Clarissa Strauss: Colorful energy in interior design
In 2001, Atelier Clarissa Strauss was born, which began to sign transformative and conscious authorial projects, which aim to open the doors to living well.
- Photography by António Chaves
Chadi Jaoude: Design at the service of art
- Photography Sebastian Erras
Chadi Abou Jaoude, interior designer based in Paris, stands out for his minimalist approach and sophisticated sobriety. His exceptional career began with studies in architecture at USEK in Lebanon, followed by a DESS “Cities, Architectures and Heritage” at Paris X – Nanterre and a DEA “Planning and Urban Planning at Paris I – Sorbonne.
Design em Lisboa: When and how did you become interested in interior design?
Chadi Jaoude: To tell the truth, I have been involved in the construction industry since I was very young, as my father was a Real Estate developer. At the time I was more interested in architecture than interiors. I followed an Architecture degree in Beirut and Urban Planning studies in Paris before starting to renovate apartments, mainly in Paris. I am truly passionate about this profession where projects can follow one another without ever repeating themselves or looking the same. Each time it’s a new adventure with its own challenges. We’re not bored!
DL: Do you remember your first project?
CJ: My very first projects started in Beirut and I remember it very well. It was a villa for a family friend that I designed from A to Z. It was maybe too daring for someone starting out in the industry, but it somehow changed my path. Indeed, thanks to this project I appeared on a television program which each week focused on an architect and his work. It was then that I was contacted to redevelop an apartment on Avenue Montaigne in Paris, that a client had just purchased…and it all started from there.
DL: Which project was the most important to you?
CJ: My most complete and successful project certainly remains a waterfront villa in Obhur in Saudi Arabia. I had the chance to design everything from scratch, both the architecture and the interior design and even the exteriors with a magnificent infinity pool. As it was a carte blanche project with no budget limits, I pleased myself with beautiful overhangs, double heights and beautiful materials. Unfortunately, to my greatest frustration, I was prohibited from taking photos at the end of the project for confidentiality reasons…
DL: How would you define your work?
CJ: This is probably the most complicated question… it seems difficult to define yourself and your work, I’ll let you do it.
I think that to create a successful interior, you need to know the occupant and their habits perfectly. You have to enter into his intimacy, put yourself under his skin.
DL: How important is it to coordinate the interior design with the space architecture?
CJ: For me it is complementary and inseparable. I would even say that architectural space is the cornerstone of every interior project. I can hardly design an interior by isolating it and detaching it from its context.
DL: How do you think creatively about a space for someone else to live in?
CJ: I think that to create a successful interior, you need to know the occupant and their habits perfectly. You have to enter into his intimacy, put yourself under his skin.
The mission of an interior designer consists, in part, of translating a client’s desires and needs in a harmonious and coherent manner. It’s a tailor-made order.
DL: What (or who) are your biggest references? What keeps your aesthetic universe alive?
CJ: At the moment I am very interested in Artificial Intelligence. I think this will profoundly impact and evolve the profession. This is just the beginning, I can’t wait!
DL: Can you describe this project in Lisbon?
CJ: The owners are French clients (who had become friends following several collaborations together) who decided to settle in Lisbon. They called on me to redevelop this apartment which had previously been renovated by the talented architect Caroline CUVILLIER who had done a remarkable job, especially with the magnificent staircase .
They are collectors who own a lot of beautiful books, art objects and photos, hence the idea of creating all these bookcases, niches and shelves, giving this space the feel of a cabinet of curiosities.
DL: In this project there are interesting art pieces. How do you create a harmonious language between art and design?
CJ: In this project, design is at the service of art, it is a bias. The entire interior has been reviewed and designed around these art objects with the sole objective of highlighting them. Each object has its place and its light.
To be honest, of Lisbon I only know its city center which will always amaze me with its authenticity and simplicity. We sometimes have the impression of walking in a village with these windows from another era, this softness that we no longer see in big cities.
DL: Which design piece is your favorite and why?
CJ: There are so many…but I admit I have a weakness for the Surface table by Established&Sons and the furniture by Muller Van Severen.
DL: Do you feel that the energy of each city has a different influence on your projects?
CJ: I wondered if it was the same apartment in Paris, it would have taken a different shape or direction, but I don’t think so.
DL: What did you love most about the city? What makes Lisbon unique?
CJ: To be honest, of Lisbon I only know its city center which will always amaze me with its authenticity and simplicity. We sometimes have the impression of walking in a village with these windows from another era, this softness that we no longer see in big cities. The omnipresent nature, the human scale… I have the feeling of finding in Lisbon a real quality of daily life that I no longer find in Paris. It seems to me that we have belatedly understood that modernity is not in skyscrapers and 4-lane roads…and that is what makes Lisbon so unique and attractive.
DL: How do you describe the collaboration with QuartoSala?
CJ: I was very surprised when I arrived in Lisbon to see a showroom as rich as Quartosala, which clearly shows the dynamism of the city. Until now I have only collaborated with Ghislaine who is very professional. She is precise, responsive and always gives good advice. It’s always a pleasure to exchange/collaborate with a true design enthusiast who knows perfectly what she’s talking about.
DL: Which QuartoSala brands would you highlight and why?
CJ: We are more likely to present brands like Poliform or Minotti for the quality of their products, the attention to detail and the richness of their collection.
DL: What do you bring with you from this experience?
CJ: I can’t wait to go back especially for other experiences 🙂
Chadi Abou Jaoude, interior designer based in Paris, stands out for his minimalist approach and sophisticated sobriety. His exceptional career began with studies in architecture at USEK in Lebanon, followed by a DESS “Cities, Architectures and Heritage” at Paris X – Nanterre and a DEA “Planning and Urban Planning at Paris I – Sorbonne.
He subsequently joined major Architecture and Urban Planning agencies in Paris before founding his agency in Paris in 2005, specializing in Interior Architecture.
Mainly residential projects, but also luxury boutiques and restaurants, the Chadi Abou Jaoude agency has since signed numerous projects in France but also internationally in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Portugal and Spain.
Across the streets of Paris, Chadi’s creations stand out for their discreet elegance, combining functionality and aesthetics. Chadi embodies the fusion between Parisian refinement and sophisticated modernity. His portfolio is full of diverse and varied projects where simplicity meets luxury, where every detail is carefully thought out, every space is meticulously orchestrated to achieve perfect harmony. As a strong advocate of minimalism, Chadi creates refined interiors, where simplicity becomes a form of expression.
Chadi Jaoude: Design at the service of art
- Photography Sebastian Erras
Chadi Abou Jaoude, interior designer based in Paris, stands out for his minimalist approach and sophisticated sobriety. His exceptional career began with studies in architecture at USEK in Lebanon, followed by a DESS “Cities, Architectures and Heritage” at Paris X – Nanterre and a DEA “Planning and Urban Planning at Paris I – Sorbonne.
Design em Lisboa: When and how did you become interested in interior design?
Chadi Jaoude: To tell the truth, I have been involved in the construction industry since I was very young, as my father was a Real Estate developer. At the time I was more interested in architecture than interiors. I followed an Architecture degree in Beirut and Urban Planning studies in Paris before starting to renovate apartments, mainly in Paris. I am truly passionate about this profession where projects can follow one another without ever repeating themselves or looking the same. Each time it’s a new adventure with its own challenges. We’re not bored!
DL: Do you remember your first project?
CJ: My very first projects started in Beirut and I remember it very well. It was a villa for a family friend that I designed from A to Z. It was maybe too daring for someone starting out in the industry, but it somehow changed my path. Indeed, thanks to this project I appeared on a television program which each week focused on an architect and his work. It was then that I was contacted to redevelop an apartment on Avenue Montaigne in Paris, that a client had just purchased…and it all started from there.
DL: Which project was the most important to you?
CJ: My most complete and successful project certainly remains a waterfront villa in Obhur in Saudi Arabia. I had the chance to design everything from scratch, both the architecture and the interior design and even the exteriors with a magnificent infinity pool. As it was a carte blanche project with no budget limits, I pleased myself with beautiful overhangs, double heights and beautiful materials. Unfortunately, to my greatest frustration, I was prohibited from taking photos at the end of the project for confidentiality reasons…
DL: How would you define your work?
CJ: This is probably the most complicated question… it seems difficult to define yourself and your work, I’ll let you do it.
I think that to create a successful interior, you need to know the occupant and their habits perfectly. You have to enter into his intimacy, put yourself under his skin.
DL: How important is it to coordinate the interior design with the space architecture?
CJ: For me it is complementary and inseparable. I would even say that architectural space is the cornerstone of every interior project. I can hardly design an interior by isolating it and detaching it from its context.
DL: How do you think creatively about a space for someone else to live in?
CJ: I think that to create a successful interior, you need to know the occupant and their habits perfectly. You have to enter into his intimacy, put yourself under his skin.
The mission of an interior designer consists, in part, of translating a client’s desires and needs in a harmonious and coherent manner. It’s a tailor-made order.
DL: What (or who) are your biggest references? What keeps your aesthetic universe alive?
CJ: At the moment I am very interested in Artificial Intelligence. I think this will profoundly impact and evolve the profession. This is just the beginning, I can’t wait!
DL: Can you describe this project in Lisbon?
CJ: The owners are French clients (who had become friends following several collaborations together) who decided to settle in Lisbon. They called on me to redevelop this apartment which had previously been renovated by the talented architect Caroline CUVILLIER who had done a remarkable job, especially with the magnificent staircase .
They are collectors who own a lot of beautiful books, art objects and photos, hence the idea of creating all these bookcases, niches and shelves, giving this space the feel of a cabinet of curiosities.
DL: In this project there are interesting art pieces. How do you create a harmonious language between art and design?
CJ: In this project, design is at the service of art, it is a bias. The entire interior has been reviewed and designed around these art objects with the sole objective of highlighting them. Each object has its place and its light.
To be honest, of Lisbon I only know its city center which will always amaze me with its authenticity and simplicity. We sometimes have the impression of walking in a village with these windows from another era, this softness that we no longer see in big cities.
DL: Which design piece is your favorite and why?
CJ: There are so many…but I admit I have a weakness for the Surface table by Established&Sons and the furniture by Muller Van Severen.
DL: Do you feel that the energy of each city has a different influence on your projects?
CJ: I wondered if it was the same apartment in Paris, it would have taken a different shape or direction, but I don’t think so.
DL: What did you love most about the city? What makes Lisbon unique?
CJ: To be honest, of Lisbon I only know its city center which will always amaze me with its authenticity and simplicity. We sometimes have the impression of walking in a village with these windows from another era, this softness that we no longer see in big cities. The omnipresent nature, the human scale… I have the feeling of finding in Lisbon a real quality of daily life that I no longer find in Paris. It seems to me that we have belatedly understood that modernity is not in skyscrapers and 4-lane roads…and that is what makes Lisbon so unique and attractive.
DL: How do you describe the collaboration with QuartoSala?
CJ: I was very surprised when I arrived in Lisbon to see a showroom as rich as Quartosala, which clearly shows the dynamism of the city. Until now I have only collaborated with Ghislaine who is very professional. She is precise, responsive and always gives good advice. It’s always a pleasure to exchange/collaborate with a true design enthusiast who knows perfectly what she’s talking about.
DL: Which QuartoSala brands would you highlight and why?
CJ: We are more likely to present brands like Poliform or Minotti for the quality of their products, the attention to detail and the richness of their collection.
DL: What do you bring with you from this experience?
CJ: I can’t wait to go back especially for other experiences 🙂
Chadi Abou Jaoude, interior designer based in Paris, stands out for his minimalist approach and sophisticated sobriety. His exceptional career began with studies in architecture at USEK in Lebanon, followed by a DESS “Cities, Architectures and Heritage” at Paris X – Nanterre and a DEA “Planning and Urban Planning at Paris I – Sorbonne.
He subsequently joined major Architecture and Urban Planning agencies in Paris before founding his agency in Paris in 2005, specializing in Interior Architecture.
Mainly residential projects, but also luxury boutiques and restaurants, the Chadi Abou Jaoude agency has since signed numerous projects in France but also internationally in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Portugal and Spain.
Across the streets of Paris, Chadi’s creations stand out for their discreet elegance, combining functionality and aesthetics. Chadi embodies the fusion between Parisian refinement and sophisticated modernity. His portfolio is full of diverse and varied projects where simplicity meets luxury, where every detail is carefully thought out, every space is meticulously orchestrated to achieve perfect harmony. As a strong advocate of minimalism, Chadi creates refined interiors, where simplicity becomes a form of expression.
