A new home does not always need a blank canvas. Sometimes, the most meaningful interiors are built around familiar furniture, treasured travel finds and objects that carry memories of another chapter in life. For actress Lindsay Lohan, creating a family home in Dubai meant embracing precisely that philosophy, transforming a sprawling villa into a personal sanctuary without discarding the pieces she already loved.After years of moving between hotel rooms and rented properties, Lohan found a more permanent base in Dubai, where she lives with her husband, Bader Shammas, and their son, Luai. Her approach to designing the family residence offers a glimpse into a quieter side of the actor, one that prioritises privacy, comfort and thoughtful reuse over an entirely new collection of furnishings.
A two-week design challenge
The 7,000-square-foot, four-bedroom villa presented an ambitious assignment for interior designer Kate Instone of luxury design firm Blush. As reported by The National, Lohan and Shammas needed to move into the property within just two weeks, a turnaround considerably shorter than the time usually required for a bespoke residential project.The brief was to create a relaxed, family-friendly environment inspired by coastal living. A palette of soft neutrals and nautical blues would make the house feel welcoming rather than overstyled with carefully chosen furnishings.Rather than starting from scratch, Lohan wanted the new home to retain elements of her previous apartment. Furniture, artwork and accessories accumulated over the years would become part of the villa’s design, giving the expansive property a sense of continuity.
Familiar furniture, a fresh perspective
Reusing existing pieces became central to the transformation. The guest bedroom was recreated using furnishings from Lohan’s former apartment, while the living areas incorporated an existing sofa, coffee table and other furniture. The dining table and chairs also made the move, alongside accessories, artwork collected during her travels and a bar.According to The National, the aim was to integrate these familiar possessions with new purchases so that the interiors felt cohesive rather than assembled in a hurry.The approach also reflected a more sustainable attitude towards home design. Instead of replacing serviceable furniture simply to suit a new address, Lohan chose to give her belongings another life. The result was a home shaped by personal history, with pieces carrying memories alongside their practical purpose.
Small changes, significant impact
According to Realtor report, not every room required new furniture to achieve a dramatic change. In the kitchen, the existing cabinetry was retained and covered with vinyl to create a lighter, airier appearance. The decision avoided a more extensive renovation while addressing one of the property’s less inviting features.Also, it has been reported by Realtor that mirrors became another important design element. A trio of mirrors arranged along a living-room wall helped brighten the previously dark interior, reflecting light and giving the space a more open feel. The idea came from Lohan herself, demonstrating her active involvement in decisions that shaped the home, the online report explains.Elsewhere, the television area was designed to balance the villa’s generous proportions with a sense of intimacy. A large, comfortable sofa and a tapestry selected by Lohan and Shammas when they first met introduced warmth and personal significance.Artwork added further character. Among the pieces was Blue Lips by Dubai-based British mixed-media artist Louise Duggan, alongside commissioned console tables and furnishings sourced from local retailers.
Dubai’s furniture stores to the rescue
With thousands of square feet to furnish and only days to spare, the project still required substantial shopping. Lohan explored local brands, including Home & Soul, 2XL and Indigo Living, selecting pieces that complemented her existing collection.The designer and her team coordinated fabric samples, upholstery, cushions and furniture finishes to ensure the new additions worked together. The process demonstrated how a considered design plan, combined with access to local furniture retailers, could make a compressed schedule manageable, The National report states.One bedroom was also converted into a dressing room to accommodate Lohan’s extensive shoe collection, tailoring the villa to her lifestyle rather than following a conventional four-bedroom layout.
A home built around family
Lohan’s Dubai residence represents a significant shift from the years she spent living in hotels, including an extended stay at Los Angeles’ Chateau Marmont, and renting properties in Beverly Hills. Her move to Dubai in 2014 was driven partly by the desire for greater privacy and distance from Hollywood’s constant attention.As Realtor reported, the actress has continued to value the relative normalcy and security she experiences in Dubai, particularly while raising her son. Although professional commitments bring her back to the United States, the city remains her family’s primary home.The villa’s design reflects that preference for a more grounded lifestyle. Rather than treating the property as a showcase for new purchases, Lohan has made it a repository of shared memories, familiar objects and everyday comforts.In a house of this scale, luxury could easily have meant starting over. Instead, Lohan’s two-week transformation demonstrates a more personal approach to interiors: one where the most valuable pieces are not necessarily the newest, but those that make a house feel unmistakably like home.Images Courtesy: Instagram/lindsaylohan/thenationalmagazinetn
