When Nadine Hachem and her husband began searching for the perfect holiday home in Beirut, they had a few conditions. “We wanted it to be close to both our families,” says Hachem, a fashion buyer for Mango Gabon and a mother of two. In early 2020, the couple came across a modern building housing a spacious apartment overlooking the Raouché waterfront. The Mediterranean would later act as the perfect backdrop to the residence’s vibrant interior. “Finding an apartment overlooking Beirut’s beach felt like the perfect fit.”
The couple then approached Beirut-based architect Harout Hovaguimian to bring their vision of a present-day home to life. “It was delivered as a core-and-shell space, essentially a concrete volume with no defined layout. This gave me complete freedom to design the house from the ground up,” says Hovaguimian, who founded his eponymous firm in 2018 and currently manages a portfolio of high-end residential apartments in Beirut, Mykonos, Jeddah and Cannes.
Spanning around 650 square metres, the abode is on a single level on the second floor and features four en suite bedrooms, a guest bath, a living room and a dining reception area. The layout was designed to feel open and easy, supporting everyday living through the main and back kitchens and making hosting seamless through dedicated staff quarters. “When we approached Harout, we wanted a space that felt timeless but never boring – something playful yet calming,” Hachem explains. “Since the beginning of the design process, I asked him to incorporate a rich mix of materials and textures, which he managed to do while keeping the house serene and full of character.” Outside, the bustle of the corniche brings a constant sense of life and movement, with people walking and exercising along the beachfront. However, inside the apartment, the mood is calm and grounded. “That contrast between the energy of the surroundings and the quiet of
the interior is what really defines the home’s architecture,” says Hovaguimian.
From the initial stages of the project the client also contributed creatively, the designer explains. Hachem approached Hovaguimian with a wide range of references and style, drawn from different eras and aesthetics. “While respecting the client’s preferences, I brought my sensibility into the project – working with colour, warmth and a sense of ease. A simple white wall can create a strong feeling if the proportions and light are right.” A few key pieces stand out, like a Sayar & Garibeh table in the main living area, which adds a playful element. The coffee table, designed by Hovaguimian as one of the first pieces of his upcoming furniture collection, sits in Hachem’s favourite spot in the house, overlooking the sea. “While the Piet Hein Eek table is the perfect place to enjoy my morning coffee, my favourite area is the living room, where Pierre Frey curtains create all the magic,” the homeowner gushes.
Another essential piece is the custom-built TV unit, conceptualised by Hovaguimian and crafted by Ateliers Lison de Caunes in Paris. Together, these creations add a personal touch to the interiors while remaining subtly integrated in the home’s overall atmosphere. The carefully curated artworks – all selected with the support of Opera Gallery Beirut – add to the whimsy of the interiors. In the dining area, a painting by Rob Tucker sits above the buffet, alongside a Thierry Martenon sculpture and a Quim Bové piece. Alessandro Algardi’s creation is placed at the entrance above a custom-designed console that will feature in Hovaguimian’s debut collection.
While the designer’s new project focuses primarily on a selection of tables, including dining tables, coffee tables and benches as foundational pieces, he hopes to expand it into seating with sofas, armchairs and more intimate pieces. “The approach for my own line is highly experimental.
I’m interested in pushing materials and textures, letting contrasts coexist – raw with refined, heavy with light, structured with fluid,” he reveals.
“Each piece will be conceived as a statement rather than a background object, often sculptural and produced in limited editions.” Hovaguimian expects the launch to be in early summer 2026, alongside that of a new office and showroom.
Now enjoying a break in Beirut before returning to her main residence in Gabon, Hachem shares that nothing feels like her Lebanon home. “When I first met Harout, I was drawn to many elements and even contrasting styles,” she reflects. “But he brought them all together seamlessly, creating a space that feels coherent, thoughtful and beautifully put together.
This article was originally published in the February 2026 issue of Vogue Arabia.
