The Alchemist of Lebanese Design
Cherine Moghraby
Cherine Maghrabi Tayeb By: Ahmad K. Minkara Cherine Magrabi Tayeb was born and raised in Jeddah to Egyptian-Saudi pioneer ophthalmologist and world-renowned optical magnate Dr. Akef Magrabi and a Lebanese mother, Nada Samadi. Cherine talks about very fond memories of her growing up in Jeddah and her Saudi childhood. After graduating from Chateaux Mon Choisi in Switzerland, Magrabi attended Chelsea College of Arts. She majored in interior architecture. Shortly after, to hone her design skills, Cherine took a short design course at at Inchbald School of Design.
Upon finishing her studies, Cherine settled in London where she free-lanced and started Art2Bite, a very creative initiative where she baked cookies and decorated with different designs and sell at the high-end bakery of Baker & Spice! “I would show up at every morning at Baker & Spice with a big basket of decorated cookies to sell!” Magrabi-Tayeb concedes.
“House of Today” is a non-profit organization that identifies, showcases, nurtures, and connects emerging Lebanese designers to create a relationship with design experts that will allow talent to develop. It is dedicated to the enrichment of Lebanon’s design culture.”
Upon moving to Lebanon with her husband and children in 2003, Magrabi-Tayeb took charge of Magrabi Optical marketing department. As a director, she spearheaded the rebranding of Magrabi Optical in 2005.
I walked into Magrabi-Tayeb’s quaint and elegant office overlooking downtown Beirut. I was greeted by azure Mediterranean and the looming foothills of Mt. Lebanon from another side. For a brief moment, I thought I was in Fellini’s Dolce Vita being greeted by its sensuous blonde heroine Sylvia.
Magrabi-Tayeb in her childlike innocence, Egyptian spontaneity & Lebanese ingenuity and Saudi hospitality welcomed to her elegant office. I sat on a funky sofa designed by the Lebanese Raed Abillama juxtaposed by two sumptuous pieces designed by the LebaneseNada Debs; a kitschy Calder took up one wall and nice Damien Hirst occupied another wall.
What was the topic du jour folks? Cherine’s design NGO, House of Today of course! The brainchild of Magrabi-Tayeb, the idea was conceived in 2011. It came to live in her first amazing design event Confessions in 2012 and the second Naked in 2014. “House of Today is a non-profit organization that identifies, showcases, nurtures, and connects emerging Lebanese designers to create a relationship with design experts that will allow talent to develop. House of Today is dedicated to the enrichment of Lebanon’s design culture.” One of unique aspects of House of Today is that it sponsors academic scholarships for design students in Lebanon.
Look Back By Karim Chaya. Courtesy of House of Today, 2012.
Look Back By Karim Chaya. Courtesy of House of Today, 2012.
