In the dynamic world of interior design, where creativity meets entrepreneurship, Karen Dougall and Nikki Martin have crafted their own unique space with Palm Living Interiors. Founded in 2020 in Dubai, this brand has quickly become synonymous with high-quality, European minimalistic style furniture, all while embodying the vision and passion of its co-founders. With a shared love for design and a relentless drive to create, Karen and Nikki have not only built a successful business but have also inspired countless others with their journey.
For Karen, the seeds of creativity were planted early. “From a young age, I’ve always been super creative and artistic, enjoying things like drawing and painting,” she recalls. Initially, her focus was on fashion, specifically fashion illustrations and collages, which she studied at university and pursued in the fashion industry for several years before transitioning into interior design. During her childhood, Karen also developed a fascination with crystals and natural stones. “Marble is one of our specialty materials now, and it makes sense, given my early interests,” she said. Despite her passion, Karen had always dreamed of owning her own business but struggled to find the right niche. “I always knew it’d be something creative,” she added.
Nikki’s journey was different but equally influential in shaping Palm Living Interiors. “Growing up, my Mum and Dad loved their sports and always encouraged me and my brothers to participate in as many local clubs and teams as possible,” she shares. The team environment and the leadership skills she developed from a young age became the foundation for her aspirations. “The older I got, the more independent I became, wanting to not just be my own boss, but manage people and build a team of my own was always a dream of mine.”
The idea of entrepreneurship, while exciting, was initially daunting for Karen. “Becoming an entrepreneur was a huge step. Most people see the success and believe it is easy, but they don’t see the late nights and weekends Nikki and I have worked,” she said. The spark to start Palm Living Interiors came after moving to Dubai, where she felt the need to do and be more than her previous roles allowed. “It has been the best decision I’ve ever made,” Karen admits. Nikki, on the other hand, grew up in a family of entrepreneurs and drew massive inspiration from her grandfather, who ran a successful business in Scotland. “Seeing who he was to the local community and how hard he worked always inspired me to do more. The feeling you get going to work every day, working on your dreams rather than somebody else’s, inspires me each and every day.”
The journey to building Palm Living Interiors was far from smooth. “When we started Palm Living, we sourced suppliers, built our socials, and even handled our own deliveries to clients,” Nikki recalls. The challenges of navigating a predominantly male-owned industry added another layer of difficulty. “You can imagine the funny looks we got walking into factories as two blonde ladies,” she adds. Despite these hurdles, the duo persevered, driven by their shared vision. “As the hard work paid off, we managed to grow the business. We take so much satisfaction in seeing our products all over Dubai, and through the amazing team we have built at Palm Living, it allows us to focus on the bigger picture,” Karen added.
The decision to start Palm Living Interiors was born out of frustration and a desire to fill a gap in the market. “In 2020, when we first started the conversation around Palm Living, sat on my balcony, our main frustration that night was finding furniture that suited our style,” Karen mentioned. The pandemic had forced people to spend more time indoors, leading to a greater focus on home environments. “Many people began focusing on their homes, seeking to create their own personal sanctuaries,” she added. While online inspiration was abundant, finding a place to turn that vision into reality was limited. “That’s exactly what we aimed to provide for all our clients: a space where they could transform their house into a home.”
The values that guide Karen and Nikki in their business decisions are deeply rooted in collaboration and client satisfaction. “As partners, we prioritize collaboration in all major decisions while also respecting each other’s strengths. We trust each other’s judgment and work together to correct mistakes when they happen. As a company, we place the client at the heart of everything we do, understanding that it’s their home and their vision, so our business revolves around enhancing their experience in every interaction with us,” Nikki said.
Creating a positive and inclusive culture within Palm Living Interiors is another priority for the co-founders. “When it comes to culture within our company, we promote an inclusive environment for all of our team,” Nikki stated. She believes in allowing everyone to contribute and feel like they are adding value to the company. “I never enjoyed the restrictive nature of management, so allowing everyone to contribute, and most importantly feel like they are adding value to the company is something I really like to promote,” she added. Karen agrees, adding that independence is key. “Allowing each individual employee to have their own creative freedom within the workplace is important to us. One of the main setbacks in my previous jobs was that feeling of being restricted and not being allowed to let my full potential flourish.”
As female entrepreneurs, Karen and Nikki have faced their fair share of challenges, particularly in balancing work and family life. “For us, spending time away from our families, especially in the early stages, was a challenge,” Nikki shares. Both co-founders are mothers, and finding the right work-life balance is crucial. “It’s really important to get that right work/life balance. But it shouldn’t stop any woman from venturing out and working towards their dreams,” she asserts. Karen echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing family time. She said, “As entrepreneurs, we continually face challenges. The key is to embrace these challenges as opportunities to learn from our mistakes. No one gets it right 100% of the time, so we strive to do our best and aim to improve every day.”
Staying focused and motivated, even during difficult times, is essential to the success of Palm Living Interiors. “I like to remember the reason we started. I wanted to have a better life for my family, more time with them, and a better lifestyle. Remembering these things helps on both the best and worst days to know what you are working towards,” Karen said. Nikki agrees, noting that the demands of the job can sometimes feel overwhelming. “As a leader, you carry the responsibility for your clients and your team, trusting that your decisions are in everyone’s best interest. Staying grounded is crucial, both during the highs and the lows, to stay focused and on track,” she said.
Managing work-life balance is another area where Karen and Nikki have gained valuable insights. “Growing a business is not easy,” Nikki admits. “We live in a world of social media where people advertise wonderful lifestyles and meetings in beach clubs, but in reality, especially in the early stages, hard work and long hours are a fact of life.” However, as the business has grown, so has their ability to set their own hours and spend more time with their loved ones. “Building the right team around you allows you the flexibility to set your own hours and spend more time with the people you love,” she added. Karen adding to it said, “We are lucky to have built the team we now have. It allows us to spend more time with our families, which we truly value.”
When it comes to defining success, Karen and Nikki’s perspectives are refreshingly personal. “Success will always be subjective. For me, I am passionate about interiors. I enjoy going into our clients’ homes and helping them create their vision. I still get to spend a lot of time talking with clients and seeing the results we help them create. That is when I am at my happiest, and I guess that’s how I define success,” Karen said.
Nikki shares a similar view, “Palm Living all started with our goal to help people create their dream home, and that is how we measure our success.” As for the future, both co-founders are excited about what’s to come. “We want to keep growing and building our business further and have some exciting plans in the pipeline that we are excited to share with our clients over the coming months,” Nikki stated.
For aspiring entrepreneurs, particularly women, Karen and Nikki have a clear message. “I think all women can accomplish anything they set their minds to. I dreamt of being a business owner, but I only became one by starting. I believe in action. If you believe in your idea, believe in yourself, and you can do amazing things,” Nikki said.
Karen wholeheartedly agrees and said, “The most difficult thing to do is to take that leap of faith. I had Nikki pushing me all the way at the beginning of our journey, and without her, we wouldn’t be here today.”
Karen and Nikki’s story showcases the power of creativity, collaboration, and determination. As they continue to grow their business and inspire others both of them remain committed to their vision of creating beautiful, high-quality furniture that turns houses into homes.
