French CG applauds artist’s home-turned-museum

Turning a house into a museum is no small feat, especially when it is the work of a Saudi interior designer and businesswoman. Its goal — presenting Saudi culture in a good way to other people and to other cultures — is also no small task.
But a visit by the French Consul General, Dr. Louis Blin, and other delegates from the French consulate visited the house of Howaid Simsim on Wednesday and intentions and goals were both realized.
“It is interesting to see how a Saudi woman is trying to do something using her own ideas in a very independent way,” said Dr. Blin. “A lot of people see Saudi women always following habits and, of course, always behind the men. Here, it means that we have a Saudi woman who tries to accomplish her own ideas in her own way. So the matter is not if you like something or you don’t like it. It depends on how each designer sees it. In other words, the matter is that she is achieving something of her own and this is an important thing here.”
Interior designer Simsim spent 7 years transforming her home into a museum took seven years.
Simsim said that previous visitors to her house-turned-museum have included the Consul General of Italy, Simone Petroni, and that she is planning to invite consul generals of other countries as well.
“I feel honored to have the French consul general come visit my home and comment on my talent,” said Simsim.
“My ability to design has taken me a long way. I’m glad Mr. Blin found my work special and he mentioned that he had never come across anything like this before.”