What if we imagined life without the arts? I mean the arts related to women’s lives and femininity: putting on makeup is an art, coordinating fashion and furniture is an art, as is the art of setting the table. Of course, our lives will seem gray and colorless.. Our guest in this special photo session is the influencer WLebanese table coordination expert Lea Sfeir, owner of the ByLéaSfeir brand, which offers exceptional products; She has been able to reserve a distinguished place for herself in this field, and she is also the mother of three splendid children, the beautiful Adam, 7 years old, and the beautiful twins, Mary and Gaia, 3 years old. In our interview with Lea we talked about different topics, let’s get to know her interesting answers together.
Coordination and dialogue: Rana Al-Tousi
Coordination assistance: Icho Dokau
Photography: Jeremy Zissinger
Fashion: Bloomingdale’s Dubai
Makeup and hair: Lina Qader
Leah Sfeir
Leah’s look:
Dress by Mary Katrantzou
Maria and Gaia look:
Two dresses by Cirillo
Adam’s gaze:
Jacadi denim trousers
Who is Leah?
Leah is never afraid to search for herself, renew herself and follow her passion. I studied to be a lawyer, then founded a public relations firm in Paris, becoming a mother of three, professional table decorator and lifestyle influencer.
At this link you can follow the meeting on the digital version of Sayidaty A family atmosphere to welcome the new year
“I didn’t know I was special until I got paid to work on a table set by a well-known brand.”
The art of setting the table
For those who don’t know, can you tell us about table professionals?
Dining table coordination is the art of arranging the pieces in a way that makes the table closer to a masterpiece. In France, the art of setting the table was recognized as a cultural heritage by UNESCO in 2010. I consider it a realistic practice that contributes to enriching our cultural diversity.
When King Louis
How did you stand out in the industry?
I didn’t know I was special until I got paid to work on a table by a well-known brand that wanted me to tell their story through a table. I succeed by having fun and teaching my followers on social media how to set the table for dinner at home. I never imagined for a moment that people cared so much, nor did I imagine this special opportunity that Sayidaty magazine offered me.
Have you studied this art?
I studied and graduated from the Faculty of Law in Paris, with a second Master’s degree in Marketing and Communications in the luxury sector.
I have always been interested in everything related to aesthetics, art, fashion and color combinations.
What was your inspiration for the two sets of tables we saw in the shoot?
For the first table I chose green and white, an elegant and timeless festive table, inspired by the English countryside of the 1950s. I love coordinated pieces, designed to be enjoyed by their owner all year round and for every special gathering.
I called this collection Lumière, which is a French word meaning light. They are pieces that will be a warm and charming addition to any festive occasion. A floating, illuminated table, where the addition of flowers is only optional. The other table is inspired by the most beautiful mosques in Central Asia, in particular the Bibi Khanum Mosque in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, one of the largest and most beautiful mosques in the Islamic world.
The Khanum ByLéaSfeir Box is available in a limited and numbered edition; We work to provide handcrafted products from some of the most skilled artisans in the Arab world.
Discover warm neutral colors to accent your home decor in 2024
Source of inspiration
Cutlery from The Khanum collection by ByLéaSfeir Box
How do you choose the colors and pieces for each collection?
Inspiration comes and I start imagining the final result. A color, a journey, a story, a fashion trend or a specific event can be the inspiration for one of my collections, for example I started designing a Ramadan box a month ago!
What will we find inside the ByLéaSfeir table box?
Whoever opens the box finds everything he needs to decorate the table at any time with extreme ease and inside there are large plates; Dessert plates, cups, placemats, napkins, vases, candle holders, candles and decorative glass or ceramic objects depending on the set included in the package.
Each piece is handcrafted and hand-painted by the finest artisans from across the Arab world.
How to organize it?
Inside the box there is an image to inspire the user as much as possible in an attempt on my part to facilitate the task of setting the table in clear steps, but in short you start by placing the tablecloths, the large plates on top , the dessert plates on top, the fork on the left of the plate, the knife on the right, the spoon in front of the plate casually, and the cup, always on the right, and the napkin on the left, and we distribute vases, candle holders and also the final touch of decor in the form of flowers or souvenirs that embellish the table.
Setting the table is an art, just like applying makeup or coordinating outfits. It’s important to look at the overall shape of the table from a distance after each step to make sure that the tools, colors, lengths of decorative elements and even flowers are in harmony. But my box is equipped in such a way as to spare the lady this step.
Feeling warmly welcomed
Alemais dress
Cutlery from the Lumière collection by ByLéaSfeir Box
Why is it important to set the table when receiving guests for lunch or dinner?
When we receive an invitation, we prepare and dress beautifully to honor our guests. When we have guests, we should honor them, and this is common in every culture in the world, and that is by decorating our table and beautifying it for them. It’s a way to make them feel welcome and the commitment behind it, I also find that a set table always creates a nice atmosphere and new conversations.
Lebanon, France and Dubai, how does each of these three countries inspire the ByLéaSfeir brand?
My childhood in France instilled in me an attention to detail, a penchant for simple styles, a special color scheme and an undeniable love for history and culture, which are all my main sources of inspiration.
Lebanon is where I come from, it is my roots and my origin. The traditions, warmth and sophistication of Lebanon are part of me and every collection I create, all passed down through my family.
Dubai is the place where everything suddenly becomes real. Dubai has given me the strength and opportunity to create my own brand and pushes me to do more every day, take risks and overcome what holds me back.
And your mother and grandmother?
They are the motivation for who I am today, without a doubt. My grandmothers were famous for their distinctive taste and hospitality.
My maternal grandmother was a very elegant socialite, famous for her wonderful dinners and amazing table settings. My paternal grandmother, on the other hand, was elegant from head to toe and was the most welcoming lady I knew, her door always open, her house ready to welcome surprise guests with a generous table.
What do you think about knowing the furnishing trends to adopt in 2024 for a renovated home, whatever its style?
“A color, a journey, a story or a fashion trend can be the inspiration for one of my collections.”
My boards are an extension of my fashion sense
Leah and fashion, what about this relationship?
Fashion lives inside me. It’s part of me, my lifestyle and my identity. I love art and fashion and I’m not a stylist. I don’t follow every trend, I do it in line with my personal style which I describe as elegant, simple, timeless with a vintage touch and a bit of sophistication. My boards can be an extension of my fashion sense.
Tell us about a day in the life of Leah by including a dinner invitation on the list
My days start at 6am and include the routine of dropping my kids off at school, exercises, meetings and, when I host a dinner, I have to be home by 1pm. The dinner menu is always agreed upon with a few days of advance. I am very organized and attentive to details. Guests never wait for me, but I wait for my guests!
I start setting the table after thinking about the topic at two in the afternoon. At 4pm I prepare the serving utensils for each dish. Around 5pm I prepare the table, check the drinks with my husband and at 6pm I start preparing the appetizers. At 7pm I put the finishing touches on the dishes, at 7.30pm I get dressed, I kiss my children goodnight, I light the candles, I check that the chairs and name plates are positioned in front of each dish and finally I prepare to welcome the guests. my guests around 8.30pm.
Motherhood and ambition
Leah’s look:
Blue top by Jaquemus and denim trousers by Revolve
Maria and Gaia look:
Blue shirt by Bonpoint
Denim trousers from Zara Kids
Has motherhood changed you?
Yes, in some ways it has given me the desire to pass everything on to my daughters and to teach them the joy of the table, lifestyle and good taste, and I want to collect more and more crockery so I can then give them as gifts. I want them to keep pieces of our family history in their homes.
Motherhood has given me more ambition: I want my children to be proud of me, I want them to learn from me and I want them to grow up in a warm and welcoming home. Becoming a mother also makes me more stressed; Because hosting so many people with small children in need of care is complicated! I was taking my time before having 3 kids. Now I need to be everywhere at the same time while still being a perfectionist.
What is it like raising 3 children, including twins?
I think for any mother, whether at work or at home, raising children is not easy. They always say it’s the hardest job in the world. This is really true. Giving our children the right skills and values to become the best version of themselves takes a lot of effort.
Raising 3 children is as fun as it is challenging and with twins and giving the same level of attention some days can seem like an impossible task.
Being a working mother makes the situation twice as difficult. However, we are lucky to have help in Dubai. In France I would not have received the help I receive here in the UAE.
What is the benefit of having your own brand project during motherhood?
Owning my own brand has given me the luxury of managing my time on my own terms. Being a full-time employee wouldn’t allow me to pick up my kids and take them home, or stay with them in the afternoons when they were sick, or even play or go out.
At the same time, owning your own brand is challenging, full of uncertainty and high expectations.
Do you think your children will become professionals in the art of table decoration in the future?
I don’t know, but I’m sure they will know how to set a beautiful table, or at least recognize the beauty with their eyes. It’s a process of learning and growing with them.
You can also take a look at the highlights of 2024 home interior design trends
2023-12-30 17:34:09
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