Two Global Travelers Set Down Roots in Saudi Arabia

Name: Tracy and Ian
Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
The basics: 4 years, school staff housing — 1,500 square feet

Tracy and Ian, two International School employees, have filled their home with colorful and just plain cool finds.

Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: We, Tracy Hill and Ian Hogg, have lived in Riyadh for four years, both work at an International School, I’m a teacher coach and Ian works in Facilities and Security Management. I grew up in a small town on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Ian in Windsor, outside of London, England.

We have lived and travelled the world, working at different international schools, living the life of expats. Our house reflects our love of art, color, textiles and travel.

What is your favorite room and why? The open living room/dining room- where you can really visualize art work from various places. We have two originally pieces by a local Saudi artist, art work from Bangladesh, Morocco, India and Bahrain. Photography from Bangladesh and Saudi. That room shows the life we have had and reminds me of how lucky we have been to have the opportunities to travel, meet new people and interact with other cultures.

If you could magically change something about your home, what would it be? I would definitely increase the size of our kitchen. We both enjoy cooking, especially Ian, and we need more room!

What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? The last thing I bought was an original piece of art I had commissioned for Ian’s birthday, painted by a local Saudi artist. Here is the artist in a local magazine, Destination Magazine -Riyadh: page 42.

Which fictional character would be most at home in your place? Auntie Mame

Tracy’s words of wisdom: I never worry about what will “match” and I never buy a piece for a specific reason. I actually buy pieces I love, pieces I connect to and then find places where they work in my home. That way our home is filled with things that are meaningful.

Thanks, Tracy!

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