The Laconico founder on precision, art, market intelligence, and the future of high-performance living spaces.

In Dubai’s fast-paced real estate ecosystem, where value is measured in both time and perception, Laconico, founded by designer Mariia Pakhomova, operates with unusual clarity of purpose. With a background in full-scale architecture, Pakhomova’s move into interiors was not a stylistic pivot but a conscious step toward a field she found more dynamic and emotionally expressive. At the core of her practice is a firm belief that space shapes the way people think, perform, and experience daily life. Interiors, in this view, are not visual backdrops but active environments that influence focus, ambition, and well-being.

Pakhomova’s design language is restrained yet emotionally charged. Influences range from Rem Koolhaas’ exploration of contrast to Philippe Starck’s clarity of form and confident minimalism, alongside the atmospheric power of large-scale art reminiscent of Ellsworth Kelly. These references translate into interiors built on proportion, balance, and intention, where every element must justify its presence, whether functionally or emotionally. Minimalism here is not reduction for aesthetic effect, it is precision thinking. Within this calm architectural framework, Laconico often introduces bold artistic gestures, such as oversized portraits or sculptural focal pieces, reinforcing Pakhomova’s belief that art is where personality, mood, and strategy intersect.

Design as a Goal-Oriented Business

Under Pakhomova’s direction, Laconico approaches design as a strategic tool rather than a decorative exercise. Every project begins with analysis: neighborhood context, building profile, tenant expectations, and competing listings are studied before aesthetic decisions are made. Because much of the studio’s work is investment-driven, design must serve a clear goal – shortening vacancy periods, increasing perceived value, and attracting higher-quality tenants in Dubai’s competitive rental landscape.

Materiality and color are treated with particular care. Textures, finishes, and tonal harmony are curated to ensure visual cohesion and long-term relevance. Sustainability, for Pakhomova, is expressed through longevity, creating interiors that remain desirable over time, reducing the need for constant redesign driven by trends. It is a philosophy of “less, but better,” grounded in responsibility and durability.

Well-Being, Storytelling, and the Future of Everyday Interiors

Among the most important shifts Pakhomova identifies in contemporary design is the move toward well-being. Interiors are increasingly valued for how they make people feel. Calm bedrooms, soft tonal palettes, and moments of visual pause are particularly relevant in intense urban environments like Dubai, where homes must act as emotional counterpoints to city life.

Equally significant is storytelling. Laconico’s interiors are designed with enough openness to allow tenants to add their own layer, ensuring the space evolves with its occupant. Looking ahead, Pakhomova anticipates a rise in quality across the middle segment of the rental market, where design differentiation will increasingly define competitiveness. By elevating visual standards in this sector, Laconico contributes to a gradual shift in everyday residential taste.

“Design is a goal-oriented business. Aesthetics matter only when they serve a purpose.”

Project Focus: Japandi Living, Galaxy by Binghatti, JVC

A project that encapsulates Laconico’s philosophy is Japandi Living, a one-bedroom apartment in JVC. Rather than literal references to Japanese design, the interior offers a tactile, quiet interpretation of Japandi principles through subtle precision and controlled forms. Soft neutrals, clean lines, and carefully composed volumes create an atmosphere of stillness, a mental retreat within the city.

What distinguishes the project is its execution timeline. From first client meeting to full handover of a move-in-ready interior, the process took just 28 days. Delivering a refined, emotionally coherent environment within such a timeframe required decisive leadership, disciplined coordination, and a highly controlled process, reflecting Pakhomova’s conviction that timing matters as much as perfection.

Function First, Creativity Second — But Never Absent

Pakhomova describes her balance between practicality and expression as an 80/20 proportion: a highly functional foundation layered with selective creative moments. Daily life must flow effortlessly, but unexpected details bring personality and emotional depth. One example includes placing a three-meter black-and-white portrait in a living room, a subtle yet commanding focal point that immediately captures attention, demonstrating how controlled minimalism can coexist with bold artistic interventions.

A Distinct Position in Dubai’s Design Landscape

What ultimately sets Laconico apart is its “laconic” mindset – a way of thinking and feeling that values clarity, balance, and meaningful experience over visual excess. The studio’s guiding theme, “More Than a Rental,” reflects its ambition to design interiors that educate the eye, support everyday life, and subtly inspire. Through this approach, Mariia Pakhomova is not only shaping properties but also contributing to a broader evolution of taste within Dubai’s residential market.

Advice for the Next Generation

For aspiring designers, Pakhomova emphasises two principles: cultivate cultural literacy beyond design, spanning architecture, film, fashion, and history – and respect time. Delivering good work on schedule builds trust, and reliability is as critical to a design career as creativity.

Editor’s Note

In a market often driven by speed and surface appeal, Mariia Pakhomova’s work stands out for its rare balance of clarity, restraint, and intention. Through Laconico, she demonstrates that rental interiors need not be generic or purely transactional, they can shape daily experience, influence mood, and quietly elevate standards of living. By merging architectural discipline with artistic sensitivity and market intelligence, Pakhomova is contributing to a subtle but important cultural shift in Dubai’s residential landscape, where design is no longer an afterthought but a defining factor of value. Her work suggests a future in which even everyday homes are treated with care, intelligence, and emotional depth – a reminder that good design does more than fill space; it shapes how life unfolds within it.

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