Downtown Design in conversation with S2 interiors

We speak to Samiha and Sneha, founders of S2 Interiors, a new boutique design firm, about entrepreneurship, price/quality ratio and investing in design.

S2 INTERIORS is a design story that was conceptualized when two like-minded individuals bound their energy, design approach and enthusiasm to create a fresh, young interior design practice.

With an aim to push the creative boundaries in each project, the duo seek to maintaining long term, close working relationships with clients and the design community.

Samiha is Emirati, and contributes passion, knowledge and business acumen, while Portuguese-born Sneha Portugal has strong architectural and design credentials earned at top design firms in Dubai and Porto. Being well travelled and educated, both have a clear vision of what they can achieve and contribute to the design landscape in the UAE.

With the UAE’s growing design industry, how do you differentiate your brand?  

The DNA at S2 INTERIORS is our highly-personalised approach to design with a sense of materiality, art, light, living -  the bridge between architecture and design. Working with an ever-experimental attitude and dedicated team we ensure that we bring something exclusive to each space while tailoring the vision of our clients. Collaborating with talented designers from around the world we offer our clients a global reach by giving them access to the latest design trends in the international market.

To evolve a more diverse portfolio of design talent in the UAE, how can we as a market optimize a creative boom with young entrepreneurs like yourself?

Dubai is definitely on the right track to creating a design economy that’s driven by a rapid expansion of start-ups and entrepreneurs. With entities such as Dubai Design District, Dubai Design and Fashion Council and Tejar being set up as a platform to encourage creative business, we believe that there are constant opportunities waiting to be tapped into that will help emphasize and promote a creative boom. However we find that there is a need to fill the gap for commercially-minded youth aiming to enter the world of enterprise by creating programs, and training them to turn their unique business ideas into a reality.

With the global economy in recession, how do you as designers implement quality design and furnishings while maintaining lower cost? Do you apply these principles to your projects?

We don’t believe that good design has to be equivalent of high budgets. Transparency and communication is very important in the design process and we always start by approaching the client to discuss a realistic budget.  At S2 INTERIORS we face this challenge with most of our renovation projects be it Residential, Commercial or Hospitality.  We always advise our clients and guide them on what to prioritize and find creative ways to work within a budget.  We make sure that the investment is in the right features, and that the end result covers the brief and expectations.

Expo 2020 is around the corner and Dubai aims to have over 400 hotels, many of which are 3 and 4 star projects- how do you think design in these hotels will be reflected?

Currently, we think there is a lack of stylish yet affordable accommodation in Dubai, which is evident by the development of more urban, no frills hotel brands by big operators. At present we are working on the same concept for a 4 star Hotel project and our focus is to offer guests affordable luxury.  We are optimizing dead space by designing more interesting social living areas and using artwork to enhance the user experience. By combining contemporary design integrated with technology we offer a compelling proposition for both owner and consumer. CitizenM and MamaShelter are great examples.

In achieving quality design at lower prices a designer must choose what elements are of more importance to invest in, what is your take on this? What design elements do you feel are most important to invest in?

The quality of the design is truly reflected in the quality of the design package, details and execution.  It’s all in the details!  We always advise our clients to invest in the right elements such as durable and high quality finishes to keep the space timeless and durable. Lighting is key and always gives a huge impact to any project.

Give us an example of a project you have worked on with unique challenges?

We recently completed the interior renovation of Rhong Tiam, a Thai restaurant in Dubai. We had to work with an existing structure and space while adding layers that could relate to the Client’s vision and brand identity. To upgrade the interiors, we had to make instrumental design decisions, dictated by the resources available. We started with a dialogue to identify the brand’s key messages and how it could be reflected in the customer experience, without structural changes. As a result, we introduced burnt orange to the colour scheme in fabrics, created metal mesh screens to create different seating pockets, added green elements, and designed feature shelving for vintage objects that the owner bought in New York. As there was lack of visibility of the restaurant from the street side, we added custom-made lighting features made from old bicycle wheels and bulb installations to entice customers to walk in. We also designed industrial communal tables to add to the casual café and laid back feel that the client wanted to achieve.

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