As the work-from-anywhere trend continues to grow, travel vlogger Lost LeBlanc creates a space in Dubai where digital nomads will instantly feel at home.
Christian LeBlanc (also known as Lost LeBlanc) is what many people refer to as a digital nomad: a remote worker who is not confined to one area. He makes a living by creating digital content on YouTube, Instagram and by teaching others how to become a full time content creator like him, all while travelling around the world. Every year, more and more people are choosing a lifestyle like LeBlanc’s where they can live and work from anywhere where they have an internet connection, and travel frequently from country to country.
Yet many nomads struggle to feel a sense of home when rental properties often lack kitchen appliances for preparing beloved home-cooked meals, have uncomfortable sofa set-ups and non-existent or poorly designed workspaces. “From the cheap and cheerful to the world's most luxurious hotels, the greatest issue is that 99% of the property rental market is designed for the short term,” LeBlanc said. “These are just a few of the many reasons why travellers and digital nomads lack a sense of being home."
The digital creator teamed up with interior designer Purvi Kotecha from Room 23 to create the space he wished he had during his travels around the world, one that would create an immediate sense of home for any digital nomad. The duo transformed the two-bedroom property from a blank white box to a cosy, contemporary home, while still maintaining functionality and comfort throughout the entire space.
Stepping foot into the home, guests are immediately inspired to create as they’re greeted with a front entrance shelving unit decorated with polaroid cameras, unique pieces from LeBlanc’s travels around the world and a custom made "Lost in Dubai" neon sign.
The 520 sq. ft. flat has an open concept kitchen and living room along with two bedrooms, one bathroom and a compact laundry room. The second bedroom has an electronic mechanism which can raise or drop the queen-sized bed, allowing you to transform the area into a dedicated office space with the click of a button. It even comes equipped with a leather West Elm swivel office chair for long hours of working.
LeBlanc wanted to create a bright space that encourages creativity, so the property uses plenty of bright and inviting materials. “But with all the beautiful day-light that floods in during the day, I wanted to avoid an all white space,” he explained. “My design team and I worked towards a cream and off-white palette with a few select white and black accents.” From the cascading porcelain surface which travels down from the wall to the kitchen counter to the wooden cabinetry across the home, the entire space feels cosy and cohesive.
The entire flat was designed for efficiency, comfort and productivity, with fibre internet, bottomless sparkling water and even a movie marathon-worthy couch with a Netflix account to match. If you're a vlogger like LeBlanc, there's a recording set with a tripod, production style box lights and a professional microphone for you to make use. The building itself comes with a massive swimming pool, underground parking, a gym, a playground, a movie theatre, a wildly creative and inspiring lobby and amazing group workspaces.
But according to the YouTuber, one of the best perks of staying in this flat is the surrounding community space. Located in Dubai Hills, this prestigious neighbourhood in the heart of Dubai allows quick access to some of the city’s best destinations, such as Downtown Dubai and Dubai Marina. What’s more, the flat is only a five-minute walk away from a 2.5 km running track, basketball and tennis court and even a wave pool.
"Dubai is one of the few cities that feels to be keeping up with technology and innovation and it provides massively advantageous options for entrepreneurs which I believe will continue to attract and retain talent in the city,” LeBlanc said. As such, he wanted to provide a place in the city where guests will feel at home from check-in to check-out. "They will leave Dubai feeling like they saw it as a local and not just another tourist."
Photos: Lost Home Dubai
