The home decor concept BeDesign made a splash when it first opened on West Alabama in 2016. The 6,500-square-foot, luxury retail showroom quickly became Houston's go-to for must-have European furniture and decor brands such as Paola Lenti, CasaDesús, and Vibia, but that was only the beginning.
Co-owners and partners Adrian Dueñas and Marcelo Saenz have since used their impeccable style and savvy business sense to lure world-renowned brands that had previously been unavailable near H-Town. The duo convinced the storied Italian brand Kartell to enter the Houston market with a new flagship store in the River Oaks Shopping Center, and that move led to exclusive partnerships with even more European home decor brands.
Now the Southwest region can shop fine furniture from Molteni&C and Fendi Casa for the first time, exclusively at BeDesign. How did Dueñas and Saenz manage such a coup? By cultivating real relationships with these exquisite brands, all the while using their impressive design backgrounds to guide Houstonians toward high style by curating what's sold in the BeDesign showroom.
Ecuador native Dueñas also heads up the Madrid-based interior design firm Envés Diseño, which began as a designer-driven shop and has since evolved into an international hospitality design company with commercial projects throughout Europe and North America.
Saenz functions as BeDesign's lead designer, selecting from the world's best showrooms to bring back the latest and most coveted pieces, from artistic furniture and lush accessories to conversation-worthy lighting solutions and breathtaking bistro furniture. Fine-design aficionados just can't get enough.
Nor can they get enough of Dueñas and Saenz themselves — the pair has become a staple in Houston social circles, actively working with several nonprofits and campaigning for human rights, AIDS awareness, and increased support of the arts. Their glamour and design expertise can be found throughout the showroom, giving everyone who shops at BeDesign the chance to bring home a little of both.
Dueñas and Saenz also brought Kartell to Houston.
