Architectural Digest shares takes us on a tour of Venezuelan-born and Beirut-born, Dubai-based Chakib Richani’s opulent restoration of a home for designer Elie Saab.

Lebanon is blessed with a pleasant Mediterranean climate and relative calm these days. In an “aha” moment, I watched the Architectural Digest article draw a connection between traditional Arab residence designs and the status of women.

Spending time in Istanbul and Marrakesh, I’ve observed and commented on the beauty that lies behind seemingly austere, barren exteriors. I never connected the design to a cultural need to sequester women.

Silly me, now that I reflect.

Like our beloved Queen Rania in Jordan, most Lebanese women live in a multi-cultural, multi-religious city … one that’s seen its share of war and destruction.

The open, breezy attitude of the Saab house reflects today’s Beirut Mediterranean reality. We pray the peace reigns here, because anyone who has visited Beirut is in total rapture of the place.

Richani’s design for Elie Saab emphasizes a minimalist for the region, contemporary attitude that showcases the carefully chosen, sumptuous antiques and accessories in the house.

My heart longs to visit Beirut. With my extensive travels around the world, I’ve spent so little time in this region. Just reading this article about Beirut, I feel the Mediterranean breeze on my face.

For some crazy reason, I can taste the Baklava sold on Brooklyn’s Atlantic Avenue.

#301 Sweet Potato BaklavaI’m off in pursuit of the perfect Flickr photo, but I must get out of here. I just encountered Sweet Potato Baklava . .. guaranteed to keep me healthy.