It all began, as many great stories do, with a casual chat between friends, on a balcony no less. Fast forward a few years, and Palm Living has blossomed into one of Dubai’s most exciting interior design forces. What started as a creative side hustle by two expat friends has evolved into a full-scale, multifaceted business that marries fashion and interiors with seamless flair.
We sat down with co-founders Karen Dougall and Nikki Martin, who offered a candid look into how their journey began, the challenges they’ve overcome, and how they’ve built a brand that’s shaping the design landscape in the Middle East.
From Scotland to the Sands
Though both hail from Scotland, Karen from near Glasgow, Nikki from just outside Edinburgh, their Dubai journey wasn’t exactly in sync. Nikki arrived first, lured by a career in fashion buying. Karen, working in fashion design at the time, knew of Nikki through industry circles. They had crossed paths when Nikki travelled to Scotland to view Karen’s collections.
Fast-forward a few years, and when Karen decided to move to Dubai, she reached out to Nikki for advice. “She was like, ‘I’m coming,’ and I was like, ‘Okay!’” Nikki recalls. Karen, moving with her husband and daughter, was relieved to have a familiar face already in the city. “It made all the difference.”
Palm Living: The Accidental Brand
Palm Living wasn’t born from a boardroom strategy session. It began with two women furnishing their own homes in the Palm Jumeirah and struggling to find pieces they loved. “So, we started buying things, photographing them in our homes, and sharing them on Instagram,” says Karen.
And people noticed. “Suddenly, people were asking us to design their spaces. We were like, ‘Okay?’” Nikki laughs. “We learned on the job, figured it out as we went.”
Their first big client, Lisa, is still someone they speak about fondly. That project helped solidify their reputation, and their workflow. “We’d create a space, photograph it, and remarket it. That formula still works for us,” Karen explains.
Scaling with Soul
Today, Palm Living is far more than a home styling company. They’ve become manufacturers, with three factories, two showrooms in Dubai, and over 100 employees. They’ve invested in machinery, fleet vehicles, and in-house teams that include architects, carpenters, electricians, and designers.
“We never thought it would become our full-time job, let alone this,” Nikki says. “It started for fun, as a creative outlet, and now it’s our world.”
But they’re not resting on their laurels. The team is in the midst of a restructure, exploring new directions like commercial projects and large-scale renovations. “Now that we can handle everything in-house, we’re not limited. We’re evolving,” Karen says.
Was there a particular moment where you thought – this is going to be big?
There was. I think for me, it was when we opened up the brand manufacturing. Honestly, it had just kept getting bigger and bigger with the projects. Like, we started off doing apartments, and we used to live in apartments, then we were doing these mega, like 50-million-dirham villas, and I was like, whoa, this is getting crazy.
And then now that we have our own manufacturing. I think at every point that we’ve opened something new, it hits you. I’m quite hard to faze, but every time we’ve launched something, I get really emotional. And I’m not a crier! But when we opened the HQ, I cried.
We take advice, we listen to people, but then we come back to each other and figure it out.
Your business has grown so fast, which is amazing. But what are some of the hardest lessons you’ve had to learn along the way?
Honestly, staying humble. Staying grounded. Not getting caught up in your own success, because it’s short-lived unless you build it for the long term.
Also, trust. Trusting each other. That’s a huge one. A lot of people have said to us, “How are you still friends?” Because success can change people. When money’s involved, people can turn into different animals. It’s a real thing.
Another thing is be good to your staff. We’ve learned that early on. Because they’re the ones who actually run the business day to day. Yes, we’re driving the vision, but they’re the ones in the factory at 7am, the drivers in the heat lifting furniture, the team in the showroom. Everyone matters. Treat them well, and they’ll look after you.
Let’s talk trends. What are you seeing in luxury design right now?
We’re definitely seeing a move toward more natural, darker tones, richer textures, darker woods, jewel tones. There’s a shift away from minimalism and stark white kitchens. People are embracing more personality, more warmth.
What about sustainability. Do you think it’s important, and how do you incorporate it?
Absolutely. We use a lot of natural materials, marble, travertine, limestone, that last for years. The table we’re sitting at right now is six years old and still beautiful.
We’re not exactly cheap either, so people don’t throw our pieces away. They’re buying something built to last. We also work with durable fabrics and natural fibers, and we’re really mindful about longevity.
We both came from fashion backgrounds, and fast fashion never sat well with us. Now, it’s all about timelessness. Even in my wardrobe, I’ve moved to more of a capsule approach, buying fewer, better-quality pieces.
What’s the most luxurious thing in your own home?
Karen: Oh, definitely my dining table. It’s a one-of-a-kind 2.7m green onyx marble table we made ourselves. It’s incredibly unique, we can’t even replicate it because the slab was a one-off. It’s insanely opulent.
Nikki: I love my coffee tables and bedside tables, we did them all in-house in onyx too. I also have a big TV stand, which feels pretty luxurious to me! But honestly, everything in my home was done through our studio, so it all feels special.
