Day two. 36 hours in.
We landed early hours of yesterday morning. The apartment was completely empty. Here's how far we've got.
The Desk Discovery
We were going to use the maid's room (third bedroom) as an office, which meant the boys would share a room.
Then I spotted something:
"There's a potential in my opinion for a desk to be tucked up in one of these corners – it's just dead space. A desk here looking out. Not obstructive. Not ugly."
Solution found. Sit-stand desk from IKEA fits perfectly. Boys get separate rooms. Office sorted.
Always look for the dead spaces.
Riley's Room (He Doesn't Know Yet)
The boys think they're sharing a room. This is going to be a surprise.
- IKEA day bed – Grey, pulls out to double
- Gaming desk – He's going to be buzzing
- Gaming chair
- Drawers
- Cup holder on desk – Little detail, big win
Plan: When they arrive, pull out the day bed and go "Tada!" – make them think they're both sleeping in here.
Reggie's Room (Also a Surprise)
The maid's room – no built-in wardrobe. So we got creative.
- IKEA high bed – Can change variation (wardrobe at end or inside)
- Wardrobe opens inside the bed frame – Might be tight with chair, but it'll work
- Storage unit – He's going to love this
"I'm not a big fan of not being able to tuck him in – he's going to be eight but he's still my baby."
Amazing use of the space for a room without a wardrobe.
Hallway Hack
Shoe rack in the hallway. Reggie's job – he loves putting away shoes (learned from Airbnbs).
The little systems matter.
The Curtain/Blinds Situation
Plot twist: The apartment has no curtains or blinds.
This caught us off guard.
What We Did
- Concierge recommended a guy (lives here, sees him daily – good sign)
- He came, measured everything, showed fabrics
- Cost: 4,000 AED deposit (50% down)
- Timeline: Friday quote → Monday fitting
- Pay remainder once installed
Budget for this. It's not optional – you need something on the windows.
Dubai Hills Mall – Our Second Home
Trip count so far:
- Yesterday: Twice
- Today: Once (and going back)
"I walked into Home Center and was like – hope the same staff don't see us. They think we've got a weird obsession."
Home Center Tip
Shukran loyalty program. We got 75 AED off just from points. Sign up.
What's Coming
Home Center delivery tomorrow:
- Bed
- Table
- Rug (maybe Monday)
Still need:
- TV unit
- TV
- Balcony furniture (trying Festival City mall)
The Little Stuff Adds Up
Sara got a message about another store – Ace. Apparently has everything: paint, hoovers, garden furniture, kids' stuff.
"The little stuff is adding up. The blinds caught me off guard. Curtains – same thing."
Budget extra for the things you don't think about.
Store Comparison (UK Benchmarks)
For context if you're from the UK:
| Dubai Store | UK Equivalent | Quality |
|---|---|---|
| Home Center | Next Home | Good quality, fair prices |
| IKEA | IKEA | Same as UK |
| Ace | B&Q meets everything store | Wide range |
Timeline So Far
| Day | What We Did |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Landed, empty apartment, first IKEA/Home Center run |
| Day 2 | Found desk spot, set up kids' rooms, curtain quote |
| Day 3 | Home Center delivery, continue setup |
| Day 4 | Curtain fitting (Monday) |
What We'd Tell You
- Look for dead space – Found our office in a corner
- Budget for curtains/blinds – Not included, not cheap
- Use concierge recommendations – They live there, they know
- Sign up for loyalty programs – Shukran saved us 75 AED immediately
- The little stuff adds up – Budget 20% more than you think
- IKEA high beds – Great for rooms without built-in wardrobes
More From This Journey
36 hours down. Kids' rooms ready. Office sorted. Now we just need curtains, a TV, and balcony furniture. Easy, right? 😅