Kuwait is blessed with a bounty of artists, creatives and visionaries who want to change the face of cultural exploration as we know it. Original thouqers Ahmad Al- Ghanim and Bader Alhejailan are redefining how art, publishing, retail, and design can seamlessly be combined to present a totally different creative ideology.
There is no clear distinction in style when it comes to showcasing their various works, as it is a matter of taste, or in Arabic, thouq, after all. With Thouq Studio, Ahmad, Bader and a collective of Kuwaiti entrepreneurs are bringing their distinctive and elevated views on design front and center.
Thouq has inspired the minds of many people over the past two decades, whether we consider the cult following of thouqers shopping their latest offerings in merch, fashion, home accessories and art, to the many projects they work on at Thouq Studio from residential homes to office spaces and cafés. What unites all of these various creative facets is an inimitable aesthetic we are decidedly naming the ‘Thouq effect’, which blends the best of two worlds, the essence of Arabia and the charm of the West.
With Thouq Studio, both Bader and Ahmed feel that they are going back to their roots. While some might see their shift from retail to Studio as an adaptation, the reality is that Thouq Studio is merely an evolution of their work. Creativity is at the core of everything that they do, and the duo have completed many interior design projects throughout the years. They take on new builds, home renovations, event design, commercial spaces, and even smaller design projects like designing specific rooms.
Bader likens their interior design services to a creative kitchen, stating, “We love being challenged by a new project! Whether we’re working on a private villa, or a commercial space. Upon being approached to work on a new project, a site visit is first conducted to inspect the space, and of course, imagine the potential.”
While it is important to present a finished space that is functional, Thouq Studio always aims to create a personal story and narrative that echoes with the client’s wishes, while still keeping to their design vision for the space.
Some of the most common challenges faced by interior design studios is execution, but with Thouq Studio’s years of expertise in the field, the combined knowledge of the right contractor for each individual job comes so easily to Ahmad and Bader. Ahmed explains that they are “happy to work with contractors recommended by our clients too. However, we also do know that, for a specific goal, we will go above and beyond to make sure that this is achieved for our clients.”
Do the experts at Thouq Studio ever replicate their designs? Both Ahmad and Bader nod their heads with an outright no.
“Simply because, this is not our ethos, “explains Ahmad, “The beautiful thing about our vision for interior design is that our style is quite known, and while we are happy to emulate a feeling or sense, we will never repeat the same design. Every project is extremely special and unique, and the materials chosen for each client are done with purpose.”
This essentially means, no Pinterest pics, and no, Thouq Studio will not deliver a specific look, just because it’s trendy or a specific material is “in”. While it might be more profitable to simply say yes and move along with the project, that’s not what Ahmad and Bader are after. Bader tells me that, lucky for them, people who do approach Thouq Studio are already avid fans of the brand, “They give us the freedom to do our thing because they are after how we are able to blend both elements of East and West, all wrapped up in a cohesive look. It’s the Thouq touch.”
So how does this creative duo work together? Bader has always been an absolute minimalist, while Ahmad is the ultimate maximalist, and it always works! When it comes to a residential project, per se, they will divide and conquer, and they trust one another enough to edit the final project collaboratively, making the right calls as they move along. Bader appreciates Ahmad’s vision, and vice versa.
One thing that they do agree on, though, is how people can be very wasteful when it comes to redesigning their spaces. Ahmed tells me that his first question to clients is “What do you already have? Let’s take a look at what we can work with.” Thouq Studio deeply believes in reusing what you have, as furniture is supposed to be built to last.
“Like fast fashion, we’re now seeing a lot of fast consumption when it comes to our homes.” Whether it is an heirloom dining table, an old picture frame, or even a demodé couch set, Thouq Studio can definitely give your old valuables a new life, meaning, and purpose.
Ahmad then proceeded to point to a stunning vintage Louis Vuitton luggage trunk displayed at the studio that has been elegantly converted into a small seat as a prime example from a recent project he worked on. But the reality is, revamping your space doesn’t need to cost an arm and a leg, it can be very efficient, and life-changing at the same time, with the right touch from Thouq Studio.
Have you ever visited a space and wanted to spend hours on end simply taking in the beautiful interiors? This is ultimately the feeling one gets whenever they step into a space executed by Thouq Studio. Flower Latte Café presents the perfect example. Looking to recreate the feeling of dining in a classic, European salon, Flower Latte is the type of space that instigates deep conversations.
It’s all in the fine details, like the original antique, but massive frames, elegantly paired crystal chandeliers, aged walls and fine marble. This is an aesthetic that required deep research, from choosing the right fabrics for the furniture, and hunting for antique knick-knacks from authentic Parisian flea markets. All of this was done while adhering to a certain budget, wrapped up in a stunning final look.
When it comes to designing interiors for homes, Thouq Studio does like to keep a home looking like a home.
“It needs to be lived in, functional, and we like to design a space that engages the homeowner, said Bader, “The client will be living in this space, after all. We essentially want the home to look like it’s been designed by the homeowner, and not us. They need to be visible in every aspect of the design of their living space, which is a challenge when people want the space to simply look nice.”
To which Ahmad adds, “I would love to take credit for the design of a home space, but that’s not what we’re after. It needs to be a reflection of the person living in that space, and that means coming up with a design for the space that echoes with the spirit and soul of the owner. There is a beautiful intimacy to designing homes, and we love taking on these projects because they are explorative. We usually set a few psychological orientation sessions with prospective clients to get them excited about the entire process. The ultimate goal is a beautiful but comfortable, and cozy space.”
This involves mixing and matching new pieces with existing ones, perhaps redoing the flooring, or even finding the right light fixtures to create that intimate feeling. No detail is left behind with Thouq Studio.
For more information, head to thouq.com/studio and follow @Thouq.studio on Instagram.
