This past Saturday night, I attended a gala that I also happened to have the pleasure of serving on the executive committee of. The theme was A Night In Morocco.
The flowers at the event were gorgeous. Tall cylinder vases were filled with lemons, with a large palm frond exploding from the center and orange and hot pink orchids spilling out and over the sides. Tiny
two- inch colored glass lanterns were hanging from the heavier branches, with candles flickering inside. I forgot how exciting the combination of certain colors can be, such as pink and orange. It got me in the mood to check out more on Moroccan design and it's influence on interior design.
Morocco, officially the Kingdom of Morocco, at the northern tip of Africa, is the only country on the African continent that is not a member of the African Union. It has no desire to ever join either.
It is an arabic country, that includes the Sahara desert, the Atlas mountains, the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. It also has cultural influences from it's northern neighbor, Spain, and it's former ruler, France, with French being it's second language. It is truly exotic....how can it not be when it's largest city is Casablanca? That name alone conjures up a native yet romantic image.
I had fun looking at various types of Moroccan design and architecture. What I find most appealing in this style is the use of graphic shapes: curvy feminine shapes , invariably all with sharp points. Their use geometric patterns are everywhere. Filigree. Hand-painted tiles. Colored glass. Bright colors and contrasts. Layers on layers, pattern on pattern, fabric on fabric, all working together.
Not all of these photos are directly Moroccan, some are Syrian, but they all have the arabic influence and the style typical of the Kingdom of Morocco.
Notice how the architecture makes your eye go up to the heavens? And the mirror atop the door frame adds to that effect. Even the diamond pattern on the floor seem to be pointing the same direction! This photograph is so lovely, with the natural light putting a glow on what could be a gloomy serious room.
Photo: From The Private World of Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Berge
courtesy of The Vendome Press
Design: Brigitte Singh
Photo: Henry Wilson for House & Garden May 2009
What I love most about this space? The linen/cotton "fez hats" for the lanterns that echo the slipcover on the antique chaise. A fresh and nice (unpredicted) touch.
This is from a library I designed for a client. It is not in itself a "Moroccan" styled room, but magic happened when I added the little Syrian inlaid table. This room was missing the "unexpected" and this table gave it that. I saw it at Milton Kent Antiques, and on instinct alone, bought it before I realized exactly where I was going to put it. It kind of led itself to this room. The tables below are similar. They are not hard to find and are usually very affordable. If you want just a hint of the exotic, this is for you!
Syrian tables from Dan Marty Design
Tribal Moroccan hardwood trunk inlaid with camel bone, and embellished with silver metal, coral, and arabic stones.
Photo: coco+kelley/flickr
Marrakesh Collection in Walnut and Tangerine by Duralee
Marrakesh Collection in Tangerine by Duralee
Raoul Range for George Smith Handmade Furniture & Fabrics
Alexandra Champalimaud Collection for Kravet
Galaxus Tufted Bed by DesignLush
Circa 1890 Moroccan inlaid mirror with mother of pearl, bone and ivory.
From: Candace Barnes/1st Dibs
Italian, late 1800's filigree brass and painted glass lantern.
From: Robuck Company Antiques, Ltd./1st Dibs
Syrian contemporary Moroccan lantern
From: Ad Lib Antique & Interiors/Decorati
Photo: coco+kelley/flickr
Notice how the same Syrian inlaid tables are the perfect size for most rooms! (above and below photo) They can go next to a chair or in this case also in front of a sofa. Everyone likes a place to put their drink down when they are sitting down. There is nothing that irritates me more (well, yes, there are other things) than settling down in a comfy chair and realizing there is nowhere in sight to rest my drink or magazine.
Photo: farm3.static/flickr
Pillows from Anthropologie
Damascus trunk from Syria, circa 1920's. 1st Dibs
Photo: coco+kelley/flickr
Marrakesh Collection in Walnut by Duralee
I can totally imagine a pouf in this patterned leather. Or a chaise in a monochromatic/neutral room.
Moroccan table and chairs, 19th Century carved wood with silver overlay and glass insert. The chairs have coral, turquoise and malachite studding. From Linda Horn/1st Dibs
Antique screen
Fountain from Marsh Garden Decor/1st Dibs
Fashion advertisement for Roberto Cavalli
I purchased this oil at my hair salon last week. I tried it there and HAD to buy it. The smell is captivating. I kept smelling myself and wondering "who smells so good?" until I realized it was me! I'm not educated enough in scents to correctly describe the delicious smell....But you just put a little dab on the ends of your damp hair and it makes it extremely silky. Alas, I liked it so much, I found myself rubbing it into my hands, my cuticles, dry skin....It's not heavy like other oils for the hair and it doesn't weigh it down.
ingredieMOROCCAN CHICK
- AND FINALLY...... WHAT'S FUN ABOUT TRAVELING ALL THE WAY TO MOROCCO (via your computer, interior, or hair oil) WITHOUT TASTING THE FOOD?MOROCCAN CHICKEN(from Bon Appetit)Yield: 4 servings
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons Hungarian sweet paprika
- 1 tablespoon ras-el-hanout*
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 garlic clove, peeled
- 1 4 3/4- to 5-pound whole free-range organic chicken
- 2 small whole lemons, pierced all over with fork
- 6 garlic cloves, un-peeled
- PreparationPosition rack in center of oven and preheat to 400°F. Blend first 9 ingredients in blender to moist paste.Remove neck, giblets, and excess fat from main cavity of chicken. Rinse chicken inside and out; pat dry with paper towels. Rub 1/3 of spice paste into main cavity and neck cavity, then rub remaining spice paste all over outside of chicken. Place lemons and garlic cloves in main cavity of chicken. Tie legs together. Place chicken on rack in roasting pan. Roast 45 minutes; tent with foil to prevent overbrowning. Continue to roast chicken until instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 170°F, about 45 minutes. Transfer chicken to platter; let stand 10 minutes (internal temperature will increase by 5 to 10 degrees).*A Moroccan spice blend available at some specialty foods stores, Middle Eastern markets, and by mail from The Spice House (312-274-0378; thespicehouse.com).
Then serve your feast on the "Blue Moroccan" dinnerware from Neiman Marcus.
ENJOY!
