_{A look inside interior designer Nisrine El Lababidi’s home, where she applies instinct, restraint, and lived experience to her most personal space}

As the founder of Harf Noon Design Studio, Nisrine El Lababidi spends her professional life shaping spaces for others. When it came to her own home, however, the approach was distinctly different. Her intention was to create an environment that felt welcoming, calm, and grounded, rather than conforming to a particular design aesthetic or any rigid classification.

“I committed early on to a warm, natural palette. That decision became the foundation for everything else, allowing the materials, textures, and finishes to flow cohesively and with ease throughout the home,” she says.

El Lababidi’s home was never intended as a design statement. Conceived as an experience rather than a project, the space was shaped instinctively, with materials, light, and emotion guiding every decision.

“Living in the home has made it feel even more intuitive and alive than I imagined,” the designer shares. “It has evolved naturally alongside our family, especially as the children have grown. The space feels calm and grounding, and it’s something I genuinely look forward to returning to at the end of every workday.”

At the heart of the home is the living room, her favorite space. Open yet anchored, it is where the family naturally gathers, where comfort, light, and functionality are non-negotiable elements throughout the design. Décor has been kept intentionally minimal, allowing the space to breathe and evolve over time.

“I ignored rigidity,” El Lababidi says. “I allowed softness and rawness to coexist without the need for everything to match perfectly. The layering of pieces and textures felt like a more honest extension of who I am and how we live as a family. All the spaces flow into each other seamlessly to accommodate various gatherings, celebrations, and simply the everyday.”

With a strong focus on functionality over form, El Lababidi highlights the importance of her home’s lived-in, practical aspects. “Everything in the home is centered around comfort and function. Deep seating, thoughtful lighting, light tones, and tactile textures were chosen to be used and lived in,” says El Lababidi. “Nothing is too precious, it’s a home designed to serve us daily, not just to be looked at.”

 Rather than filling the home with decorative objects chosen all at once, El Lababidi picks them gradually. For her, they carry memories and stories, enriching the space with character. “People often arrive expecting something dramatic. Instead, they’re surprised by how calm, warm, and welcoming the home feels. It’s understated and grounded, which is exactly the intention,” she says.

The kitchen, originally designed with bespoke elements for day-to-day activities, has evolved into the family’s true gathering point. “It has become far more meaningful than I ever anticipated,” she says. “The custom joinery was designed to support daily rituals and, over time, it’s become the space where we naturally congregate, cooking, sharing meals... The kids study there and even host their friends to cook together. It’s something I never imagined when we first moved into the home years ago.”

The biggest challenge, she admits, was knowing when to stop. Designing for herself meant the process could potentially continue forever. “As a designer working on your own home, refinement can be endless,” she says. “The challenge was trusting instinct over constant tweaking and ultimately learning to simply enjoy the space.”

If there is one decision she’d make again without hesitation, it’s investing in quality materials and craftsmanship. “Those choices age well, add depth over time, and quietly elevate everyday living,” she says. “It also means things are more sustainable and good for the environment, that’s why we don’t just cave in into trends.”

Looking back, there is little she would change. “True elegance comes from ease. When a space functions beautifully and feels natural to live in, comfort and style align without effort,” she notes. “That’s the mantra for all our projects at Harf Noon Design Studio, too.”

Her advice to anyone designing their home? Design with intention. “A home reflects a lifestyle rooted in balance, between work and family, creativity and rest,” she says. “It’s a space that supports how we live now, not how we imagined living years ago. Focus on how you want your home to feel, not just how it looks. True luxury comes from spaces that are personal, subtle, and lasting. Also, invest in vintage pieces and art! These always add character to any space.”

Defined by instinct, comfort, and daily rituals, El Lababidi’s home has evolved naturally, growing alongside the family, accommodating change with ease and purpose. Calm, warm, and welcoming, it is understated and grounded, exactly as intended.

“Nothing is too precious, it’s a home 
designed to serve us daily, not just to 
be looked at.”

“True luxury comes from spaces that 
are personal, subtle, 
and lasting.”

Photography by Žiga Mihelcic,