Words by Allegra Salvadori | Photography by Shuga Films
Villa Imperiale by Etereo is a bold counterpoint to the city’s minimalist landscape — a maximalist dream where design meets individuality. Perched in Dubai’s Emirates Hills, this 1,700 sqm residence is a manifesto for modern maximalism.
When a young European family moved to the UAE, they found themselves in a villa that was beautiful but sterile. “It felt too understated, almost soulless,” recalls designer Stefania Digregorio, co-founder of Etereo. “Their request was simple: give us a home that tells our story.”
What followed was a two-year journey of transformation, an AED 50 million reinvention where no surface, room, or corner was left untouched.
A Story Told in Stone and Light
The interiors unfold like chapters in a novel. In the living room of IMPERIALE, light pours in through vast windows. Refined materials like tobacco orange leather, bronze painted wood and sheer metallic fabrics coupled with the choicest selection of every high-end Italian furniture brand worth its salt – right from Fendi to Molteni&C, Poltrona Frau, Giorgetti, Minotti and more, adds diversity in terms of texture and pattern. Every space is embellished with custom artwork and sculptural pieces to enhance the character of the villa. The effect is at once opulent and intimate, an elegant response to anyone searching for modern home decor living room inspiration that feels layered rather than sparse.
Across the villa, stone is a protagonist: Calacatta and Onyx gleam under bespoke chandeliers by Kolektiv Ateliers, while rare Patagonia and Deep Blue marble transform walls into works of art. These are not just surfaces, but examples of wall decor ideas at their most ambitious—natural materials used like brushstrokes in a painting.
The Heart of the Home
The kitchen is both stage and sanctuary. Handcrafted in Italy by IFO, its sweeping Patagonia marble island and walnut cabinetry speak of artisanal precision, while bronze detailing and Gaggenau and Miele appliances make the space as functional as it is theatrical. This is kitchen decor elevated to art—a place where family meals, conversations, and gatherings converge in the warm glow of stone and wood.
Rooms with Rhythm
Every room in Villa Imperiale has its own rhythm. The office is dark and powerful, clad in green stone and chevron parquet. The cinema is pure theatre—New York’s Luna Park reimagined as a private playground. The spa, by contrast, is designed like a cocoon, where water, light, and scent collaborate in silence.
The master bedroom offers another shift in tone: serene neutrals with accents of red, a study in modern bed design softened by bespoke textiles. Wardrobes are built-in with a sculptural presence, suggesting modern wardrobe design that feels both architectural and personal. Even in the children’s rooms, playfulness is treated with the same level of craft—bright, inventive, and entirely their own.
Mirrors, Art, and Conversation Pieces
Maximalism here is not clutter, but curation. Circulation spaces act as pauses, punctuated with sculptural lighting or reflective accents. Decorative mirrors catch passing light, expanding perspectives and enriching the flow. Some are vintage mirrors sourced with the clients, others crafted to specification, but all contribute to an atmosphere where walls become canvases. In many rooms, art and marble together serve as wall decor ideas, transforming surfaces into stories.
Coffee tables by the likes of Minotti and Fendi Casa act as sculptural anchors in the lounges—an elegant nod to modern coffee table design that merges form and function.
A Garden that Breathes
Outside, the villa dissolves into a lush tropical landscape. Banyan, baobab, and other exotic species create a private jungle, engineered through advanced irrigation to thrive in Dubai’s climate. Lounges, terraces, and an infinity pool extend the interior mood outdoors, reminding us that true luxury is not confined to walls.
A Manifesto for Maximalism
Villa Imperiale is not shy. It embraces scale, spectacle, and individuality, challenging Dubai’s prevailing narrative of “quiet luxury.” For Etereo, the project is proof that maximalism, when guided by vision and trust, can achieve elegance rather than excess.
“Curation is everything,” Digregorio insists. “It’s about knowing when to be bold, when to pause, and how to let materials and objects speak. At Imperiale, we created a home that is fearless yet deeply personal—a place of joy.”
If you enjoyed Villa IMPERIALE, you might also like our feature on ETEREO x Studio TWENTYSEVEN.
