Nada Debs - Ochaya Majlis
A custom rendition of our ‘Plum Blossom’ design frames the Ochaya Majlis, an installation created in collaboration with Nada Debs. Unveiled at her newly opened Dubai studio, the installation also features our hand-painted ‘Portobello’ design, whose gilded ground glimmers from behind ethereal shoji-style walls, within the majlis’ interior.
Rooted in a shared reverence for craftsmanship and culture, the collaboration is a meeting of exquisite savoir-faire and culturally unique design perspectives.
Meticulously hand-stitched and luminous with dimension, the reimagining of our ‘Plum Blossom’ design layers combines silk and metallic threads and bullion to form each delicate bloom - with glass beads layered overtop evoking a dew-drop glow.
Our hand-painted ‘Portobello’ design casts a sunlit glow from within the majlis’ interior: framed by the wooden geometry of Japanese woodwork - recalling the refined forms of sukiya-zukuri architecture.
The space unfolds as a setting for conversation and ritual - where Studio Nada Debs’ carved wood, mother-of-pearl details, and signature geometric patterns sing in harmony with de Gournay designs. Japanese textiles curated by the designer take part in evoking a mood of layered cultures, bringing a sense of history and warmth to the contemporary setting.
An vibrant console is joined by a sculptural vase, recalling the spirit of ikebana through the lens of Debs’ craft-driven design language.
Drawing on the Beirut-based designer’s childhood in Japan, Debs weaves together cultural influences to shape the exquisite environment - a meeting point of the intimacy of Japanese tea-houses, and the gathering culture of the Middle Eastern majlis.