Inside Dubai Fashion Blogger Nadya Hasan’s Minimalist Home

The UAE-born style icon opens the door to her private residence where geometrics, symmetry, and a classic all-white glow take centre stage

Known better as @thefierce_nay by her 200k followers, Nadya Hasan was one of the early pioneers when it comes to social media influencers in the Middle East. From her bold fashion choices to her carefully curated beauty looks, there’s always been an air of grandeur to even the simplest things she picks and posts, and this quality is equally evident from the minute you step into her palatial double-storey villa in Jumeirah Park.

Consisting of two spacious living rooms and three bedrooms, the original property was a traditional Arabian villa which was completely revamped to match Nadya and her husband Wiktor Gniewek’s tastes.

Nadya Hasan and her husband Wiktor Gniewek in their white living room that is decorated with hints of gold and a geometric feel.

“We are a very minimalist couple that loves simplicity and a clean look, hence the all-white everything theme,” she smiles. Together, they stepped foot into a house where they made their first memory signing their marriage certificate in the formal living area. Then began the work of building their dream house.“We made so many changes based on what we preferred and how we thought we would want to raise a family in it one day,” says Nadya.

Having purchased the property in May 2019, the renovations began in June. Recording much of it on her Instagram stories, creating an air of suspense as viewers watched walls being knocked down, the kitchen and bathroom completely overhauled, and the staircase given a grand makeover.

“The kitchen was very dark but now it’s an open area and you can cook and have a conversation with someone in the family room,” she explains. “We also removed the maid’s room and turned it into a home-office for Wiktor, closed the toilet room for a spacious laundry room, demolished all the bathrooms upstairs, and then placed my dream bathtub inside.”

Nadya Hasan in her kitchen sitting on high chairs customised from The Line Concept.

Working with trusted contractors and handpicking every element was no mean feat for Nadya, and the painstaking selection of materials, fabrics, soft furnishings and hardware all came together beautifully, considering there was no interior specialist. “The only way we could do it was by working on one room at a time so that we wouldn’t have to go through all the changes at once and be able to supervise it closely.”

A few of their signature selections include the marble dining table which was customized by Dubai-based The Line Concept and seats six guests, and the master bed, with a customized headboard covering the entire wall by MEROË – The Bed Boutique. In other places, warm white tones mingle with visually eye-catching, abstract chandeliers while rugs, runners and soft furnishings in a creamy palette of beige, blush pink and grey lend a warm welcome to the living, dining, and lounge areas.

Bed, headboard, ottoman and lamps from MEROË, curtains by Sedar.

“My walk-in closet is my sanctuary, I can sit there for hours just going through all of my stuff,” says Nadya, recalling how for months she endured the irritation of living with her clothes, shoes and bags all boxed away. But what followed, was a stunningly calm and stylish space where she can showcase her jewelry, bags and shoes creatively.

Nadya sitting on an ottoman customised by The Line Concept, carpet by Carpet Centre.

“The space just suits me, and it’s so easy to navigate through as I designed it according to my needs and wants,” she shares.“We wanted to have an open space throughout the house, and for me, my favorite place is the walk-in closet, while for Wiktor, it’s the formal living room and garden.”

Taking much of their inspiration from Paris, the goal was to achieve a quintessential Parisian chic and to make the house ultra-Instagrammable to suit Nadya’s work. And with the neutral palette of grey, cream, and marble; hints of gold accentuating the clean geometric lines of the decorative pieces; the off-white drapes covering the floor-to-ceiling windows for a radiant flush of light, and the classic white blinds in the kitchen – there’s no place that misses the classically romantic, Parisian vibe.

Nadya on her bed customised by MEROË.

Ensuring nature and natural elements were part of the vision, the white cobbled pathway of the outdoor garden adds a welcoming touch. A fruit garden lined with lush palms, a statement display of cacti, a mango, and lime tree are also a few surprises which greet guests upon entrance.

“We host a lot of guests in our garden, so we decided to add some fun to it by including a chessboard, and a spot for table tennis as Wiktor used to be a Polish national team player and a former table-tennis coach for the UAE national team,” says Nadya. For a power couple who live and breathe a life of style, this modern home, completed with love and ticked off with personal taste, has formed a personality of its own.

Photography: Aasiya Jagadeesh. 

From Harper’s Bazaar Arabia’s December 2020 issue.