Blak & Co in Beirut,  is the brainchild concept store of Lebanese-French designer Lina El Khoury.  Passion for art and a keen eye to detail encouraged Lina to start out in the artistic world.  Furniture design began as a hobby for her.  In addition to her own bespoke creations and custom made furniture, Lina’s Blak & Co is a venue for young and up and coming artists to display their creativity and some of the European brands for design functional home objects. In addition promoting young stylish painters.

The artistic “rassemblement” that Lina is creating is further enhanced by the display of the widest collection of architecture and design books in Lebanon.  Blak  & Co is a place for artists and also architects to meet, greet, are inspired, and discuss around a cup of coffee.

The store’s setting in the traditional and vibrant Mar Mikhael district also stands testament to Lina’s commitment to reviving one of Beirut’s older neighborhoods, which is slowly becoming an artistic hub.

Greatest inspirations or influences?

I am inspired by a variety of styles and movements, and this is apparent in my designs and the concept of my shop. I am interested in mixing materials and merge vintage with contemporary, traditional with modern, twist of form with ease of function, east with west, minimalism with maximalism, kitschy with high-end. I have no limits in my creation,.I will mix anything that will be beautiful and functional.

Favorite websites/blogs/publications?

• Trendir.com

• Yatzer.com

• Dezeen.com

• Beautiful life.com

• Objekt Magazine

• Wallpaper Magazine

• Architectural Digest

Favorite artists/designers?

• Ettore Sottsass

• Shiro Kuramata

Anything else about yourself you'd like to share with our audience?

I would like to say that BLAK & Co is more than just another furniture designer shop, it is also a venue for artists and designers to showcase their creations not only for furniture but also for home design objects (international and local) and a platform for artistic and cultural dialogue.  We are going to hold events regularly to launch artists, designers, and painters. Next month, we are launching Ali and Hamad, two funky and fresh mixed media painters with a pop art feel and an innovative technique.