Roland Helou Design (ROHD) is behind an interior design marvel whose intriguing design will delightfully bemuse even the most philistine eye. Having the visual appeal and sophistication of a villa, this ground floor garden flat is an eye-catching trompe l’oeil that draws from interior architecture master tricks that command—besides the inevitable amazement—scrutiny.

Designed by ROHD, the Beirut-based interior architecture and multidisciplinary design studio that rests on the aesthetic sensibility and design expertise of University of the Arts London master graduate Roland Helou, the flat is anything but: there is no dull corner here or any detail left to whims or spontaneity. Everything is thought-out—even the silent spaces are studied.

Conceived for a professional young couple, the garden flat stretches over 300 m2 of ground floor of a building located in Rabieh, Beirut’s most affluent suburb, nested on a hill side to the north of the city. Seamlessly blending with a quaint outside garden, the flat appears like a villa. This result is achieved through clever execution of curtain glass and a terrace serving dual usage: annexed living space in winter and an extension of the garden in summer.

Luxurious flourishes abound, such as the Onyx marble and black lacquered wood lit bar that protrudes to the outdoor area, serving as an organic connection along with the large curtain glass doors. Another impressive piece is the black basalt built-in chimney of the main living room. Made of volcanic stones, it radiates a distinctive blend of elegance and dominance, like that of the central jewel of a crown, and dialogues its equally impressive roommates, a Kelly Hoppen Dining table, a Natuzzi Sofa, and RHOD custom-made central tables. 

In a high-end space like this one, distinctiveness is not exclusive to any one room. Even the guest bathroom, with mirror cladded ceiling and Tala Maron Marble, is worth lengthily dwelling over—and in. Not to be outshined, the master bedroom has an Ivano Redaelli bed, placed in its center, facing the outdoor Jacuzzi, and surrounded by hidden American Walnut wooden closets.