“I believe everyone should live stylishly,” proclaims Nicholas Obeid. It’s an appropriate mentality from a creative who admits he’s long had an appreciation for “every facet of design.”
“One of my earliest memories is being enamored by a house we drove by and trying to sketch it out,” he recalls. “That same afternoon, I was obsessing over the graphic design of album cover art.” Obeid has continued to follow that multimedia approach throughout his adult life: After receiving his BA in Interior Design from Michigan State University and working for another famous creative multi-hyphenate, Jonathan Adler, Obeid founded his eponymous firm in 2018. He continues to experiment with mediums ranging from photography and product design, practices that shape his style and methodology.
"Years of experimenting with photography taught me about light, shapes, and shadows," muses the designer. "My approach to design is about telling a story through compelling compositions."
Obeid's most recent project is a line with CB2, comprising sculptural furniture, lighting, and accessories that show his artful eye—and allow him to bring his vision to the masses. "I’m inspired by the idea of someone coveting a product I designed," he says. "It’s fulfilling to know that my work is in front of such a wide audience." (Shop the line here!)
Tell us...
What or who has made the biggest impact on your career so far?
My mother. Aside from inheriting her appreciation for the arts—in a family full of doctors—she allowed me the mental space and the confidence to flex my creativity growing up and, just as importantly, equipped me with the discipline to run a business.
How do you want your clients to feel in their space?
I want them to feel their best, and that means different things to different people.
What or who was your first design crush? Your current design crush?
Pierre Yovanovitch ranks pretty high on both of those lists.
What's your favorite room, anywhere, of all time, and why?
This one’s easy. This perfectly layered room decorated by Fabrizio Casiraghi for French AD. My eye lands on something new every time, and I just want to spend all my time there. The play of scale, the mix of eras, the tasteful use of bold color. Perfection.
For under $100—or even for free!—what decorating trick has the most impact?
Taping it out, for scale. It’s not chic if it doesn’t fit....
What!s overrated in decorating?
Using the same of-the-moment chair or sofa that you see everywhere.
What's underrated in decorating?
Time. This line of work is a luxury—the careful consideration of how a space should be used, and beautiful, quality crafted goods. The expectation that it happens quickly is unrealistic and compromising.
Thing to collect: Accent chairs.
Paint color: I just had my apartment painted Benjamin Moore Silver Sage. It’s warm and chalky with green undertones.
Online store: LiveAuctioneers.com
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