I suppose if it were me, I would not want to waste so much time and energy on a rental. How long do you plan to live there? If less than 2 years, don't bother changing it.

Instead, learn all you can online about layering textiles. With all the browns and beige tones, you will want the base layers to be things like natural linen and jute. Then layer over these with colorful local textiles - rugs, throw blankets and pillows, curtains... With colors and textures in the room, the flooring will sort of 'disappear' under layers of more interesting and visually dominating items. Keep the textiles light and airy since it gets so hot in Cairo. Good luck!

Hi there, I think your space has some wonderful features... oh those curves! I painted tile that resembles ever so much your tile and it was a wonderful success. I chose white (it was a bathroom) simply because I thought it would look best since the grout gets painted at the same time. You need to seriously clean the tile first - if it is glossy tile, a light sanding is recommended. Then you apply a special primer and then paint. It took me three days to do my 8x8 bathroom. I did not do the floors - not sure how the paint would stand up to foot traffic - however the walls have been holding on very well (it has been ten years now - but I did repaint to freshen it up). So, if your landlord allows it, paint out the tiled walls... leave the floors. You'll have an instant make over for very little money and a tad of elbow grease... well worth it!

I'd put an area rug in the dining room. I don't know if they have self adhesive tile there, but that could work for the entry, they have nicer stuff now that can be grouted. I would paint the kitchen tiles white to minimize the different finishes in the room and consider adding a narrow bar/counter along the empty side if there is space. (even if it's just a shelf at bar height to put a few colorful bowls or baskets on) it could mask the pipes and break up the space, but it looks narrow, so it'll depend on how narrow the space is. Also hang bright curtains to hide the half window that is blocked by the cabinets and recenter focus on the window that shows. (not too long, you don't want them to catch on fire...the Steve looks pretty close). I have to say I'd use curtains again in the bathroom, at least to cover up the water tank. Other than that I'd probably leave it alone. Adding some bathroom mats and some storage furniture will probably make it more bearable. Egypt has such beautiful textiles, I'd really use them throughout the house to brighten it up. Really once you have more furniture it'll begin to feel homey.

Haha, so many errors in my last post. That's what I get for using my iPad :). The *stove* looks close to where curtains would hang.

Congratulations on your new apartment! I, myself am in a very similar situation to yours; just moved into a new apartment in Yerevan, Armenia. Wonderful, downtown location (with a view of historic Mt. Ararat) but frightening Soviet furniture. I have to disagree with Parnassus that you should not bother if you plan on being there for less than two years. Rental or not, our homes are our sanctuaries. If one does not have a place to call home that makes them happy and relaxed, it will have a negative impact on the rest of their day, right??

Anyway, I would take advantage of the market culture of a place like Cairo. After painting those tiles to get a blank canvas, have a color palette in mind and cruise the markets for interesting vintage pieces, colorful lanterns, etc. As onenewmexican said, take advantage of the textiles. Buy swatches of unique patterned material and find a reliable seamstress to make you pillows, curtains, maybe even slipcovers for the vintage furniture you might find. The advantage that you (and I) have is that we can make a place really special by combining a contemporary, Western aesthetic with the rich cultures in which we are immersed. The difference is that you have way more resources at your disposal in Cairo than I do here in Yerevan.

I, for one, am really looking forward to punching up my new place with some serious style. Good luck to you!

I wouldn't do a thing without getting the landlord's permission, first.

I actually think the tiles in the kitchen are very workable (at least from the picture), and possibly the bathroom as well. Can you hang a curtain or something over that weird water heater looking thing? Or maybe a tall screen? I'd also put some shelving or a narrow table under the cabinets in your kitchen along the wall. Boy, that exhaust fan is funny. I say, embrace it. It's part of the local flavor, and the more you try to fight against some aspects of the design here, the more stark the contrast will be between what you want and what you have. You have a pretty cool apartment - rock it!

Lucky You! I'd love to be back in Cairo! First, not so much decorative advice, but, this will help in your comfort in the apartment - try to find a place with caulking. The closest place I can think of is Carre Four or Metros in Zamalek. Seal up the little cracks around the kitchen and cupboards. That will help with bugs. No matter how clean you try to keep the place, any apartment downtown will be prone to getting little critters.

As for decor, if you paint, be prepared to have the simsar or landlord ask you to pay extra to paint it back. you might be okay with that, but, I'd suggest not going through the hassle. Interesting textiles and the elaborate quilts and throws are in abundance still, I'm sure at the Khan, but, probably well marked up now a days. How about finding light linens, cloth paint, and shopping around in Darb el Ahmar (artisan area near al Azhar) or the Khan, and find old wooden blocks with patterns (usually formerly used to print text and ornamentation in books) and make your own block pattern cloths for walls and furniture, etc.

Also, I'm not sure if they still do this, but, check out the Zamalek Art Gallery, on Brazil street I think. They usually have a lot of posters left over from previous art shows - see if there are any you like. I was lucky and stumbled across some beautiful posters and was able to get them for free.

Have fun!!

I also lived in Cairo, right across from the Ministry of the Interior so probably not far from where you are now. I don't know how much has changed as my husband and I moved back to the states a few months before the revolution but there was a huge store on Pyramid Road called Sid el Dary (Dairy? Something along those lines) that is the closest to any of the big hardware stores you will find in the states. Also I second the other suggestions for exploring the Khan to get great home decor. If you get away from the tourist areas you will find decent prices if you bargain and once you find a shop there that you like and have a good relationship with the owner they will be able to help you find other shops in the Khan that will not rip you off. I found an amazing shop that sells Ebony and Bone carved figurines and other beautiful things that I loved and the shop owner was lovely. Actually if you visit my blog entry from shortly before leaving Cairo I talk about some of my favorite shops and give some info on how to find them.
http://www.laurabrubaker.com/Laura_Brubaker_Designs/Blog/Entries/2010/6/8_My_Favorite_Craft_SHops_in_Cairo.html
Good luck and keep us posted on your project!
Laura (Desperately missing Cairo)

Also I would NOT recommend covering the water heater in the bathroom with anything as the one in our apartment bought on fire but since we did not have anything in our bathroom around it it was not to much of a disaster and just had to be replaced.