Dubai-based interior designer Farahmandy on the secret language of spatial luxury

Spaces are nothing but open expanses until brick and mortar lend them shape. Yet, even then, structures remain concrete shells, devoid of soul. What transmutes an empty space into a throbbing arena of life is the aura evoked by a tastefully designed interior. Just as a house isn’t a home without people, a piece of real estate cannot become a charming edifice without the ambient features that lend it character and spirit.

It is this belief in the emotional and artistic alchemy of interiors that 34-year-old Yasmin Farahmandy brings to her curations at Y Design Interior — a Dubai-based design house that doesn’t just furnish spaces but also confers beauty upon them through her unique aesthetic sensibilities. As founder of the brand, Farahmandy doesn’t merely match colour with texture or form with function; she orchestrates moods, tells stories, and reflects the temperament of each space, its occupants, and its users. Her work isn’t about the mindless enhancement of built environments — it’s about giving soul to silence, warmth to walls, and meaning to matter.

When an informed and globally seasoned designer like Farahmandy sets out to lend a distinct air to a room or a vacant hall, she approaches it with the intuition and finesse of a fashion couturier. She curates atmospheres that mirror the sensibilities of her clients, interwoven with her own interpretations of art and spatial storytelling. Every corner becomes a canvas; every object, a deliberate expression.

Inspiration, for Farahmandy, is less about trends and more about the textures of life — art, poetry, nature, and above all, people. Her design instincts are finely attuned to human rhythm: the way light bends into a room at dusk or the silent poetry of a shadow cast on a rug. “I’m deeply influenced by fashion, architecture, and the world of visual arts,” she says, “but most of all, by the human experience that occupies the spaces I create.” This approach renders her work as much about feeling as it is about form: elegant yet grounded, layered yet light.

She brings this experiential ethos to every assignment, shaping interiors that are immersive and alive. Whether it is a private residence or a hospitality project, each bears the unmistakable signature of her poetic precision—spaces that don’t just impress at first glance but linger long after one has left. “Our philosophy is to create timeless environments that tell stories,” she says. “We want people to walk into a room and feel something. Comfort, awe, familiarity, even nostalgia.” Her voice carries a quiet conviction, the kind that stems not from performance, but from purpose.

Her journey — from Dubai to Vancouver, through Milan, and back again — has been replete with rich cultural influences. “Each city I’ve lived in carved a different facet of my design soul. Vancouver taught me restraint, a deep harmony with nature, and the quiet elegance of functionality. Milan refined my eye for fashion, introduced me to bold forms, unapologetic beauty, and the art of curated detail. Then came Dubai, a city of contrasts and limitless ambition, which gave me the freedom to dream on a larger scale,” she reflects. The interplay between these cities taught her how to design spaces that are both grounded and daring. “I design not just for a location, but for the emotional and cultural rhythm of the space.”

This unique fusion of the classic and contemporary finds stunning expression in her most recent creation — Maison Dali, a restaurant that blends Mediterranean soul with Japanese refinement. The assignment came with an ambitious brief: make it surreal. Drawing inspiration from Salvador Dali’s The Persistence of Memory, she filtered the space through a surrealist lens to create something unexpected, artful, and striking. “I approached it like curating a dream: bold yet balanced, eccentric yet elegant,” she says.

One of the biggest creative challenges was translating surrealism into a spatial language without lapsing into gimmickry. Her solution: grounding the space in natural materials and soft lighting, while layering in dreamlike elements — melting-form sculptures, curved walls, and sculptural furniture. The result is a dreamscape alive with intention and cultural nuance. “We created moments of surprise,” she says, with the fluency of an artist devoted to her craft.

Working closely with chef Tristin Farmer, her aim at Maison Dali was to mirror the culinary philosophy through spatial design. “The menu became a narrative thread, influencing textures, palettes, and spatial flow. Just as his dishes play with contrast and subtlety, we designed the space to do the same — combining soft curves with sharp details, warm tones with unexpected materials. Every design decision was shaped by our mutual goal: to immerse the guest in a seamless dialogue between flavour and atmosphere. Simple, yet surreal in experience.”

As the creative lead at Y Design Interior, Farahmandy nurtures both innovation and trust. She listens to her clients with genuine curiosity, and approaches each assignment as a collaboration, not a transaction. While she leads with a clear vision, she honours the creative journey, fostering a space where bold ideas take root, where the familiar is reimagined, and where curiosity walks hand in hand with craft. “For me, innovation is born in the balance — between freedom and discipline, imagination and action.” Her role, she believes, is to guide clients with confidence while crafting spaces that surprise, move, and resonate.

Though her creations have earned her multiple accolades, for Farahmandy, awards are not the destination. They are merely byproducts of a deeper mission: to craft experiences that touch lives. In 2024 alone, she designed 10 distinct food and beverage spaces — each a sensory marvel, each rooted in place and purpose. Her talent for merging concept with execution makes these venues not only visually compelling but also emotionally resonant, bridging local context with global appeal.

She notes how Dubai’s clientele is getting increasingly design-literate, exposed to a spectrum of styles and global influences. “The city has evolved immensely in the past 10 to 15 years. Its growth in both style and scale is reflected in the contours of real estate and the rising demand for emotionally intelligent design.”

On navigating changing trends, she asserts that her anchor remains a constant design philosophy. “Only those rooted in aesthetic consistency will stand the test of time.” Residential projects, she says, are often intimate, tied to memory and emotion; commercial spaces, meanwhile, are about articulating brand identity. “Homes reflect the psychology of those who live in them. I make it a point to understand what makes people different and unique, and incorporate it in my designs for them.”

Ironically, the designer who so deftly brings others’ visions to life hasn’t yet created her own dream home. “I still live in furnished apartments,” she confesses with a laugh. “I haven’t yet found a space that aligns with the vision I carry in my heart.” Also on her horizon is an ambitious global expansion plan for Y Design Interior, one that will explore new markets while retaining the soul of her practice. Projects in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain are already in the pipeline, as is a bespoke luxury chalet in Colorado, US.

“Personally, I’m drawn to projects that challenge boundaries — cross-disciplinary collaborations where interiors meet fashion, art, even scent. But I want to stay boutique, maintaining the personal connection we have with our clients.”

It is this rare ability to translate brand essence into built form, blending concept with craftsmanship, that sets her apart in a competitive field. With a piercing insight into her clients’ psyche and a steadfast commitment to beauty, belonging, and transformation, Farahmandy is a designer for the future. In her hands, plain roominess is transfigured into a spatial possession — treasured, lived-in, and profoundly felt.