Designing a home is intensely personal – even more so when your life unfolds in the public eye. For Real Housewives of Dubai star Caroline Stanbury and her husband, Sergio Carrallo, the challenge was to create a space that balanced polish with personality, and glamour with liveability.
Caroline, a British fashion entrepreneur, podcaster, and former stylist, and her husband Sergio, a Spanish former pro footballer-turned-digital-marketer and financial-services executive, turned to Kate Instone, founder of Blush International, a design studio known for interiors that favour soul over spectacle. With a reputation for emotionally intelligent design and an unwavering attention to detail, Blush creates spaces that reflect real lives, not just aspirational lifestyles. No two Blush homes ever look – or feel – the same.
Tucked into Dubai’s lush Al Barari estate, the villa is more than just a screen-ready backdrop. Off-camera, it’s a layered, light-filled sanctuary where considered design supports the way the couple lives. At its centre is a striking glass-lined courtyard with a monumental bonsai tree that had to be airlifted into position. It serves as both a focal point and a filter, creating spatial hierarchy with a nod to traditional Arabic architecture.
“I’ve been good friends with Caroline since our days in London, so I already had a strong sense of her personality and preferences,” says Kate. Their shared London background – where fashion, design, and high-profile connections cross paths – laid the foundation for their seamless creative partnership. “Caroline was determined not to fall into the trap of designing for others’ expectations. She wanted her home to be unpretentious, personal, and connected to her own tastes and lifestyle.”
The brief was clear: a contemporary, light-filled home with a strong connection to nature. “Nothing you see in this home today is an original feature,” explains Caroline. “The only thing we said to the team was not to touch the plants growing by the lake. I wanted it to feel like a jungle, and that is so refreshing in Dubai.”
For Kate and her team, the challenge was translating Caroline’s cosmopolitan glamour into a luxurious, liveable space. “Caroline is a dream client – she designs from the heart, and if she loves something, she embraces it,” says Kate. “Rather than following a rigid aesthetic, the space evolved as a curated collection of pieces that hold meaning for her… glamorous and cosmopolitan, much like Caroline herself, but there’s also a refreshing honesty and warmth to it.”
Caroline’s favourite space? “I’m obsessed with the master suite. It’s more than a bedroom – it’s a whole mood. Kate just got me. I love that I can go from glam in the dressing room to recording a podcast in my own private space, then wind down in the spa-like bathroom with its floating platform and view.”
The master suite, created by transforming the entire second floor, was one of the project’s most ambitious undertakings. “It wasn’t just about creating a bedroom; it was about crafting a sanctuary that supports Caroline’s lifestyle and career,” explains Kate.
“We used pink onyx and mother-of-pearl in the steam room with hidden storage throughout – balancing luxury with practicality,” Kate explains. “The colour palette was carefully considered: soft pinks mixed with warm natural woods and beige tones, creating a space that feels both feminine and masculine, glamorous yet grounded. It’s a space that feels entirely her – and that’s what I’m most proud of.”
Caroline’s design choices reflect her bold aesthetic. “I love how bold we went – the purple media room, the geometric marble floors, the punchy colour combinations. It’s all so me: glamorous, unapologetic, but totally liveable,” she says.
One early surprise that grew on her? “The wallpaper in the media room. At first, I wasn’t sure. But Kate was confident, and I trust her. And now I love it. It adds this unexpected richness and depth.”
The geometric floor was one of the few non-negotiables from the start – and a design challenge for Kate. “Achieving symmetry and flow in a floor design like this requires technical precision,” she says. “We had to work meticulously to adapt the pattern so it aligned seamlessly. In the end, the floor became a powerful anchor for the entire design.”
When asked about the creative process, Caroline emphasises trust and mutual respect. “Kate didn’t try to dilute my ideas – she elevated them. It was a true collaboration. I would throw out wild ideas, and she’d find a way to make them not only work, but look effortless and elegant.”
Beyond her high-profile clients, Kate thrives on projects that challenge and inspire. “Designing and creating my own home has been one of the most memorable and creatively fulfilling experiences of my career,” she says. “It was an incredibly complex project architecturally. I had a very clear vision, and through sheer determination, we made it a reality.”
It is this unwavering clarity that makes Blush International shine in the world of luxury design. From Dubai to Bali, and in private homes across Europe, Kate’s work stands as a reminder that true luxury is less about show, and more about soul.
