The D-studio opened its doors a couple of months ago as a new outlet for made-in-Egypt home accessories and furniture. As with many such outlets, the shop manages to gather together objects that are simultaneously modern and evocative of an Oriental – specifically Egyptian – setting. The two-storey showroom in Heliopolis features the El-Horreya home accessories collection and furniture created by Egyptian designer Ahmed al-Daba. The El-Horreya collection is small but colourful, especially the bright yellow and electric blue serving dishes with matching covers, and the oriental champagne bucket with dangling ornaments. El-Horreya also features several designs for cushions, plain and with silver beading, in addition to small bowls for nuts and crackers. The collection is Oriental in style, yet hip and eclectic. The prices range between reasonable and expensive (serving plates go for LE420, small bowls for LE220 and cushions for LE450), although the quality of the materials used for some items seems not to warrant the higher price tags. Ahmed al-Daba is a young Egyptian furniture designer who studied interior and furniture design at the Florence Design Academy in Italy. His new line of furniture is on show at the D-Studio, and should appeal to those with a preference for simplicity, modernity and comfort. The showroom also offers a variety of quality imported furniture, light fixtures and home accessories, but of course the price range for such goods is higher than for the Egyptian items. Shoppers will find a huge variety of lamps, vases, serving plates, statues and paintings. Completing the interior design service, the D-studio also features an art gallery with works by Egyptian artists Hany al-Masri and Abdo Ramzi and the renowned marble sculptor Abdel Aziz Saab. And if the range of options and objects proves overwhelming, a creative team of engineers and designers is on hand to provide interior design services tailored to your flat, house or villa. D-Studio, 12 Montazah Street, Heliopolis, Cairo Tel: 0127967226
