Pipe Brothers

Pipe Brothers

While Badaro Main Road is rapidly changing with new cafés and restaurants opening up, the old Abou Sleiman electronics store still bears the original 1950s shop sign. Inside, change occurs gradually.

Tony and Alexi Abou Sleiman grew up in nearby Ain el Remmaneh but really spent most of their time in their father’s shop and around Barado. “It’s been a family shop for some 60 years,” explains Tony. “Our father was an electrician.” While there are still fans, heaters, hair dryers and other electronic goods for sale stacked up in the shelves, the shop’s recently been filling up with a range of fab creations made of…. Pipes!

These original pipe designs of which the brothers so far have made 26, are mostly lamps but also include some home décor. After experimenting with wood, the duo settled on pipes. Parts used are Italian and English pipes and taps.

The final product strikes by simple and also quirky forms, its functionality, perfect finishing and versatility – the lamps, available in industrial silver and vintage black-grey finishing. Most of the lamps have a dimmer – some work by turning red water taps – and also old-school vintage wires. All are meticulously assembled to ensure absolute safety. The brothers internalised their father’s know-how.

Among the desk lamps, wall lamps to be mounted, ceiling lamps and standing floor lamps, the “Chicken” is so far the company’s bestseller. Recent colourful additions of blue, red and yellow “Robot” lamps for kids have also been well received.

Playing with the pipe pieces they get from a whole sale dealer, the Abou Sleiman brothers have ended up putting together a candelabra, a stool (tabouret), a vinyl holder, a foot lamp with a pulley, as well as a sitting chair – the most sophisticated piece of home décor so far.

After a mere four months in business, the Pipe Brothers are happy with the response to their Lebanese design products and have also received requests for residential interiors as well as a restaurant in Sidon.

Their vision is to eventually turn their father’s shop into a concept store, showcasing their creativity as well as other Lebanese design items.

Their products can presently be sourced at their shop, as well as at the Bayrut Express near Sassine and Vea Wear at Beirut Souks.