A guide to good design, by Rana Salam

The graphic artist and founder of the Rana Salam Design studio on introducing tasteful design into your space.

Graphic artist Rana Salam rates good design based on charm, uniqueness, good proportions and an element of the unexpected. Courtesy: Rana Salam

What does home mean to you?

Home means complete self-expression. It means transparency, being totally naked.

What’s your favourite space in the house?

The kitchen. To me, there’s no difference between designing and cooking. I cook all sorts, but pasta carbonara is my favourite.

What’s the most treasured possession in your home?

I have a poster by a famous graphic designer of a black panther. I love that. And a wall of all these wonderful prints that I found in Damascus that are printed on silver foil. They are beautiful.

What is your definition of good design?

Charm is very important. As are uniqueness, good proportions and an element of the unexpected.

And your top design tip?

Mix and match; use pattern and print. Be playful. Spontaneity is a very important ingredient.

What are the most common design mistakes that people make?

Thinking too much and trying too hard.

How influenced are you by design trends?

I’m more interested and inspired by trends in technology. They have an influence on the way we behave and express ourselves, and how we are inspired.

Is there anything that you would never have in your home?

A Poggenpohl kitchen. No soul. Too high-end, too overly fancy. I’d rather have an Ikea. A kitchen should be a mix of modern and found objects.

What does your dream home look like?

Like the one I used to live in – a 500-square-metre, 1950s apartment flooded with light. It was my home and my office. It had two kitchens, which really reflected the opulence of the 1950s. One kitchen was the serving kitchen; the other was where you cooked. It was a complete indulgence.

Which designers inspire you?

Ilsa Crawford, Paul Smith, local street artists in Beirut, unknown designers and craftsmen, and fashion brands such as Marni and Eley Kishimoto. It’s about the balance.

If you weren’t in Beirut, where would you live?

Seville. It’s spontaneous, unpretentious, charming and very Mediterranean; it’s a beautiful city.

best advice you’ve ever received?

From my father: that perfection is only to Allah. Everything else is imperfect; it has to be. That’s had a great influence on my work.