La Bottega Interiors Create an Elevated Expression of Experiential Luxury Living

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a refined penthouse design by 2025 SBID Awards Finalist, La Bottega Interiors.

La Bottega Interiors was commissioned to design the Delano Penthouse, set at the pinnacle of the newly opened Delano Dubai. Conceived as a private sanctuary rather than traditional hotel accommodation, the 850-square-metre residence blends the warmth of a refined home with the elevated service of a five-star resort. The design balances bold identity with operational functionality, using intuitive spatial planning to separate guest and service zones. Rich materiality—including Calacatta Borghini marble, custom timber marquetry, and sculpted oak joinery—creates a tactile, immersive experience. Expansive terraces, an infinity pool, and bespoke amenities complete this elevated expression of experiential luxury living.

What was the client's brief?

The client’s brief was to create an ultra-luxury penthouse that feels at once like a private residence and an effortless resort retreat. It needed to reflect the Delano brand’s spirit of convivial sophistication and discretion, while providing generous spaces for entertaining, seamless indoor-outdoor living with panoramic terraces and a rooftop pool, five calm ensuite bedrooms, and high-performance service areas. The design was to balance understated glamour with timeless materials, bespoke detailing, and curated FF&E from leading international brands.

What inspired the design of the project?

The design embraces a neutral, light-toned palette of whites, creams, and soft natural shades that defines the Delano identity. Originating in Miami, the brand established a distinctive language of serenity and effortless sophistication, where texture and light are complemented by carefully chosen accent marbles and colors. In the Dubai Sky Villa, this palette is reinterpreted with feature marbles, tactile woods, and subtle metallics, enriching the brand’s signature clarity with a contextual warmth suited to its Gulf setting. The intricacy of Dubai’s cultural tapestry also inspired the flooring, expressed through a bespoke timber design that adds depth, artistry, and a sense of place.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

The toughest hurdle was adapting the space, which was originally conceived as a restaurant, into a residential penthouse. The ceiling heights were unusually high for a residence, and the arrival sequence was through a long corridor, both of which could have felt awkward. We turned these challenges into opportunities: the tall ceilings became a dramatic backdrop for layered interiors, and the long arrival corridor was transformed into a feature experience with an enfilade of columns and integrated lighting, creating a striking, ceremonial entry that sets the tone for the penthouse.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The team’s highlight was transforming the Penthouse into a seamless blend of residential comfort and an entertainment suite. Key moments included creating the feature arrival corridor with its enfilade of columns and integrated lighting, designing bespoke timber flooring inspired by Dubai’s intricate cultural tapestry, and layering the interiors with feature marbles, tactile woods, and subtle metallics to reinterpret the Delano palette for a Gulf context. Seeing the space come together as a cohesive, luxurious, and livable home that still embodies the brand’s signature sophistication was truly the most rewarding achievement.

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

We entered the SBID Awards because they are one of the most prestigious design awards globally, recognized for celebrating excellence in creativity, innovation, and functionality. Being based in London, the heart of international design, the SBID Awards provide a platform that goes far beyond regional recognition — it allows our work to be seen on a global stage. For us, this project embodies a unique design rooted in cultural authenticity yet expressed with modern refinement. Entering SBID not only highlights the project’s values of craftsmanship, detail, and hospitality, but also gives us the opportunity to position our practice within an international community of leading designers.

What has being an Award Finalist meant to you and your business?

Being an SBID Award Finalist has been an incredible honor and a milestone for our practice. It validates the hard work, creativity, and collaboration that went into this project, while giving us international recognition on one of the most prestigious design platforms. For our business, it has strengthened our visibility globally, positioned us among leading design firms, and reinforced the trust our clients place in us. Most importantly, it motivates us to continue pushing boundaries and delivering designs that are both meaningful and timeless.

Questions answered by Sahar Al Yaseer & Cristina Gallenca, Partners at La Bottega Interiors.

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a serene hotel design by 2025 SBID Awards Finalist, La Bottega Interiors.

La Bottega Interiors was commissioned to refurbish the iconic Beit Al Bahar villas at Jumeirah Beach Hotel, preserving their original architecture while reimagining the interiors for today’s luxury traveller. The design blends understated Arabian elegance with a tactile, contemporary language rooted in nature. A muted palette, natural materials, and artisanal details evoke timeless serenity, while custom furnishings and thoughtful spatial planning enhance comfort and flow. Emphasising longevity and sustainability, the project uses FSC-certified wood, low-impact fabrics, and terrazzo with recycled content. The result is a sanctuary that feels both deeply grounded in place and effortlessly modern.

What was the client's brief?

The design brief was to create an elevated concept that celebrates the unique location — a hidden gem surrounded by lush greenery, with a breathtaking view of the Burj Al Arab. The client requested a renovation that delivers a luxury experience while remaining rooted in the villa’s architectural language and aligned with Jumeirah’s ever-rising brand standards. The vision was to craft a design that feels both luxurious and residential in character, offering guests a relaxed environment with the comfort of home and the refinement of a high-end retreat.

What inspired the design of the project?

As architects, we always begin by understanding the architectural vocabulary of a space. At Beit Al Bahar, we were fascinated by the eclectic dialogue between Arabic and Balinese influences. This inspired us to create a design that carries a subtle twist — artistic enough to leave a lasting memory, but never overly themed. Our focus was on relaxing the interiors, softening transitions, and opening the villas to the outdoors, so that the beautiful views become an integral part of the experience.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

The biggest challenge was to create a space that feels both elevated and deeply personal. For us, personalization comes through details — every crafted element reflects a specific cultural background that supports the overall concept. However, such richness in detail naturally carried cost implications. Striking the right balance between maintaining this level of refinement and aligning with the project’s budget was one of the most demanding aspects of the design process, but ultimately it’s what gave the space its unique character.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The highlight for our team was witnessing how the different design layers seamlessly connected into one story. From the mosaic craftsmanship at the minibar to the subtle zellige tiles, the built-in dining nook, and the flowing crazy paving, each element embodied our efforts as a team and the client’s desire for relaxed luxury. What we cherished most was seeing the villa transform into a space that feels elevated yet intimate — a true home away from home with its own cultural soul.

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

We entered the SBID Awards because they are one of the most prestigious design awards globally, recognized for celebrating excellence in creativity, innovation, and functionality. Being based in London, the heart of international design, the SBID Awards provide a platform that goes far beyond regional recognition — it allows our work to be seen on a global stage. For us, this project embodies a unique design rooted in cultural authenticity yet expressed with modern refinement. Entering SBID not only highlights the project’s values of craftsmanship, detail, and hospitality, but also gives us the opportunity to position our practice within an international community of leading designers.

What has being an Award Finalist meant to you and your business?

Being an SBID Award Finalist has been an incredible honor and a milestone for our practice. It validates the hard work, creativity, and collaboration that went into this project, while giving us international recognition on one of the most prestigious design platforms. For our business, it has strengthened our visibility globally, positioned us among leading design firms, and reinforced the trust our clients place in us. Most importantly, it motivates us to continue pushing boundaries and delivering designs that are both meaningful and timeless.

Questions answered by Sahar Al Yaseer & Cristina Gallenca, Founders of La Bottega Interiors.