A bohemian Al Safa villa

On a cosy corner near Safa Park, along a quiet block lined with gigantic trees that billow in the breeze is a community of charming, but unassuming houses. “I always drove past these villas – curious and wondering what they were like,” says Osca Blom who now lives there with her husband, Alexander. “So when I finally saw the inside, I knew instantly that we needed to move here.”

The moment the old wooden arched doors open and you step off the street into Osca’s front garden, you’re transported even further away from the chaos of the city, protected from the buzz of fast cars and gleaming towers.

The garden extends around the perimeter of the villa, offering visitors a vibrant welcome to an equally colourful home. “Our home has a slightly bohemian feel to it,” says Osca as she guides us through the spacious entryway, the hub of the villa, which leads to each room through arched doorways. “And I love the fact that it’s a bungalow – it gives it a slightly retro feeling.”

Osca’s home is an amazing mix of styles and colours. Many pieces are family heirlooms, while others are things that she and her husband have picked up while travelling – or at Global Village, one of Osca’s favourite places in Dubai to scout 
for treasures.