An Interview With… Alua Kul, LUMI Interiors
Founded by Alua Kul, LUMI Interiors has established itself as a studio recognised for creating refined, deeply personal spaces that balance contemporary elegance with warmth, texture and a strong sense of atmosphere. Working across luxury residential and hospitality projects in the UAE and internationally, the studio approaches each interior as a reflection of its client, crafting environments that feel both elevated and emotionally connected. Inspired by architecture, materiality, and the region's cultural richness, LUMI Interiors continues to shape spaces that embrace timeless design while responding thoughtfully to modern living. In this interview, Alua Kul discusses the studio’s evolving design philosophy, the importance of authenticity in interiors, and the future ambitions that are driving LUMI Interiors onto the global stage.
LUMI Interiors has developed a distinctive approach to contemporary interior design that feels both refined and deeply personal. How would you describe the studio’s design philosophy, and what emotions or experiences do you hope your spaces evoke?
We design as per the client's brief. When we design spaces according to the client's needs, they become deeply personal and functional, giving a sense of home and warmth.
Your projects often balance warmth, texture and architectural simplicity in a very considered way. When beginning a new project, what are the first elements you look at to shape the overall narrative of a space?
We begin with the architecture of the building itself, the layout, architectural interior elements: ceiling details, flooring, doors, and the base build finishes that will make or break the design. If we feel it can be refined, we give our recommendations to the client. Of course, we love taking the projects from scratch on the stage where clients just started building their house, then it's a blank canvas to do our magic.
The formal living space looking over to the dining room in LUMI’s Palm Jumeirah Penthouse project
The UAE has become one of the world’s most exciting destinations for design, hospitality and luxury living. How has working within the region influenced your creative direction and your approach to interiors?
Rich heritage and culture inspire many elements. We are inspired by nature, the sea, the desert, textures, sunrises, beautiful sunsets, and the overall luxury experiences that Dubai offers.
Dubai and the wider UAE are home to clients from a wide range of cultural backgrounds and lifestyles. How do you create spaces that feel internationally relevant while still responding to the local context and environment?
Each client is unique, and the design direction comes from the client's needs. If they want to highlight elements that remind them of home and create a home away from home, we would be very excited to do so. We love it when the project has DNA.
The media room in LUMI’s Palm Jumeriah Penthouse project
Materiality appears to play an important role throughout your work, from natural stone and tactile finishes to carefully layered lighting. How do you approach selecting materials and creating atmosphere within a project?
We feel what's best for the space and align with the client's mood and the placement of the rooms. Sometimes using a bolder texture in a smaller room can give more interest. Using varied textures and finishes is important for keeping the design interesting and elevated.
Across both residential and hospitality interiors, there is often a strong sense of calm and cohesion within your projects. What do you believe defines timeless interior design today?
Timeless will definitely invest in high-quality materials and fabrics that stand the test of time and age gracefully over time. That's why we love contemporary classic and contemporary modern designs, as they can be timeless; the right shapes and materials will definitely help with that.
The formal living and dining areas of LUMI’s Zahrat Al Jannah project
Sustainability and conscious design are becoming increasingly important topics of conversation within the industry. How is LUMI Interiors integrating more thoughtful and sustainable practices into its work?
We prefer to source healthy materials. For example, we are very cautious about which glue fabricators are using in our joinery and furniture. By doing timeless interiors, we can make sure that the clients can enjoy decades and decades of their home and pass it on to their grandchildren, done once and for a lifetime. That's very sustainable.
As LUMI Interiors continues to grow internationally, are there particular cities, regions or types of projects that you feel especially inspired by or excited to explore in the future?
We are excited to expand into the US! Stay tuned for more updates/ We are continuing our UK, European and Asian projects.
Interiors from LUMI’s Alma project
The design industry is becoming increasingly global, with studios collaborating across continents more than ever before. How do you maintain a strong studio identity while designing for different markets and audiences internationally?
As a studio, we don't have a particular style. We design as per the client's brief; that's why each project is unique, because each project has the client's vision and soul. It's very authentic at the end. We, of course, love designing projects with our signature London aesthetic: sophisticated, couture, elevated luxury, so a client can move in with a suitcase and not worry about a single thing.
Looking ahead, what can we expect next from LUMI Interiors, and what ambitions do you have for the studio as it continues to expand both within the UAE and internationally?
I will be sharing very soon the greatest news ever that is the pinnacle of my career. Stay tuned for more!
Renders of LUMI’s Maison Orée project
As LUMI Interiors continues its international expansion, the studio remains rooted in an approach that prioritises authenticity, timelessness and deeply personal design narratives. Whether drawing inspiration from the natural beauty and cultural energy of the UAE or tailoring interiors to reflect each client's individuality, Alua Kul’s work continues to balance sophistication with warmth and liveability. With projects spanning the Middle East, Europe, Asia and soon the United States, LUMI Interiors is entering an exciting new chapter; one defined by global ambition, thoughtful craftsmanship and a commitment to creating spaces designed to stand the test of time.
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