When Old Meets New

By Hend Seif El Din

Photo Credits: Khaled Naggey

Taking on an interior design and construction project was never a piece of cake…having to refurbish and restore an old villa…in six months…that’s a whole other story!

The dynamic duo–Nadia Shoukry and Hassan Kamel–the masterminds behind Zones Costruction, did just that. A client who had just purchased an old, rather worn-down villa in Maadi, Cairo, requested a makeover in the narrow timeframe of six months. Problem was, the house needed much more than a paintjob and a few art pieces here and there; the walls needed to be taken care of in terms of construction, as well as the windows, the floors…well, the whole villa!

Once that was done, it was time for the designing part. Nadia chose a very calm color scheme…striving to create a homogonous blend of the old and the new. Next was staying true to the old spirit of the house. In order to do that, she recycled and refurbished most of the existing furniture, while adding a few new pieces to provide the villa with modern flair.

As challenging as it was, her choice of recycling old furniture pieces, went hand-in-hand with paint effects, focusing on rough textures, providing the homeowners with a shabby-chic feel.

Nadia’s choice of white to accentuate the pre-existing panels worked marvelously against the solid wooden flooring. Furthermore, shades of teal and beige dominate the walls, adding a dash of welcomed cool to the living spaces.