That Mama’s Crib: Annie Buchanan

Annie Buchanan’s beautiful Jumeirah villa will make you green (or pink, turquoise and yellow) with envy mamas. Effortlessly eclectic, the super cool Australian mama of Freddie, Barney, Luna and Alfie has collected amazing pieces for her home while travelling the world, searching online marketplace Dubizzle and even by recognising the potential in furniture left out as junk (note to selves, must start trawling the streets more often.) We were lucky enough to get a tour of Annie’s contemporary and colourful home and to have a chat about her interior style and influences. Prepare to be inspired (we certainly feel a big paint session coming on!)

How did you decorate your own home? Was it very planned out or impulsive?
It has been a labour of love over the years and is still very much a work in progress. It hasn’t been planned or impulsive, when we stumble across amazing pieces we buy them. We would prefer to wait for the right piece to come along rather than fill the space with something we are not in love with. When we travel we like to buy collectibles as a memento from that particular city, whether it be a piece of art or a coffee table book. This is the way our home has evolved.

How would you describe your interior design style?
Two C’s – Contemporary and COLOUR!

What are your best places to pick up home furniture in Dubai?
I am a “Bin Rat”! Crazy right, but I must say I have salvaged some fabulous pieces from our local bins over the years. Some of the best would have to be two wingback chairs that I had restored and upholstered and they look better than new. Dubizzle is also a great place to scour for amazing pieces. We were lucky enough to pick up some Vitra Panton chairs.

Do you gravitate to a certain colour palette or design style?
Our house is full of colour we live life in colour! When I am pregnant I love to paint and I particularly love bright colours so we have a pink mirror, two pink chairs, two blue chairs and a yellow one. We have also painted two rooms in the house turquoise, which is another favourite colour.

As a mum how do you balance functioning design and a pretty home?
We have chosen lots of items that have curved edges such as the Lie Ribs bench, you can still have an aesthetically pleasing home even with kids. One tip is a leather sofa, it is much easier to wipe clean!

What did you splurge and save on when decorating your house?
We definitely splurged on our Ribs bench.

Did you use any websites or interior design apps to brainstorm ideas?
I love Pinterest for ideas. There are so many talented and creative individuals out there.

What’s your favourite room/area in your home and why?
My favourite room in the house would have to be the living room, not only because it has most of our treasured pieces, I love that every window I look out I can see trees and hear birds.

If you had unlimited space (and budget) and could turn one room in your house into whatever you wanted, what would it be?
I think it would have to be a study/library. We had a beautiful Queensland walnut desk made this year and it would ideally be suited in a contemporary styled study to make it the rooms’ statement piece.

Do you have any tips for easy ways to update décor without breaking the bank?
Paint, paint, paint! It can transform a room, a chair, even a mirror… simply by a lick of paint!

GET ANNIE’S LOOK:

1. Elefante Candle, Zara Home, AED 125
2. Round Stool, Marina Home Interiors, AED 1250
3. Wall Decal – Henna Style (Pink Camel), Little Majlis, AED 35
4. Basil Bangs Love Rug, Little Majlis, AED 520
5. Carmen 23″ Pillow, Crate and Barrel, AED 394
6. Betsy Chair Blue, Indigo Living, AED 3490

1. Kendall Walnut Table, Crate and Barrel, AED 5921.74
2. Cloud Mobile, Stefcollections on Etsy, AED 179.84
3. Zimmer Trunk, Potterybarn, AED 2567.64
4. Miho Unexpected Things Miniature Trophy Deer Wall Hanging, Amara Living, AED 150.61
5. Round Multicoloured Basket, Zara Home, AED 220.03

These images of Annie and her beautiful family and home are courtesy of the very wonderful Stephanie Hamilton of Nektar