PHOTOGRAPHER
CHAPTER STUDIO
Chapter Studio — DIFC Apartment, Dubai
Luxury Interior Photography
Interior Design: Shima Samaei — Chapter Studio Dubai
Photography: Ana Zaha | Canon R5
This project was designed by Shima Samaei, the founder of Chapter Studio, for a private apartment in DIFC, Dubai International Financial Centre, one of the city's most architecturally significant and exclusive residential districts.
Samaei's approach is built around a palette of earthy and dark tones that is less common in Dubai's predominantly white and beige luxury market and more difficult to photograph well. Spaces dominated by deep neutrals, terra tones, and warm shadows require a different reading of light than the bright open-plan interiors that define most UAE residential photography. It is an approach that rewards a photographer who understands tone rather than exposure.
The living room demonstrates Samaei's material intelligence clearly. The use of mirrors is the design decision that defines the space positioned to multiply depth and create a sense of volume in a way that reads as effortless rather than calculated. The palette of earthy tones, dark accents, and warm textures produces a room that feels simultaneously sophisticated and genuinely calm. The leather chair in the corner is the kind of detail that elevates a designed space above a decorated one.
The kitchen introduces marble against the darker tones of the living areas a deliberate material contrast that creates visual breathing room without disrupting the coherent palette of the apartment. The overall effect is a space that feels considered from room to room.
PROJECT CREDITS
Interior Design: Chapter Studio — Shima Samaei, Dubai
Location: DIFC — Dubai International Financial Centre, UAE
Photography: Ana Zaha | anazaha.com
Camera: Canon R5