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Friday Five with Mark Moussa of Arteriors

Mark Moussa is the founder and creative director of Arteriors, a Dallas-based company that specializes in luxury lighting, furniture, and accessories. He began in home furnishings working with his father on the family’s import/export business, which provided him with an international appreciation for design, which led to him launching Arteriors in 1987. The company has expanded to three showrooms (Dallas, Los Angeles, and New York) and more than 1,200 products by constantly evolving and staying ahead of the game, part of that being partnering with select designers, like Jay Jeffers, Barry Dixon, Windsor Smith, and Laura Kirar. This year marks 30 years in the business with a continued commitment to fostering designer relationships, traditional craftsmanship, and artisan techniques. Moussa shares a mix of design, places, and things in this week’s Friday Five. Check it out.

1. Jaipur
I’m inspired by India, a place I’ve been visiting for more than 30 years, and Jaipur is my favorite city. I love the vibrant colors that you see on the streets and in nature, the celebrated cultural traditions and most importantly the people. I’ve had the privilege of working with incredible artisans and craftsmen here, and I now find myself working with second and even third generations of the same families.

2. Eyeglasses
I wear glasses and have at least a dozen vintage frames in different colors, materials and styles. Many of my favorites are from Retro Specs.

3. The Hunt
I’m constantly on the hunt for vintage components that may influence or inspire a design – I love the process of looking at an object and thinking about how we can re-imagine it and give it a new future.

4. Espresso
A good cup of espresso can make my day! It reminds me of my trips to Europe where I pop in for a quick espresso to fight the jetlag. I have the “lips and eyes” espresso cups designed by Philippe Starck for the Royal Monceau – Raffles Paris. I love the ceremony of enjoying an espresso in the afternoon as much as I like the resulting surge of caffeine.

5. Travel
I regularly travel the world – in a recent three-month period I will have traveled to Cuba, the Philippines, Vietnam, Germany, India, Mexico and Italy (I highly recommend a stay at the Palazzo Avino (photo above) on the Amalfi Coast). In this global society, I find unlimited inspiration staying in unique and beautiful hotels, walking the local neighborhoods, and immersing myself in new cultures. More than ever before, this international wanderlust influences my designs.

Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.