Pretty as a picture: A home full of memories

Elena Kuoni stylish home. (Courtesy)

Elena Kuoni is warm, welcoming and stylish. She arrived in Kenya with her architect husband 17 years ago. The mother of two, a Russian by birth, Elena runs two businesses at the Village Market; KSHMR by Kuoni and Oysters & More Restaurant. Her home is situated in an idyllic suburbs of Nairobi. A globetrotter, her home is a collection of treasures from all the nations she has visited. Most homes they have lived in - from Conakry, Guinea, to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania - have been by the beach. When they moved to Kenya, they found this fantastic mansion formerly built for the late former President Daniel arap Moi when he was a minister.

The six-bedroom house holds the living room, a dining area, kitchen, two guest rooms, dancing room and dining room. The balcony adjoined the dining area has a fireplace, and it is open for stargazers. The staircase leads to more bedrooms upstairs and the master. The garden leads to the pool, which houses a pool house, benches, gazebos and creeping plants. The view of the lake from her garden and ducks swimming is a mesmerising backdrop with the ever-changing weather patterns. "The reflection of the small lake changes with weather patterns," said Elena, adding, "The lake looks different during different times of the day."