East meets West in the furniture of the Lebanese designer Lola Beuyukian

Few people are better qualified than Lola Beuyukian to grasp the subtle difference between designing in the Middle East and designing in the West. The 53-year-old has spent her life shuttling between Arabia and Europe, and her interior-design projects range from a luxury home in London and a ski chalet in the French Alps to high-end apartments in the Lebanese capital, Beirut.

“The difference is collectivist versus individuals,” she explains. “In the Middle East, the family plays a role. The opinion of each member matters. The families are bigger. People live in extended family systems, which means decisions are often made with the approval of the elders.” By contrast, in London or France either one person or a couple normally call the shots.

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East meets West in the furniture of the Lebanese designer Lola Beuyukian