Inspiring clean and straightforward design with Chadi Abou Jaoude
people • designers
Chadi’s interior studio is a boutique size and he oversees a tight-knit team of just two assistants. With a hands-on approach, he meticulously manages various facets of the design process, including but not limited to, conceptualization, site oversight, material curation, and client liaison. Striving for excellence, Chadi deliberately restricts his workload to approximately ten projects annually, ensuring each receives his undivided dedication and expertise.
WEBSITE: chadiaboujaoude.com INSTAGRAM: @chadi.abou.jaoude
Words: designeers
September 2023
designeers
The most important thing you’ve designed to date:
chadi
The vast majority of my projects remain residential, involving apartments or villas. Regardless of size or budget, every project deserves attention, but perhaps the most refined and impressive ones are in Saudi Arabia, which I am not allowed to disclose or photograph due to confidentiality reasons!
designeers
A project you are working on now:
chadi
At the moment, we are working on complete renovation of four apartments, the design of a reception hall for a transport company and a men's shirt store in Paris, as well as the expansion of a duplex in Lisbon.
designeers
What constitutes great design:
chadi
Great design often involves thinking outside the box and bringing new ideas or solutions to the table. It pushes boundaries and introduces creative and innovative approaches. It often has a visually pleasing and harmonious appearance. It considers the use of colors, shapes, and proportions to create an attractive and balanced overall look, in a very simple expression by eliminating complexity, unnecessary distractions or visual noise that might detract from the primary message or functionality. A clean and straightforward design can enhance the user experience and communication.
designeers
What do you do when you're not working?
chadi
"Offline is the new luxury." It is becoming somehow a vital need. I increasingly feel the urge to disconnect and escape, and there's nothing better than a getaway or a journey to the farthest corners of the world to recharge and find ourselves.
“I increasingly feel the urge to disconnect and escape, and there's nothing better than a getaway or a journey to the farthest corners of the world to recharge and find ourselves. “
chadi abou jaoude
designeers
Favourite material to work with:
chadi
Definitely wood! Wooden materials add a sense of warmth and comfort to spaces. Whether used in furniture, flooring, or other applications, wood creates a welcoming and inviting atmosphere. It possesses a natural and warm beauty, with unique grains, colors, and textures that vary from species to species. This inherent aesthetic appeal adds richness to any design. It is a versatile material that can be shaped, carved, turned, and joined in various ways. This versatility allows for a wide range of creative possibilities, from intricate detailing to minimalist designs. And last but not least, when sourced responsibly, wood can be an environmentally friendly material.
designeers
Penthouse or townhouse:
chadi
Penthouse with a large terrace! I'm a lazy outdoor man, I feel so good being outside, doing nothing, in the open air. I have the chance to have a small apartment in Barcelona but with a beautiful terrace with a lot of plants and trees where I can spend the entire day in the hammock or on the sunbed, doing absolutely nothing!
designeers
On your coffee table right now:
chadi
"Nos puissantes amitiés" by Alice RAYBAUD. While friendship is supposed to gradually fade away in our adult lives in the face of romantic relationships and family once youth is over, Alice Raybaud believes that friendship is making a strong comeback, providing an alternative way of life against the patriarchal capitalist system and a source of emancipation, encouraging us to place this intimate and political connection at the centre of our lives.
designeers
What are the top three suppliers you go to when designing?
chadi
I am a fan of Poliform and Rimadesio for the interior layouts, Minotti for the furniture, and Salvatori for the bathrooms. Certainly for their attention to detail and refinement.
designeers
What is your favourite hotel in the world?
JEREMY BULL
...somewhere on a lost island in the Cyclades, with an infinity pool...or not, enjoying a Greek salad...
designeers
Design hero:
JEREMY BULL
A super hero would be probably a mix of Mies Van Der Rohe, John Pawson, Vincent Van Duysen and Tadao Ando. I love their works and state of mind.
designeers
What is on your coffee table right now?
JEREMY BULL
Pendulum Power (A book on pendulum use), a stick of sage, a Lami Pen and a piece of art by Greg Wood.
designeers
What makes a great interior designer?
JEREMY BULL
What makes a great human?! Passion, care, compassion, energy, tenacity, love, interest, curiosity, courage, openness… I could go on. Creativity is a gorgeous and important gift, but anyone can have it if they want. The world needs more of it, and not just in interior design. We need it everywhere.
