THE POWER OF INVERSION IN DESIGN

 Hello December. 

We are delighted to unveil an exclusive Capsule Collection from a cretaive collaboration with  with the renowned fashion visionary Dana Malhas: the INVERTI Collection. Together, we've shaped a collection meant to be lived, collected and passed on. Where storytelling meets design intent. 

 

From the very beginning, iNVERTI was born from a desire to merge two worlds we deeply love: fashion and design. We always say that there is one universal love — a love for creativity — that transcends fashion, design, and architecture. They are all languages of expression, of identity, of emotion.

The word INVERTI comes from inversar — the idea of changing, adapting, transforming. In fashion, this means taking one piece and reinventing it through accessories, styling, or detail… and suddenly, it feels entirely new.

 

A collection designed around diversity, adaptability, and a new kind of sustainability — one that celebrates reinvention rather than replacement. A collection that invites you to experience timelessness not as something static, but as something alive and ever-changing.
 

 A project built with love, driven by curiosity, and shaped by two worlds coming together to create one story.

We want to extend special gratitude to Iwan Maktabi, through their storytelling and diversion in design for three generations. Maktabi open their flagship store to showcase INVERTI. We were able to curate our favorite pieces from well known designs such as CC TAPIS and other Iwan Maktabi collections. Through their diversity in design, we were able to translate our design vision from the BOLD to the QUIET LUXURY.

At the heart of this collaboration lies a shared belief: that design, whether worn or lived within, has the power to shape emotion, elevate space, and tell a story. This collection reimagines that dialogue.

 

Here, interior design forms the foundation, enhanced by whispers of high fashion woven through textures, colors, and silhouettes. Across nine carefully crafted pieces, couture-inspired textiles and fluid lines merge with functional design, resulting in an harmonious and elevated take on contemporary luxury.

The vision behind the INVERTI Collection goes far beyond aesthetics. 

It embraces the philosophy of duality and movement in design—pieces that adapt, transform, and respond to contemporary living. 

Every creation has been conceived with versatility in mind, allowing it to evolve and complement a variety of interior moods and needs. 

 

This approach celebrates functional beauty: craftsmanship that is not only exquisite to the eye but also enduring, comfortable, and intentional.

 

The collaboration features high-quality materials and meticulous detailing, drawing inspiration from both timeless design traditions and the bold experimentation of fashion. Every element embodies an interplay between elegance and edge, between softness and structure. The result is a curated collection that invites homeowners to express themselves through pieces that are as evocative as they are refined.

The INVERTI Collection introduces a series of unique, limited-edition designs that redefine what interior objects can be—sculptural yet practical, artistic yet intimately livable. It encourages us to see our homes as evolving canvases for self-expression, much like a wardrobe that shifts with mood, season, and identity.

 

This is more than a collaboration; it is a testament to creative dedication, an ode to interdisciplinary artistry, and a statement about the future of design. 

With Dana Malhas, we have crafted a collection that bridges two worlds—bringing couture sensibilities into the home in ways that feel fresh, elevated, and deeply personal.

We are truly excited for you to discover the INVERTI Collection in its entirety and to explore the many ways its pieces can be mixed, layered, and reimagined to suit your personal taste, rhythm, and needs. 

Each design has been created to invite play and possibility—encouraging you to curate your own expression of the collection. 

 

You can explore the full collection here.

 

REVEAL OF THE MONTH

This month marks an exciting milestone for our studio as we unveil a prototype villa from the Signature Collection at Palm Jebel Ali designed for Jebel Ali Palm by Nakheel in collaboration with Naga Architects — a serene waterfront enclave where architecture flows in rhythm with nature, and homes are shaped by the poetry of light, proportion, and tactility. 

 

Conceived as retreats of quiet luxury, these residences embrace the understated beauty of contemporary coastal living, drawing inspiration from the gentle minimalism of Japandi design and the meditative character of the shoreline.

 

 Here, simplicity is not an absence, but a presence: expressed through curated materiality, immersive atmospheres, and a sense of emotional grounding that transforms daily life into an artful experience. 

Each villa becomes its own narrative, harmonizing craftsmanship, stillness, and place — a story told through textures, shadows, warmth, and the soft pulse of the sea.

A home where daylight lingers a little longer, Sunset Mirage Villa is conceived as a quiet ode to the golden hour — that fleeting moment when the world turns soft, shadows stretch, and even the simplest details seem effortlessly enchanting.

 

 The palette mirrors this transitory beauty: warm tones drift across the interiors like sunlight in motion, creating an atmospheric glow that shifts with the rhythm of the day. Surfaces feel calm and tactile, lines flow without interruption, and volumes remain open, allowing each space to dissolve gracefully into the next. The boundaries between indoor living and the surrounding landscape become subtly blurred, as if the architecture itself were breathing in the coastal breeze.

Designed for slow living and intentional comfort, Sunset Mirage invites residents to embrace a more mindful pace — where daily rituals unfold with quiet pleasure, and every corner feels rooted in softness, warmth, and ease. This is not merely a place to live, but a sanctuary shaped by the soul of desert evenings and the embrace of coastal light: intimate, serene, and defined by an understated elegance that reveals itself gently, the way the sun sets across the horizon.

Dubai Design Week unfolded this year as a truly remarkable celebration of creativity, transforming the city into a crossroads of ideas, materials, and imagination. Across pavilions, installations, and curated exhibitions, the fair brought together architects, designers, artists, makers, and suppliers who collectively showcased the future of design thinking. 

 

Walking through the event felt like moving through a living anthology of innovation — from experimental craftsmanship and tactile storytelling to sustainable materials, emerging talent, and boundary-pushing concepts.

The energy was inspiring, the dialogue felt global, and the level of artistry exceptional. 

 

Amid this vibrant landscape, five showcases captured our attention in a way that lingered long after we left the grounds — pieces and perspectives that spoke to our values at C’est ici Design: thoughtful materiality, poetic forms, cultural resonance, and design with purpose. 

Here are the ones that stood out to us

Above: Cosentino Stand at Dubai Design Week

 

Cosentino returns to Downtown Design 2025 with 1930, a captivating lounge experience created in collaboration with the award-winning studio Etereo, based between Milan and Dubai. 

The installation reimagines the elegance of the 1930s — a decade where the glamour of Art Deco met the pragmatism of early Modernism — translating the intimate charm of exclusive private clubs into the heart of the fair.

 

Etereo approached the concept as a dialogue between eras, inspired by what they describe as a rare equilibrium of opposites: industrial innovation combined with meticulous craftsmanship. Drawing from the architectural lineage that shaped their own design sensibility — the geometric rigor of Piero Portaluppi, the sculptural detailing of Carlo Scarpa, and the bold, expressive gestures of Ettore Sottsass — the studio imagined a space that both honors the past and looks ahead. 

The name 1930 becomes more than a title; it is a tribute to the period that continues to influence their ideas of proportion, tactility, and beauty.

Designed as a sophisticated interplay of geometry, materiality, and sensory experience, the lounge unfolds like an urban sanctuary for social rituals. A sculptural bar serving signature mocktails, a piano lounge, a game table for playful moments, and an intimate salon designed for lively conversation all contribute to an atmosphere of refined sociability. 

A hidden bathroom — inaccessible yet visible through a porthole — adds an element of intrigue, a subtle nod to the secrecy and theatricality of 1930s speakeasies.

 

From the vertical cladding and ornamental flooring to the countertops and bespoke furnishings, the entire environment will be crafted in Cosentino surfaces, highlighting how the brand’s contemporary materials can shape architecture, storytelling, and atmosphere. 1930 is not simply a stand; it is a narrative in stone, a celebration of heritage and experimentation brought to life through design.

 

Kährs invited visitors on an evocative journey into the dense, mist-covered forests of southern Sweden, translating the brand’s heritage into a spatial experience that felt both immersive and atmospheric. Their booth was conceived as a modern cabin entirely wrapped in Kährs’ signature wood planks — a tactile environment where every surface spoke of authenticity, craftsmanship, and nature’s quiet power.

Rather than displaying flooring in a conventional manner, Kährs chose to let visitors feel the mood their materials can evoke. Soft shadows, muted lighting, and enveloping textures created a sensorial retreat, allowing the wood to reveal its warmth, character, and acoustic intimacy. The installation captured more than materiality; it expressed the emotional resonance of timber in interior architecture.

A beautifully orchestrated concept, it stood out as one of the fair’s most memorable experiences, reminding us that design is not only about what we see, but also what we sense — the atmosphere a material can bring to life.

Every surface was selected not merely for its visual harmony but for the feeling it evokes — the cool stillness of honed marble under natural light, the grounding presence of textured stone, the handmade imperfection of tiles that carry the warmth of human touch. Through these combinations, we sought to create interiors that resonate on both a sensory and emotional level — spaces that feel crafted, lived-in, and deeply connected to their material essence.

 

STRATA’s booth was one of this year’s most striking discoveries. From afar, its presence drew you in, not with excess or spectacle, but through the quiet confidence of sculptural forms and beautifully unconventional silhouettes. Up close, each furniture piece revealed layers of meticulous craftsmanship — precise joinery, refined textures, and considerate proportions that spoke to a designer’s deep curiosity for materials and form.

There was a sense of exploration in their work, as if every object carried a narrative beyond its function. Bold yet controlled, expressive yet practical, Strata presented a collection that challenged familiar typologies and invited visitors to rethink how furniture can shape space. Their debut felt not only fresh and contemporary, but genuinely boundary-pushing — a reminder of how design can inspire, innovate, and surprise in the most sophisticated ways.

 

Antilla Di Lauro stood out as a testament to Italian refinement expressed through textiles. Known for her luxurious, fully bespoke rugs and tapestry pieces, the designer approaches each commission as a work of art tailored precisely to the character and needs of a project. Her creations are crafted in Thailand, a country celebrated for its centuries-old textile traditions, where artisans translate her vision using time-honoured techniques and an exceptional eye for detail.

The breadth of her craftsmanship is remarkable — spanning hand-tufting, hand-weaving, knitting, and Axminster — each method chosen with intention to articulate pattern, dimension, and texture. What captivated us most was not only the technical expertise, but the poetic sourcing of materials and the artistry embedded in every fibre. Antilia’s work reminded us of the quiet power of textiles: how they can ground an interior, tell a story, and bring a space to life through touch, colour, and craft.

This season, we turn our attention to the quiet beauty of true craftsmanship — pieces shaped by skilled hands, guided by heritage, and created with intent. These are not objects designed simply to decorate a room; they are sculptural forms, tactile narratives, and timeless expressions of artistry.

 

Our Christmas Edit is a curated celebration of refined design, bringing together exceptional pieces from global makers whose work embodies both tradition and innovation. 

Each object has been selected for its ability to subtly elevate a space through understated luxury — the kind that whispers rather than shouts.

 

From hand-sculpted ceramics with organic silhouettes to collectible glasswork that captures and reflects light, and artisanal textiles woven with meticulous care, every piece holds within it a story of technique, patience, and passion. These are objects meant not only to be admired today but to be cherished for years to come, enduring long after the season has passed and becoming part of the living memory of a home.

C'est ici Design- Paloma Candle Holder

 

Elegant, sculptural, and imbued with refined character, the Paloma Candle Holder embodies the C’est Ici design language in its purest form — warm materiality, harmonious lines, and an understated sense of sophistication. More than a functional object, it becomes a subtle architectural gesture within a room, casting light that feels soft, atmospheric, and deeply intimate.

 

Part of the recently launched INVERTI Collection, Paloma reflects the collection’s philosophy of transforming everyday objects into sculptural statements rooted in balance, contrast, and tactile beauty. Crafted to endure beyond seasons and trends, it introduces a quiet yet compelling presence, complementing any interior with its timeless allure. Designed not simply to illuminate, but to evoke mood and elevate the ritual of living, Paloma is destined to become a cherished piece in the contemporary home.

 

 

A joyful twist on traditional marquetry, the Funquetry Tray brings contemporary energy to one of the most time-honoured woodworking techniques. What begins as meticulous craftwork — individually cut, aligned, and hand-inlaid pieces of wood — transforms into a striking composition of bold shapes and saturated colour. Its playful geometry nods to classic decorative arts, yet its language is unmistakably modern, pushing the boundaries of what marquetry can be today.

More than a tray, it is a functional art object, one that animates a coffee table, console, or dining setting with both utility and personality. Its presence elevates everyday rituals, turning the simple act of serving or displaying objects into a moment of design appreciation. Precision, imagination, and vibrant craftsmanship converge in a piece created not just to serve, but to be admired, collected, and cherished over time.

Nada Debs- Funquetry Tray

 

Rooted in the centuries-old Venetian tradition of glassblowing, the Sestiere Vase honours Murano’s legendary craft while reimagining it for the modern interior. Each piece is hand-crafted on the island using a time-honoured cord-wrapping technique, where molten glass threads are applied one by one to create a richly tactile, vibrant surface.

 

Sculptural and expressive, the vase stands at the intersection of décor and collectible art. Whether displayed alone or styled with florals, it brings a sense of heritage, colour, and contemporary elegance to any space.

Cassina - Sestiere Vase

 

Sculptural and quietly bold, the Bobby Deco piece stands out through its interplay of form, texture, and materiality. Crafted in matte black stoneware, it reveals a raw, tactile finish that invites both visual and physical engagement. Its organic silhouette feels almost carved by nature, bringing a sense of depth, shadow, and subtle drama to any environment.

More than a decorative object, Bobby Deco acts as a grounding element within a space—its presence is understated yet compelling. Ideal for minimalist or mood-driven interiors, it introduces character without overpowering the room, serving as an artful accent that balances simplicity with expressive design.

The Bowery Company- Bobby Deco Black Stoneware

 

Richly detailed and steeped in cultural influence, the Alhambra Centerpiece draws its inspiration from the ornate geometry and rhythmic motifs of Moorish architecture. Its surface is adorned with intricate patterning that recalls centuries-old craftsmanship, reimagined through a contemporary lens. A warm, earthen palette grounds the piece, highlighting tactile nuances that feel both historic and refreshingly modern.

Designed to command attention without overwhelming its surroundings, the Alhambra Centerpiece becomes the visual anchor of any dining table, console, or curated vignette. It brings together depth, heritage, and refined luxury—expressing a sense of worldliness that elevates the overall ambiance of a space. With its architectural presence and handcrafted allure, it stands as both a statement object and a celebration of enduring design traditions.

L'Objet- Alhambra Centerpiece

In the world of design, we often speak about outcomes—beautiful spaces, crafted details, perfect proportions. But every now and then, a project comes along that reminds us of something even more precious: the joy of the process itself.

 

Embarking on the journey of the iNVERTI Capsule Collection has been one of those rare and unforgettable experiences for me and for our entire team. It was a project without deadlines, without clients, without restrictions—just pure, honest creation. A return to the essence of why we design in the first place.
 

We allowed ourselves to explore, to experiment, to play. To enjoy the craft. To make mistakes, rethink, refine, and rediscover the magic that happens when creativity flows freely. That freedom is a gift—one we don’t take for granted.

 

I am incredibly proud to share that this chapter has become a true milestone in C’est ici Design’s history. Not simply because of the collection itself, but because of what it reminded us:

That design is not only about what we create, but about who we become through the act of creating.
 

Thank you for being part of this journey with us. We cannot wait for you to experience iNVERTI.

With gratitude,

Monica