“I want to be the dream maker. I want to create client’s decorative fantasies,” Martyn Lawrence Bullard says.
The award-winning interior designer to the stars has built a career over the past 30 years, helping design the homes of Hollywood’s rich and famous. And now it’s time for him to celebrate.
Last month, Bullard released his latest book, Star Style, which features never-seen-before images of the homes of some of his biggest clients, including the Kardashians, Gwen Stefani and Cher, who has written the foreword in the book.
“In my book, you’ll see there are so many different interiors, from an 18th-century Irish restoration to a disco apartment, to a Palm Beach tropical house for Tommy Hilfiger, to supermodel Winnie Harlow’s luxe Art Deco-inspired LA pad,” Bullard tells Luxury magazine.
“It’s a little bit of everything, but it’s all about mirroring the client’s personality. It definitely makes it harder, but I think it makes it more exciting because you’re constantly challenged, you’re constantly having to be creative, and you’re constantly digging deep within your own resources to be creative.”
Later in the book, we delve into the homes of the Kardashian and Jenner sisters.
“We have the three different personalities of Khloe Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian and Kylie Jenner, showing how that family all live and love design, but they all have their own personalities, which differentiates them,” Bullard explains.
“They do all have an individual style and taste. They all want their homes to be super comfortable, a safe place, a sanctuary because of how public their lives are. But they also all want their homes to be family homes. The girls all entertain each other all the time, so each home is really decorated to be part of that experience. Yes, they all have screening rooms and glam rooms and all of those amazing things, but they’re all used every day.”
From humble beginnings in London with aspirations of being an actor, Bullard moved to Los Angeles to chase his dreams. He found his calling, but it wasn’t where he was expecting. While acting in a small role, he struck up a friendship with a Hollywood producer, who he invited for dinner.
At the time, Bullard was living in rented accommodation, which was built by Charlie Chaplin. He always had a passion for furniture, antiques and design, but had never realised its potential as a career, until his new producer friend asked him if he would redesign his offices.
“Although I didn’t know what I was doing, I did it thinking, ‘Maybe they’ll put me in another movie,’” Bullard says. “The reality was that in fact, the day [their offices] were finished, the president of Capitol Records saw it and said, ‘This is amazing. Would you come and do my offices as well?’
“So I ended up working for her for a bit, and she introduced me to a lady called Cheryl Tiegs, who is an American icon – she was the first supermodel to be paid a million dollars in the 1970s – she instantly hired me to do her own home. I had no staff, no portfolio, no experience, but it worked! Within nine months, we were on the cover of six magazines around the world, and my career was born.”
Bullard was catapulted on to the celebrity circuit with the who’s who of the film, music and entertainment industries knocking on his door, all desperate to bring their dream homes to life.
“Because [Tiegs] was a celebrity, I think other celebrities took note, and before I knew it, I had Edward Norton, Christina Aguilera and all these other celebrities hiring me, and it only took a few years for me to start working for people like Cher, Elton John and all the Kardashians. It has been an amazing journey.”
When you’re designing homes for some of the world’s biggest names, there will undoubtedly be challenges, but Bullard’s approach ensures no two homes are ever the same, and that keeps his clients coming back.
He doesn’t claim to have a style, but instead wants each home to be a complete reflection of its owner, so he sees all his projects as a collaboration. “For me, one of the great things is all these extraordinary people that I’ve worked with and I meet; I get inspired by them as much as they do by me, and it’s a mutual process,” he says.
His client list is one of the most fabulous in the business, but his success to date hasn’t stopped him from wanting more. As he reaches the 30th anniversary of his career, he believes there is still much more to come, and every client brings him as much joy as the last.
“I’m very lucky to be working with a couple of idols of mine right now, one of which is Sylvester Stallone,” he shares. “I had no idea that Sylvester Stallone would have such a major art collection – Picassos, Banksys, even Rashid Johnsons – his collection is vast and extensive, and so I designed a house around this amazing art collection, which is really fabulous.”
Bullard has even dipped his toe into the growing industry in the Middle East, designing homes for royal family members across the region.
“People in the Middle East really love design, and they want to be adventurous, and there’s so much new and exciting energy coming out of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE; it’s very exciting for designers to work in the Middle East where there is so much passion for design and so much evolution that’s happening so fast,” he says.
With a design and interiors industry that’s booming, we will no doubt see more of Bullard’s vibrant personality and inspiring designs in our region, but until then, the colourful pages of his book will give us an insight into some of the world’s most stylish and inspiring celebrity homes.
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
The biog
Favourite book: Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Favourite holiday destination: Spain
Favourite film: Bohemian Rhapsody
Favourite place to visit in the UAE: The beach or Satwa
Children: Stepdaughter Tyler 27, daughter Quito 22 and son Dali 19
If you go
- The nearest international airport to the start of the Chuysky Trakt is in Novosibirsk. Emirates (www.emirates.com) offer codeshare flights with S7 Airlines (www.s7.ru) via Moscow for US$5,300 (Dh19,467) return including taxes. Cheaper flights are available on Flydubai and Air Astana or Aeroflot combination, flying via Astana in Kazakhstan or Moscow. Economy class tickets are available for US$650 (Dh2,400).
- The Double Tree by Hilton in Novosibirsk ( 7 383 2230100,) has double rooms from US$60 (Dh220). You can rent cabins at camp grounds or rooms in guesthouses in the towns for around US$25 (Dh90).
- The transport Minibuses run along the Chuysky Trakt but if you want to stop for sightseeing, hire a taxi from Gorno-Altaisk for about US$100 (Dh360) a day. Take a Russian phrasebook or download a translation app. Tour companies such as Altair-Tour ( 7 383 2125115 ) offer hiking and adventure packages.
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
Price: From Dh147,000
Available: Now
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
The biog
Family: He is the youngest of five brothers, of whom two are dentists.
Celebrities he worked on: Fabio Canavaro, Lojain Omran, RedOne, Saber Al Rabai.
Where he works: Liberty Dental Clinic
Scoreline
Australia 2-1 Thailand
Australia: Juric 69', Leckie 86'
Thailand: Pokklaw 82'
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
The five pillars of Islam
Dubai Rugby Sevens
November 30, December 1-2
International Vets
Christina Noble Children’s Foundation fixtures
Thursday, November 30:
10.20am, Pitch 3, v 100 World Legends Project
1.20pm, Pitch 4, v Malta Marauders
Friday, December 1:
9am, Pitch 4, v SBA Pirates
Liverpool's all-time goalscorers
Ian Rush 346
Roger Hunt 285
Mohamed Salah 250
Gordon Hodgson 241
Billy Liddell 228
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
Company%20profile
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Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
The view from The National
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PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE
1 Man City 26 20 3 3 63 17 63
2 Liverpool 25 17 6 2 64 20 57
3 Chelsea 25 14 8 3 49 18 50
4 Man Utd 26 13 7 6 44 34 46
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5 West Ham 26 12 6 8 45 34 42
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6 Arsenal 23 13 3 7 36 26 42
7 Wolves 24 12 4 8 23 18 40
8 Tottenham 23 12 4 8 31 31 39
Why your domicile status is important
Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.
Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born.
UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.
A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Western Region Asia Cup T20 Qualifier
Sun Feb 23 – Thu Feb 27, Al Amerat, Oman
The two finalists advance to the Asia qualifier in Malaysia in August
Group A
Bahrain, Maldives, Oman, Qatar
Group B
UAE, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia
More on Quran memorisation:
Get Out
Director: Jordan Peele
Stars: Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Catherine Keener, Bradley Whitford
Four stars
Other simple ideas for sushi rice dishes
Cheat’s nigiri
This is easier to make than sushi rolls. With damp hands, form the cooled rice into small tablet shapes. Place slices of fresh, raw salmon, mackerel or trout (or smoked salmon) lightly touched with wasabi, then press, wasabi side-down, onto the rice. Serve with soy sauce and pickled ginger.
Easy omurice
This fusion dish combines Asian fried rice with a western omelette. To make, fry cooked and cooled sushi rice with chopped vegetables such as carrot and onion and lashings of sweet-tangy ketchup, then wrap in a soft egg omelette.
Deconstructed sushi salad platter
This makes a great, fuss-free sharing meal. Arrange sushi rice on a platter or board, then fill the space with all your favourite sushi ingredients (edamame beans, cooked prawns or tuna, tempura veggies, pickled ginger and chilli tofu), with a dressing or dipping sauce on the side.
The specs
Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo and dual electric motors
Power: 300hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 520Nm at 1,500-3,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.0L/100km
Price: from Dh199,900
On sale: now
Info
What: 11th edition of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship
When: December 27-29, 2018
Confirmed: men: Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Kevin Anderson, Dominic Thiem, Hyeon Chung, Karen Khachanov; women: Venus Williams
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ae, Virgin megastores or call 800 86 823
BULKWHIZ PROFILE
Date started: February 2017
Founders: Amira Rashad (CEO), Yusuf Saber (CTO), Mahmoud Sayedahmed (adviser), Reda Bouraoui (adviser)
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce
Size: 50 employees
Funding: approximately $6m
Investors: Beco Capital, Enabling Future and Wain in the UAE; China's MSA Capital; 500 Startups; Faith Capital and Savour Ventures in Kuwait
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
The story of Edge
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, established Edge in 2019.
It brought together 25 state-owned and independent companies specialising in weapons systems, cyber protection and electronic warfare.
Edge has an annual revenue of $5 billion and employs more than 12,000 people.
Some of the companies include Nimr, a maker of armoured vehicles, Caracal, which manufactures guns and ammunitions company, Lahab
The biog
Name: Timothy Husband
Nationality: New Zealand
Education: Degree in zoology at The University of Sydney
Favourite book: Lemurs of Madagascar by Russell A Mittermeier
Favourite music: Billy Joel
Weekends and holidays: Talking about animals or visiting his farm in Australia
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
