By Marie Claire Maison Arabia
Marie Claire Maison in conversation with Seema Al Mansouri on designing The Pearl Villa in Doha, Qatar, where light, materials, and colour shape a dialogue with the sea.
To design a home is to shape an experience. This belief lies at the heart of Seema Al Mansouri’s philosophy at Eva Interiors. With The Pearl Villa, a beachfront residence in Doha, Qatar, she delivers a project where materiality, light, and curated artistic elements create not only a sense of place, but a visual and emotional rhythm that reflects the essence of contemporary luxury. Al Mansouri’s approach to design is grounded in both personal history and professional rigor.
Her entry into the world of architecture was shaped by her father’s teachings, particularly his emphasis on values like perseverance, discipline, and learning. “By 2009, I had reached a point where I wanted to do more than just design; I wanted to shape experiences and redefine luxury interiors in a way that blended precision with creativity,” she shares. “Starting Eva Interiors was a leap of faith, but I believed that with hard work, patience, and a relentless pursuit of excellence, I could build something truly meaningful.”
She has since built a practice known not just for its creative fluency but also for its strategic clarity. “At Eva Interiors, we follow a system called the Four Disciplines of Execution, which helps us stay focused on our primary goals while allowing creativity to flourish. This means setting clear objectives, tracking progress, and optimizing operations without stifling innovation.” This interplay of vision and execution allows her to manage both the aesthetic and structural demands of complex projects, supported by a team that shares her values and focus.
Color is one of the most powerful tools in interior design; it dictates the mood, perception, and energy of a space.
Nowhere is this clarity more evident than in The Pearl Villa, where color plays a leading role. Set against a neutral and sophisticated base, soft shades of blue appear in painted ceilings, decorative elements, and furniture, drawing inspiration from the villa’s proximity to the sea. “Color is one of the most powerful tools in interior design; it dictates the mood, perception, and energy of a space,” says Al Mansouri. “In The Pearl Villa, we introduced soft color accents through painted walls, ceilings, and art pieces, ensuring that they seamlessly enhance rather than overpower the space.” For Al Mansouri, color is not just a visual tool: it is a way of shaping atmosphere and emotion.
This emotional register continues in her treatment of light. The villa features an electric blue chandelier that commands attention in one room, while in another, a suspended sculptural light installation drapes from the ceiling like a wave, capturing movement and reflecting light in subtle, kinetic ways. “Lighting is the silent storyteller of any space; it shapes ambiance, highlights textures, and adds dimension to a room,” she explains. “The electric blue chandelier, for instance, is not just a source of illumination but a dynamic centerpiece that creates drama and movement. Similarly, the floating light installation was designed to enhance the fluidity of the space while adding an ethereal quality.”
Lighting is the silent storyteller of any space; it shapes ambiance, highlights textures, and adds dimension to a room.
The Pearl Villa also stands out for its rich use of materials. Marble walls, ecru and beige tones, custom-made wooden elements, and intricately crafted ceilings form a cohesive visual language. Yet this outcome emerged from thoughtful intervention.
“When we were given the villa, there were already some materials with dark colors installed, which gave the space a certain rigidity,” Al Mansouri explains. “Our challenge was to soften this and introduce a sense of fluidity and warmth. To achieve this, we incorporated different shades of blue, carefully choosing a chandelier with a flowing, wave-like movement to counterbalance the static feel of the dark walls.” says Al Mansouri. “Additionally, we introduced lighter materials, such as marble, light wood, and carefully curated tables to break the visual weight of the dark elements. These choices were intentional, ensuring that the materials worked together to create a sense of harmony, contrast, and refinement.”
Art is never just decoration; it is a statement, a reflection of personality, and an integral part of storytelling in a space.
Art also occupies a central place in the villa’s narrative, with works by noted designers and hand-selected pieces that appear in every room. “Art is never just decoration; it is a statement, a reflection of personality, and an integral part of storytelling in a space,” explains Al Mansouri. “For The Pearl Villa, we worked closely with the client to curate pieces that resonate with their identity and journey. Some artworks were selected early in the design process to serve as focal points, while others emerged naturally as the interiors evolved.”
Located directly on the coast, The Pearl Villa offers expansive views of the sea, which Al Mansouri treated as an integral design partner rather than a backdrop. “A great design doesn’t compete with its surroundings; it harmonizes with them,” she explains. “We used a palette inspired by the natural elements—soft sandy hues, deep blues, and light-reflecting materials. Textures were chosen to mimic the organic movement of water, and large windows were strategically placed to frame the views rather than obstruct them.”
A great design doesn’t compete with its surroundings; it harmonizes with them.
The result is a home that reflects both a sense of place and a philosophy—one where nature, light, and design move in quiet alignment. Through her rigorous attention to materials, color, and composition, Seema Al Mansouri has transformed The Pearl Villa into a poetic expression of architectural intimacy on the coast of Doha.
