Caroline Stanbury Opens Up About Her Stunning Dubai Home with “Edgy” & “Feminine” Details

Over the past year, we’ve been keeping up with Caroline Stanbury and her husband, Sergio Carrallo, as they’ve been hard at work on their dream home. Back in January, the couple shared a look at the construction process on their massive abode, with Sergio declaring that the space was “coming together.” 

While we loved seeing everything evolve during construction, we’re even more thrilled to get a peek at the finished product. In an interview with Harper’s Bazaar Arabia published in June, The Real Housewives of Dubai cast member broke down all the dazzling details of the vibrant, modern-style home. “I am known for going against the norms… always,” she shared. 

Tour Caroline Stanbury’s finished Dubai home 

In addition to sharing construction and design updates via her Instagram Stories, Caroline treated her followers to even more in-depth content about the home by starting an Instagram account, The Carrallos’ Home, to detail the process. 

The Ladies of London alum started the account by posting numerous videos of the nitty-gritty construction details. After that process was complete, Caroline began showing how she crafted her lush and luxurious interior with Dubai-based interiors specialist Kate Instone of Blush International. 

“[Caroline] understands quality and design, she is a fashion addict, and through her love for fashion she understands investment pieces and how to style,” Instone told Harper’s Bazaar Arabia of Caroline’s distinct style. 

In January, Caroline shared a video on the couple’s account to show a behind-the-scenes look at that process with Blush International. 

“Once Kate and I had figured out the function of the house, then we had fun with the aesthetic. I wanted it to feel contemporary, but not cold,” Caroline shared with the magazine. “I wanted to showcase my art collection, I wanted ‘grown up’ furniture. This is the brief that I gave Blush, and when she came back with the first set of visuals I was sold! I really feel this house reflects who I am.”

“I’d say it is editorial and edgy with an undercurrent of femininity,” Caroline noted of the aesthetic, which you can check out in the clip the Dubai mom shared in March of the interior space. Beautiful blush-toned marble countertops in the kitchen contrast the “fabulous chevron floor pattern” in black and white. 

“This very much reflects the Yin and Yang of my personality,” Caroline stated. “I can be the fearless housewife, but also the more sensitive and nurturing mother and friend. This juxtaposition of edgy and bold versus soft and feminine is the design ethos that Kate has woven through the villa.” 

She added: “It has taken around 18 months to transform the house. It would have been much quicker if I had taken the standard villa, but Kate and I decided that we wanted to change the layouts and all the finishes. We added an extra bedroom, a laundry room on the first floor, a cinema, and of course my master suite. It took longer than I anticipated, but I am happy that I waited and got what I really wanted.” 

Speaking of the “totally remodeled” bedroom, Caroline worked with her designer to create an “open plan” space that freely flowed into a bathroom with a freestanding tub. 

“The scheme is blush pink but with masculine undertones, and Sergio loves it too,” Caroline shared. “The oversized pattern of the wallpaper looks beautiful alongside the pink onyx of the raised bathroom area. The bed and bedside tables were custom made for us by The Design House and the footstools are B&B Italia.” 

Another special touch? The divider between the bedroom and bathroom that houses the couple’s “pop-up TV” for cozy nighttime viewings. “There really isn’t much reason to even leave this room!” she gushed. 

What’s more, when it came to Sergio’s place in the design process, Caroline noted that while she mainly helmed the style ship, her beau “came to all the design meetings.”

He also had a say in certain spaces: “The cinema and garage are all Sergio! He was determined to have his fiber-optic Rolls-Royce ceiling, full surround sound, and ice-cream store in the cinema,” she revealed. “The garage is totally his baby too! He also did the kitchen counters.” 

As for Caroline’s three children from her previous marriage to Cem Habib (Yasmine and twins Aaron and Zac), they also had a say in their bedrooms and working spaces. 

“They selected each piece of furniture and every fabric — like their mother, they are very particular,” she stated. “Zac wanted to make sure he had enough room to study and game with his friends, Aaron wanted to make sure he had the right LED lights, and for Yasmine, everything just had to be perfect!” 

Last but certainly not least is Caroline’s incredible all-white walk-in closet, complete with plenty of space for her numerous designer duds. 

“Kate knows how many clothes I have, as she has designed all my wardrobes, so she made sure this one was large enough,” the blonde beauty revealed. “I decided to keep it mainly open so I can see my clothes […] it’s so much easier when you have a hectic schedule like mine and you are always traveling.”

She continued: “The island is a great asset to house all our smaller items, and of course lots of shelf space for my Hermès collection of bags. I just need to make sure I don’t outgrow this one too!” 

“I can’t imagine a better lifestyle,” Caroline concluded. “I feel so happy here. I literally wake up and want to kiss the ground. The safety, the sun, I feel like a different human.”