In the studio: James White & Elliot March

Elliot March and James White discuss their upcoming expansion into the Middle East and their newly launched furniture collection MAWDmade.

Elliot March and James White are known across the globe as experts in crafting interiors for some of the world’s most celebrated brands, developers and ambitious projects. Their interior design firm, with teams in London, New York, Los Angeles and soon to be Dubai, specialise in residential developments, upscale hospitality projects, and private homes.

With the burgeoning lure of the Middle East’s ever growing hospitality market, it is no surprise the next logical chapter for James and Elliot is Dubai. Find out more below.

James: Over the past 14 years we have seen a huge development in the types of projects we have been working on, and spent that time identifying markets that fit MAWD’s design approach. It is an extremely exciting time for us as our furniture collection MAWDmade has recently launched and we are opening our fourth studio in Dubai later this year. Elliot is based in our Los Angeles studio and I am primarily based in London and Dubai so we have a great capture on various time zones for our global projects. We tend to work collaboratively across our studios to ensure we have an international approach to every project.

Myself and Elliot have worked on a number of confidential projects in Saudi for over 7 years, so we already have a lot of experience in the region, and with the exponential development across the branded residential, hospitality and private home sectors in UAE it is a really exciting time to be opening a studio.

Elliot: Having been located in Los Angeles for several years now, it is surprising how closely connected the US and Middle East are, albeit not by miles but in terms of property innovation and development. We have worked on a number of projects that have a lot of influence from Middle Eastern buyers and strong links to some of the current developers we are working with across the globe.

Most notably in some of our latest projects The Greenwich by Rafael Viñoly, an 88 story residential tower that boasts unprecedented views of New York Harbor and lower Manhattan and 14 Roc Miami. Which is situated just steps from Miami's Signature District, the 32-story luxury residence features nearly 300 residences, and over 25,000 sq ft of programmed amenity space.

James: Many people ask where the inspiration for our designs come from and how they have led to the development of our first three piece furniture collection, unfortunately there isn't a simple answer, but it really lies in the demographic detailing. Our approach is not just about aesthetics; it’s about evoking emotions, capturing the spirit of the locales we touch, and shaping environments where life’s moments are lived and cherished.

The philosophy behind the MAWDmade collection aligns with our interior design studio's core values. We prioritise exceptional craftsmanship, utilise rich and functional materials, and design luxurious pieces that are built to last. Our collection was created with an awareness that sustainable options are scarce in the luxury furniture market.

Elliot: Designed and manufactured in California, we engineered the MAWDmade Collection from the inside out, ensuring complete transparency and trust by disclosing every product ingredient to meet the strict environmental standards of The International Future Living Institute’s ‘Declare Label’. By highlighting sustainable practices and supporting a circular economy, each of the pieces can greatly influence the health and well-being of occupants. This makes it crucial to transition towards more natural and thoughtful material selections.

James: The collection is currently in New York and will be making its debut in the Middle East at the upcoming Dubai Design Week in November, alongside MAWD’s new studio opening.