Home Sweet Home café
Inspired after her decorating skills stood out while working on the interior design of her own home, Maggy Monsef took that leap of faith often heard of in success stories. Influenced by her father and never one to shy away from a challenge, the courageous and undoubtedly inventive Lebanese left the world of finance behind to start co-creating homes (rather than houses) and envisaging mesmerising atmospheres for restaurants and places of business.
Diwan Beirut restaurant, Antelias
Monsef’s attention to detail, ability to blend old and new and make the most of Eastern and Western aesthetics have secured the ‘Eclectic Designer’ projects all over the world. Whether it’s a residence, hotel, compound or the renowned Lebanese restaurants she has spun her decorating magic on, customising for her clients while taking into consideration their desires and dreams is a priority. Ultimately, for Monsef decorating is all about details converging to make a “picture-perfect piece of art.”
Maggy Monsef
We talk to Monsef, who is also a fashion lover, established art dealer, consultant and accomplished artist, about the tests she faced and her design philosophy. We also ask the fearless decorator, who dreams of designing a museum honouring amazing Arab women, about this year’s big trends and tips on how to add an ideal spring feel to your home.
How and why did you get into the design Industry?
Design runs in my blood as my father, Camille Monsef, was a world-renowned architect. Passion grows with us, and as my late father influenced me, I developed a strong passion for the industry.
Despite studying Finance, I rediscovered my passion when I was working on my own home with a group of international architects. While travelling around to collect antique items for my home, they recognised my talent. See, it all begins with an act of encouragement, followed by realising we have the talent, whatever our educational background is. This is the mechanism of our millennium.
Home Sweet Home café
Tell us the challenges you faced entering a new field in a man’s world (contractors, carpenters etc.) in the Middle East.
Being a woman in a man’s world, challenges are a given. I am constantly working with men, and I find myself having to push my leadership skills beyond the limits of the industry. In challenges I find opportunity, so this allowed me to strengthen my leadership skills while aspiring to set an example for every woman in my position.
Another challenge is the client dynamics; I am always reminded of the importance of integrating the latest technology with every detail that concerns the client. Overall, the vibe has to be positive, I am not making houses, I am co-creating homes. I am not establishing a space for businesses; I am imagining an enchanting atmosphere for the clients and their patrons. This is a journey of creation, art, and above all, a ‘feel good’ experience.
Diwan Beirut restaurant, Ashrafieh
Diwan Beirut restaurant, Ashrafieh
We always achieve better results if we love what we do. What do you love most about being an interior designer?
I seek beauty in every encounter of my life, whether in food, fashion, or specific to the industry I have chosen, interior design.
In this industry, we are beautifying spaces; we are imagining a more perfect world to the client. And this is what I admire the most, transforming the tiniest details of projects into art.
While you have worked on various projects that had differing needs, do you have any signature touches that help identify your designs?
I am often referred to as the ‘Eclectic Designer’. A holistic picture is only perfect when each and every detail is given attention, admiration and passion. I do not believe in a homogeneous piece of work, I believe in details coming together to make a picture-perfect piece of art.
Home Sweet Home café
Tell us a bit about some of your favourite designs/projects and what you love about them.
La Crêperie restaurant in Lebanon brought my philosophy in design into practice. Transforming an old Lebanese home overlooking the sea into a French country-style restaurant integrated all that I believe in: the journey, the details, and most importantly, giving the restaurant a soul from the moment a client enters to the time the experience is concluding. Design sets the feel and the latter determines the experience. With this project, the set was ready, spacious and luminous thanks to the large windows and the character of the building itself.
La Crêperie Gardens
Another Lebanese project was Diwan Beirut restaurant, where I brought together my eclectic approach to maintain the traditional direction of the restaurant, yet creating a modern ambiance. The colour theme is where I started, and the restaurant’s story was reflected in each colour I chose. Take for example the choice of Ourjouan, the Phoenician colour that is representative of Lebanese culture, history and identity. Adding a green wall reflected the country’s pride in greenery and the integration of bright green served as a complement to the overall palette.
My latest project is the Home Sweet Home café store in the hip Mar Mikhail area in Beirut. The client required a “feel at home” setting. Here, I had to picture a home, not a business: couches, the windows, the comfortable chairs, the open, inviting warm space and the clear wallpaper. Again, it is all in the detail that comes together to create a beautiful picture.
Home Sweet Home café
Keeping up to date with all the trends is all-important in your line of work. Can you tell us some of the biggest trends in interiors for 2018?
This year is all about wall art, patterned plants, mixed metals, distinguished ceilings, spa-inspired bathrooms and rich colours such as warm grey with camel or tobacco, brown blacks, as well as earthy reds. The right choice of fabrics complements these trends by enriching each component.
Which ones are you most excited about and why?
Having told you that I am an ‘Eclectic Designer’, I feel that 2018 embodies the philosophy of my work by bringing all sorts of diverse details into a project.
La Crêperie Gardens
Are there any trends you feel would be unsuitable for homes in the region?
For me, it is not about the geographic location but rather the way of living. We live in a global village today where we are interconnected. It is about how we live, how we feel, what we do, and above all, what we want to dream of.
A new season is around the corner, can you offer us some easy and practical tips to add a spring feel to our homes?
Let’s bring in the plants and give an attentive eye to the accessories and small details. Let’s think moods rather than limiting our thinking to plain designs. Picture a painting representing spring and dare to imagine, dare to dream, dare to accomplish. After all, my job is like that of a painter, turning a blank canvas into a piece of art.
La Crêperie restaurant
Describe yourself in four words.
I am bold, daring, detail-oriented and untraditional.
What’s your philosophy on design and life?
For design, whether for residential or commercial, it is all about understanding the clients’ needs and way of living. It is a dialogue that has to be frank and clear between everyone involved in the project. Every detail in a project should have a story that captures the artistic eye of the observer. As for life, it is simple, never ever give up and dare to dream.
La Crêperie restaurant
If you had to pick a project around the world that you wish had your name to it, which would it be?
We have many Arab women who I truly look up to. I find that commemorating their contributions in a museum would be something that reminds the countries involved of how impactful the journey of Arab women has been, and is yet to go. I dream of designing a museum that honours these brave, extraordinary women that we should all be proud of, a museum that unites speakers, achievers and events that are female-focused.
You can learn more about Maggy Monsef on www.maggymonsef.com.
