ELAMO STUDIO Reimagines Studio Living In Dubai With ‘The Embrace Apartment’
Designed by ELAMO STUDIO, The Embrace Apartment transforms 33.7 m² into a flexible, Japandi-inspired sanctuary in Dubai Hills Estate
The Embrace Apartment
A 33.76 m² studio in Socio Tower, Dubai — a project created with love for a mother beginning a new chapter of her life in the city.
A gift infused with love.
When Tatyana first crossed the threshold of this apartment, her eyes filled with tears. What she saw was not just a new home, but a true manifestation of love and care — a heartfelt gift from her daughter and son-in-law, who wanted her to feel not like a stranger in Dubai, but truly at home.
Tatyana moved to the UAE from Russia with her cat, leaving behind her familiar life. The relocation was final — and she had no involvement in the renovation. The design and construction happened entirely without her knowing. She received the keys only on move-in day, making her first meeting with the space deeply emotional, intimate, and alive.
Living in Green Harmony
The apartment is located in Socio Tower at Dubai Hills Estate — one of the city’s greenest and most comfortable residential clusters. It’s a modern district with leafy boulevards, parks, and the atmosphere of suburban serenity within the city.
The tower itself is stylish, with panoramic windows, spacious lobbies, and everything needed for a peaceful life. Originally a typical one-bedroom, the apartment was reimagined as a studio with a master zone. The result is a bright, open space with well-defined functions: a bedroom, living area, L-shaped kitchen with an island, a full bathroom, and an integrated storage system.
Freedom Instead of Partitions
The developer’s layout was filled with unnecessary partitions and doors, leaving no room to breathe. The ELAMO STUDIO team carefully dismantled these barriers: removing glass dividers, merging zones, eliminating a cramped vestibule with three doors, and embedding a seamless storage system that became invisible yet central. Special focus was given to the kitchen — now an L-shaped composition with an island, visually dividing the room while adding a sense of scale and comfort.
The Assignment: Warmth and Calm
The family’s request was simple yet profound: warmth and comfort. The interior had to be minimalist but not museum-like or detached. It was meant to reflect Tatyana herself — soft, serene, and filled with the feeling of “you are welcome here.”
The Japandi Aesthetic
The design drew inspiration from Japandi — restrained, tactile, and luminous. Warm wood finishes, natural fabrics, matte textures — all of it creating an embracing backdrop. No visual noise, no excess décor. Only light, air, and attention to detail.
Function with Personality
Almost all furniture was custom-made: the bed with integrated nightstands, the compact island, and the full-wall storage system in the master zone. By the window, a space was set for work or self-care; in the hallway, a wardrobe was built seamlessly into the architecture. Textiles in natural tones — cotton, linen, knit — add softness and a homely touch.
Complete Trust — Complete Responsibility
One of the project’s unique aspects was the full trust of the clients. Living abroad, they couldn’t oversee the process. The interior was created remotely — with deep attention and a sincere desire to make it truly hers. And it worked: upon entering, Tatyana said it was the first time in years she felt her tension dissolve. Her cat instantly found its favorite spot — proof that the home had embraced her, too.
A Home That Holds You
This is not a space of loud statements but of quiet acceptance. A place of warmth, serenity, and belonging.
This is an apartment that embraces you.
Project Info
Design & Realization: ELAMO STUDIO — Irina & Mikhail Ivchenko
elamo.studio
info@elamo.studio
+971 54 237 95 23 // +971 54 246 15 12
Photographer: Vitalii Grishkov @vitaliigri
Stylist: Maryana Sorokina @smaryanas
Styling Assistant: Anastasia Popkova
