It may be an age-old saying (and slightly cliche, if you will), but home is where the heart is.
For Nikki Martin (NM) and Karen Dougall (KD), who founded The Palm Living Group in 2020, that belief is that and more. The Dubai-based duo has built a brand from scratch, catering to those who want to create their dream living space into a tangible, creative reality.
At The Palm Living Group, Nikki and Karen came together over a love of aesthetically pleasing, warm, and European-minimalist interiors. Here, they have carved a space that not only becomes a place to reside, but also an extension of the client’s dream abode.
Born from the need for minimalist-designed interiors, the duo created an interior company that answered the desperate need for high-quality yet affordable, stripped-down pieces.
With signature aesthetics rooted in clean lines, soft neutrals, and natural textures, they understand that homes should be both functional and pleasing to the eye. Without conforming to the endless cycles of trends, and to keep things authentic and bespoke, they launched The Palm Living Group, where simplicity and true luxury reign.
Drawing on Nikki and Karen’s life stories, from fashion to interiors, this GRAZIA Career Edit explores their journey.
My current role is…
NM: I am currently the Managing Director and Co-Founder of The Palm Living Group, a luxury furniture and interior design company based in the UAE.
KD: I am currently the Creative Director and Co-Founder of The Palm Living Group, I’m in charge of all marketing and design functions, which I absolutely love!
When I was younger….
NM: I actually wanted to be an actress and singer! I used to organise singing shows and charge my family and friends for tickets to watch, how times have changed!
KD: I wanted to be an artist, fashion designer or chef! All very creative, even from a young age I loved to express myself visually and through art, designing and cooking too!
My favourite subject at school was…
NM: My favourite subjects at school were definitely Business Management and Modern Studies. I was, and have always been, fascinated by how businesses operate and the strategies and brains behind their success, so Business Management really sparked my interest from the get-go. Modern Studies, on the other hand, gave me a deep understanding of society and politics, I do love a good debate!
KD: Mine was Art, I loved expressing myself through creative processes and luckily I found a career that lets me do this too – it was meant to be!
My first job was…
NM: I worked in my local Chinese takeaway taking orders and eventually doing deliveries. I loved it and stayed there for six years until I went to University.
KD: For me, it was working at my local fun-fair at 13 years old over the summer holidays! As an adult, my first proper job was working as fashion buyer after I graduated from studying textile and fashion design at Herriot Watt University – I loved it!
My career path so far has been…
NM: My career path so far has been a dynamic journey. I spent about 10 years working in the fashion industry, which provided me with valuable experience in design, trends, and client-focused creativity. Interestingly, many aspects of fashion align with the interior design industry such as the importance of aesthetics, attention to detail, and the ability to think creatively. This crossover has greatly influenced my approach to design and helped shape my career in this new direction.
KD: It’s been an amazing journey so far! As a fashion buyer, I was lucky to travel the world—learning about business, culture, and discovering incredible places along the way. I spent a lot of time in China, France, and London during my early years in the industry, and now I get to bring all that experience into growing and developing our company. Sourcing fabrics and negotiating have become second nature, and at Palm Living, I channel that into creating our collections. Traveling and being inspired by interiors, architecture, and landscapes has truly opened my eyes—and even here in Dubai, we’re surrounded by beauty and inspiration every day!
The role the UAE has played in my career is…
NM: The UAE has played a major role in my career—it’s truly a land of opportunity and an incredibly safe place to live, work, and build a life for yourself and your family. As an entrepreneur, it has given me the platform to launch various businesses, and I believe the region is designed to genuinely support those eager to start their own ventures.
KD: Opportunity too! It’s given me the ability to work for myself after 20 years working for other companies. Dubai has given me a huge opportunity to do something that I love and turn it into a career and I am so grateful! The UAE has an incredibly strong economy and makes it so easy to set up and thrive. It’s the perfect place for driven, like-minded entrepreneurs who are ready to work hard and turn their dreams into reality. I’d highly recommend it to anyone with the passion and ambition to succeed!
The story of Palm Living is…
NM: With backgrounds in fashion and a passion for luxury, we’ve always enjoyed creating mood boards and using our homes as canvases. As we struggled to find the right pieces for our homes, we became more passionate about helping others create their own dream living space. Our drive to find exactly what we were looking for sparked a passion to do the same for others… and so, Palm Living was born!
KD: We started Palm Living as a creative outlet toward the end of COVID. Nikki and I had built a strong friendship during that time—she’s a natural-born entrepreneur, and I really benefited from her mindset. Her experience in launching multiple businesses gave me the confidence to dive in and follow that path myself. With our shared love for interiors, fashion, and marketing, we combined our strengths and began building our own interiors brand. We started small, responding to customer demand for minimalist, European-inspired design, and have continued learning and evolving ever since. Each project has inspired us to grow our range, and even now, we’re constantly adapting to keep our business moving forward and thriving.
My daily routine consists of…
NM: My daily routine starts early, usually thanks to my kids waking me up first thing. After that, I enjoy a coffee and a catch-up with my husband, Tom, to kick-start the day. Then it’s time to focus on what’s ahead—beginning with a solid breakfast to fuel me for the day’s tasks, and occasionally fitting in a Pilates class to help centre my mind.
KD: My day starts early—up at 5am and in the gym by 6am with my fiancé. After a coconut latte and a quick catch-up, he heads to the factory while I either join him or visit one of our showrooms to check in with the team. Work usually kicks off around 8am. I go through my to-do list, check our shared calendar with my business partner Nikki, and prep for the day. We often have a working lunch to align on sales, HR, and strategy. Afternoons are usually spent on-site with clients or reviewing projects with our interior designers. I aim to be home by 6pm to have dinner with my family, and if we’re up for it, we’ll head out for a walk before unwinding with some Netflix and chill!
My role as Co-Founder entails…
NM: My co-founder, Karen, and I have a clear approach to our daily responsibilities. My main focus is on business strategy and managing operations, while Karen focuses on the creative design side. My day-to-day role includes a mix of tasks, from people management and accounts meetings to making sure our manufacturing warehouses are running smoothly. But above all, my priority is ensuring our clients are happy!
KD: Where do I start? No two days are the same! Palm Living includes a group of businesses, so there’s always something going on—from team meetings and client handovers to factory visits to check on production and materials. We have a 15,000 sqft factory in Dubai where we design and manufacture all our furniture and joinery. It’s so rewarding to see it all come together and stay connected with our teams. I focus mostly on the creative side—working with marketing, design, and production, while also supporting sales and business development. Nikki and I work closely together, and with both our partners involved, there’s never a dull moment! I feel lucky to do what I love—it never feels like a job, and that really makes all the difference.
The biggest hurdle I have experienced in my career…
NM: I think without a doubt, Covid-19 was the most difficult period of my career. Having owned a successful business, covid was a challenging time. The unknown made it very difficult for all business owners and employees to know what was next. But in that same sentence I do believe after Covid came a wave of opportunity, with all the down time if you like came fresh ideas and chance to reset.
KD: When I was unemployed and struggling to find my direction after taking a role in Dubai that I knew wasn’t right for me from day one! I decided to take the plunge into the life of a self-employed entrepreneur and it was terrifying for me! Luckily my business partner Nikki was with me and we faced our problems together & managed to grow our passion into a successful business with over 100 staff members in just 5 years!
The biggest milestone I have achieved is…
NM: It has to be when we launched our flagship showroom in Al Quoz. Launching Palm Living as an online retailer, and building the brand, it was the moment we had something tangible to look at. Our clients could come to see us, and touch and feel our creations. I remember looking at Karen, my business partner, and thinking we have finally done it after months and months of hard work.
KD: Without a doubt, starting Palm Living and opening our second store here in Dubai last November in a shopping center, this was a dream come true. We fully designed and renovated our Jumeriah Golf Estates store and it was a great opportunity for us to show our capabilities to the community and also open up our audience to a wider market.
A quote I live by is…
NM: When you have a dream, you have to grab it and never let it go…
KD: If you don’t ask you don’t get! Be bold & don’t be afraid of rejection!
What I hope for 2025 is…
NM: As The Palm Living Group continues to grow and thrive, we’re always exploring new expansion opportunities—and we’re really excited to see what the rest of 2025 has in store for us. When you love what you do, no matter what curve balls are thrown at you, it gives us such pride to be on the journey we are on.
KD: Our goal is to continue growing our company while inspiring and developing our team every day. We’re committed to delivering the highest quality products to ensure customer satisfaction and the continued success of Palm Living Interiors. We’re also preparing to renovate our Al Quoz store—an exciting, long-awaited project that marks a new chapter for us. It will showcase our latest products and designs, and help drive our growth as we head into 2025.
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