I am a mother, a professor, an interdisciplinary designer, and an alchemist who believes world peace begins with inner peace. Born in Kuwait and growing up during the first Gulf War deeply impacted my sense of security. My parents, to their credit, did everything possible to normalise my childhood. From a young age, I was exposed to different cultures, languages, and religions, which ultimately shaped my identity. I was lucky enough to study abroad and travel the world. I learned how to see beauty in contrast, to move through differences and find the commonalities that connect us to one another. Most importantly, I learned to feel at home anywhere on earth. Within this complexity,
I found my creative voice.
Design is my first language. It taught me discipline and nurtured my creativity. I felt colours, textures, and forms before I could speak. For decades, my world was entirely focused on aesthetics and design-led inquiries, from studios and fabrication to research, clients, and deadlines.
I led a UK-based practice creating contemporary interiors and furnishings for the hospitality industry. My clients have included The Landmark Hotel, Liberty London, The Royal Air Force, and a circle of private residential clients who trusted me with their most intimate spaces.
In 2013, I purchased a derelict chapel in the English countryside and began restoring it. The chapel was once part of a former mental asylum and had been left abandoned for decades. I saw it listed at auction, felt an immediate pull, and placed a bid before seeing it in person. It was a place that carried both beauty and a long memory of pain. Freeda the designer in me saw the financial challenges, limitations, and the potential in this investment. However, Freeda the alchemist saw her reflection in this building, raw, abandoned, and in so much pain. I was so comfortable in that pain, walking away wasn't an option.
I spent ten years restoring the chapel and converting it into
a brand-new restaurant and luxury event venue. What was once a cold and abandoned building is now a warm and welcoming space filled with life, laughter, and conversation.
I am proud to say the chapel is habitable, fully operational, and, most importantly, it finally feels like what it was always meant to be; a living heart in the middle of its community.