Style & Taste
Notes on a softer existence.
Style & Taste is the Soft Existence journal — slow reading on considered living in Dubai and the wider UAE. We write about scented soy candles and how fragrance behaves in air-conditioned rooms, about woven cotton baskets and the quiet work of home organisation, and about the kitchen storage that keeps a warm, humid kitchen calm. Everything here is written for homes in this climate, not imported from another one.
The pieces are practical rather than aspirational: fixing a candle that has tunnelled, storing flour and rice through summer, styling a shelf without buying anything new, preparing a majlis for guests. New stories are added most weeks — start with the latest below, or follow the tag on any story to read by theme, from candles and scent to storage, styling and care.
Latest
They Are Coming for Christmas. Clear Them a Drawer.
The best welcome is often an empty drawer, a glass of water and permission to make breakfast. A calmer plan for Christmas guests.
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A Christmas Hamper With a Person Inside the Plan
Three things that belong together can say more than a basket full of everything. Build a Christmas hamper around a real person’s day.
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Christmas Dinner, With Room for the Potatoes
A Christmas table should hold the people, the dinner and the second helping. Start there, then add something lovely.
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The Christmas Candle That Knows Who It Is For
Before choosing a Christmas candle, think about the evening it is going into. The best gift begins with a person, not a festive label.
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Bring Something for the Morning After
Dinner ends. The washing-up does not. A thoughtful host gift can make the next morning a little nicer, long after the last guest leaves.
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A Reading Corner, Even If the Flat Has Other Plans
One comfortable seat, a useful light and somewhere for the book: a reading nook can begin inside the room you already have.
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The Rental Kitchen That Finally Found Its Counter
A rental kitchen needs a little breathing room, not a renovation. Start with the breakfast corner, then give every daily object a sensible address.
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The Weekend Reset That Leaves You a Weekend
A home reset should give you time back. Start with the places that catch the day, put everyday objects within reach, and know when to put the cloth down.
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Hosting Dinner in a Small Apartment: Make Room for the Evening
Hosting dinner in a small apartment: a comfortable table, a clear kitchen counter and a few thoughtful details that make guests feel at home.
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The Guest Room Is Ready. Even If It Is Also Your Office.
A thoughtful welcome needs less square footage than you think. Make a guest bedroom, sofa bed or spare corner feel considered with a few genuinely useful details.
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Entryway Storage Ideas for a Rental: Somewhere to Put the Day
Entryway storage ideas for rental apartments: a useful landing place, woven baskets and a simple routine for the things that arrive home with you.
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Autumn in Dubai Begins When You Open the Curtains
The season arrives quietly here: softer evenings, a different light, and a home that feels ready to linger in. A practical autumn refresh for Dubai, without pretending it is snowing outside.
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