Lebanese artist Maria Housseimi is an avid traveler. She weaved the interior of her apartment from memories of cities and countries where she had lived

The 450-meter apartment of the artist Maria Usseimi occupies the front floor of a traditional Lebanese house built in 1875. Luxury doors made of solid cedar and marble slabs on the floor are a legacy of past times.

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RETO GUNTLI

The designer settled in a traditional Lebanese house of the 1870s, filling it with objects that she had collected all her life.

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Stephan JULLIARD

Get into the apartment of Maria Ousseimi (Maria Ousseimi) – ceramic artist and jewelry designer – you can directly from the street. An openwork staircase leads to the upper level of a traditional Lebanese house built in 1875. “This is the so—called “front” floor,” says Maria, opening the old doors made of solid cedar in front of us with a light touch of her hands. “Hence the high ceilings (6.5 m), three-arched windows, stucco molding and frescoes reminiscent of the Oriental and Venetian styles of architecture of those years.”

The hostess dubbed her luxurious apartments, which Maria shares with her two sons and three dogs, with the poetic name “Shelter of the Eternal Wanderer”. “I have spent the last thirty years traveling around the world,” explains the 45-year-old artist. – And finally returned to her homeland, to Beirut. I have woven the interior of this apartment from memories of cities and countries where I have lived.”

Living room. The walls are decorated with parchments with illustrations of Jean Lafontaine’s fables and decorative plates with the names of saints. Antique armchair upholstered by Rubelli. Table lamp, China, XVIII century.

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RETO GUNTLI

Three-arched windows, stucco molding and frescoes remind of the Venetian style of architecture of those years

Mirrors (France, XVIII century) Maria brought her parents home from Geneva.

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RETO GUNTLI

Numerous rooms, intertwining and flowing into one another, are filled with family heirlooms, antiques and art objects from all over the world. In the spacious living room there is a black sofa bought on the legendary King’s Road in London, opposite there are antique armchairs upholstered in noble fabrics from Rubelli, and Chinese lamps of the XVIII century. The walls are decorated with parchments with illustrations of Jean Lafontaine’s fables. And next to it are decorative plates made of papier-mache, on which the names of saints and friends of the Prophet Muhammad are inscribed. Maria did not drive herself into the framework of one style, making her house the embodiment of the spirit of freedom and carelessness.

Ceramic vegetables on the console are the work of Maria Usseimi.

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RETO GUNTLI

“Before you start thinking about beauty, the premises had to be renovated”

Breakfast room. The wall is decorated with floral herbariums in wooden frames.

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RETO GUNTLI

The hostess did the interior design herself. “When I first entered the apartment, a series of faded rooms appeared in front of me, the condition of which could be described as deplorable,” she recalls. – So, before you start thinking about beauty, the premises had to be renovated.” The ceiling moldings were carefully restored, the marble floors were carefully polished, and the historical frescoes were restored to their original appearance.

Living room. The black swan standing by the window on a marble table is Maria’s favorite object. The hostess received this carnival mask as a wedding gift, and now uses it as an interior decoration. In the center is a pair of folding camp chairs, England. Floor lamps are replicas of the legendary Projecteur lamp, designed by Mariano Fortuny, 1907.

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RETO GUNTLI

“This interior is a mosaic of my life filled with thousands of faces and hundreds of objects from all over the world”

The office also performs the function of a guest room. The old terracotta tiles have been preserved on the floor. On the wall are works of art from the hostess’s collection.

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RETO GUNTLI

“The decisive moment when buying an apartment was the six—meter ceilings,” Maria continues. — They turned out to be the main problem during the interior design. High arches give the room a grand appearance, but do not add comfort. The residential interior implies a more intimate scale. However, as soon as the rooms were filled with family souvenirs, carpets and other trinkets, harmony and serenity reigned in them.”

My son’s bedroom. The wall is decorated with engravings depicting medieval knights. On the floor — antique terracotta tiles. The chandelier is an antique.

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RETO GUNTLI

The decisive moment when buying an apartment was six-meter ceilings. They also turned out to be the main problem

The mistress’s bedroom. The golden chandelier was bought in Maria’s favorite Beirut store – Les Artisans du Liban et d’Orient.

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RETO GUNTLI

A lover of bright colors, sweeping curls and fine lines, Maria Usseimi created an interior that radiates joy and lively energy and at the same time calm and peaceful. Just like her. The hostess fits surprisingly organically into the interiors created by her. Dressed in a bright silk tunic with wide sleeves, the artist flits through the rooms like a bird of paradise in a giant cage. Maria is not offended by this comparison. “The doors are always open—” she smiles, “and I can fly away at any moment and go on to travel the world.”

The bathroom is entirely dressed in marble. The floor scales were brought from London.

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RETO GUNTLI

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