DESIGNER

David/Nicolas

David Raffoul and Nicolas Moussallem founded their studio, david/nicolas, in 2011 after meeting at the Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts. Trained in architecture and interior design, they quickly formed a collaborative partnership rooted in an essential duality balancing imagination and logic. Born in Beirut, the studio has rapidly grown internationally, with additional offices in Milan and San Francisco, working across interiors, furniture, and product design.

Their approach is rooted in craftsmanship, curiosity, and collaboration. Drawing inspiration from architecture, photography, music, and Italian design, they create pieces and spaces that feel familiar yet contemporary. Each project begins by identifying the emotions and experiences they aim to evoke, evolving through an iterative dialogue between context, materials, and human interaction. David and Nicolas thrive on collaboration—between themselves, their team, and the artisans they work with—allowing ideas to grow organically while maintaining a rigorous attention to detail, timeless quality, and thoughtful design.

 

Through high-profile collaborations with Carpenter’s Workshop Gallery, Nilufar, and renowned brands such as Buccellati, Pierre Frey, Tacchini, Ceccotti, cc-tapis, de Gournay, and Vista Alegre, the studio has established a strong international presence. Their work seamlessly blends contemporary living with timeless influences, reflecting a philosophy that craft is about evolution, not nostalgia. Free from preconceived notions, each project responds to its location and history and emerges from an intuitive dialogue with the client. The aim is to create modern homes for modern lives, enriched by the depth and richness of enduring traditions, resulting in objects and spaces that feel both timeless and distinctly modern.

This focus on craft and curiosity has earned david/nicolas international recognition, including Architectural Digest’s AD100 list, Monocle magazine’s “Top 20 Makers in the Design World,” several Wallpaper* awards, and AD Collector’s “Best Designers in the World.”