's Studio, she has dedicated herself to training the next generation of designers in interior design, fashion, and the arts. Her journey has taken her to some of the most luxurious and eclectic homes, and now, as a judge for Dubai's Top 50 Homes competition, she's sharing her valuable insights with us. 

In this interview, Anam delves into what sets a winning home apart from the rest, her personal design style, and the sub-category that she's most excited to judge. She also offers invaluable advice to nominees on how to make their homes or design projects stand out. Get ready to be inspired and discover the power of design through the eyes of Anam Clarke.

Could you tell us a little bit about yourself? 

My name is Anam Clarke, and I’m an interior designer and architect with over 15 years of experience in the UK and the Middle East. I own the Designer’s Studio, a training institute for interior design, fashion, and the arts. 

What made you excited to be a judge on Dubai’s Top 50 Homes? 

I’m so excited to be on the judging panel of Dubai’s Top 50 Homes. It’s a really unique concept; a one-of-a-kind competition that is inclusive of every designer, homeowner, or anyone that loves design out there. 

What advice would you have for nominees to make their home or design project stand out?

The advice I’d give nominees to make their home or project stand out is to really showcase their personality within the space itself. Here in the competition, we are looking for homes, not houses, so we want to see how you live in this space and how this space depicts who you are, or who your client is as a person. 

What is your favourite design trend of the moment, and why? 

Having designed so many houses over the past 15 years, from large to small, luxury to eclectic, and many in between. I have to say that my personal design style is classic modern, with a juxtaposition of classic architecture and modern furniture. Everyone has their own design style within their home, and that's what makes it unique, which is what we really want to see in this competition. 

If you could design a room for anyone in the world, who would it be and why?

For me, it would be Kelly Wearstler, who is a famous interior designer. Her style, eclecticism, and overall aesthetic are absolutely beautiful. She really brings her personality to every space that she does; if you look at any of her client’s homes, you’ll know it's a Kelly Wearstler home. 

What were you excited about in the homes on Dubai’s Top 50 Homes?

To me, a home has to be cohesive and the whole flow of the house has to work well, from one space to another, so I was definitely looking for that. On top of everything else, I've looked at the finishing touches of the home. How is the styling? Have you added unique elements to the space? We also looked at how you’ve used the space, whether big or small and highlighted its functionality.  

What do you think sets the winning home apart from the rest?

It was so important for me to see the personality of the space, focusing on whether it has fulfilled the client’s brief, and how the connectivity of the space has worked together, from exterior to interior. I wanted to see the flow of the space, how functional it is, and finally, the styling. 

What sub-category were you most excited to judge and why? 

For me, it was the entertainment area. I’m an entertainer myself, I love to have guests around, and host parties and events so I was definitely looking out for that one. 

What's the next stage of the competition? 

After nominations closed, the judges all got together to decide who won each category. With so many incredible homes shortlisted, it was not an easy process at all. But, the winners have been chosen and they will be announced on the 8th of June at the Top 50 Homes Awards Event. I'm so excited for us to showcase and celebrate all of the homes at the event and for the winners to be declared.