I'll take my patterns with my patterns, please.
I love color, but {dare I say it?}, I love patterns even more. They feel like a secret code, like a hidden language, like a mystery waiting to reveal themselves. And that is especially true about Moroccan, Berber and Islamic patterns. Why? Because they are not just beautiful, they have a purpose and meaning.
What will you do now? She wondered.
What do you mean? I replied.
I mean, what will you do now that Peacock Pavilions is all done? Now that it's all decorated? She asked.
Oh, it's never done, I said. No, no never done.
Egyptian bowls, one with a vintage snake surround on the bottom and the other 2 filled with African fish vertebrae. Also a little shooting star zellij tile piece. In the background roses in the fountain that we built ourselves.
Moroccan painted ink pot, next to an antique Tibetan altar table.
Moroccan green and white bowl, vintage Indian round box, bejeweled brush bought in the souk.
Antique Filipino nina, topped by a vintage Peruvian halo. Next to it, part of a huge old bronze Indian urli.
Vintage hand embroidered skull caps bought in Kabul in an old wooden Jewish couscous platter. Couch covered in a vintage Moroccan blanket. Cushions that I pieced together from African blankets, German velvet and snippets of old saris. A vintage Indian yoga sculpture in the background.
Vintage African sculpture bought in Ghana, wearing old motorcycle goggles purchased in Cairo's Khan el Khalili. and antique Malian glass beads.
Golden Indian peacock mirror. Vintage Egyptian and Ethiopian processional crosses bought in Cairo and Addis Ababa.
Antique Moroccan jade pottery collection. One piece filled with peacock feathers, shed from our very own peacocks at Peacock Pavilions.
PS I'm in Egypt, right now.
PPS My publisher just told me that they are going back to press for another printing of my Moroccan design book, Marrakesh by Design! So excited. Do you have a copy yet? What did you think?
Dear Friends,
I can't believe it's the end of Summer already. It's flown by, hasn't it?
I wanted to share a special design update with you!
Husband Chris Redecke and I are incredibly excited to be in a feature story in this month's House and Garden Magazine! Many many thanks to the HG editors and especially to amazing writer Dominic Bradbury and fabulous photographer Richard Powers. It's always such a pleasure to share Peacock Pavilions.
Also thilled to see Peacock Pavilions and my book, Marrakesh by Design, play a tiny role in Rachel Zoe's Zoe Report! See adorable Figue designer Stephanie Von Watsdorf with it in this great feature here.
Thanks so much for taking time to come by and check in with me:-)
Warm wishes from even warmer Marrakech (yikes! HOT!)
Maryam
Did you know that Marrakesh is known as the Red City? Named after the color of its walls, which glow a rich color when the sun sets. So it's all about red here today.........all about red.............
Snippet of a vintage Moroccan Boujad carpet.
Red wool hanging on the wall in the Dyers Souk.
Red sardine cans in the Dar Rumi kitchen.
Red tadelakt walls, floors and stairs in the Cafe des Epices in Marrakesh.
Red roses in a hand carved Moroccan fountain at Le Tanjia Restaurant in Marrakesh.
Red walls at Jawad Kadiri's house in Marrakesh.
Red sequined slippers and red calligraphic artwork at Dar Rumi in Marrakesh.
Artwork with former King Hassan II at the home of the designers of Zid Zid Kids.
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PS There's a whole chapter on Moroccan color in my forthcoming book, Marrakesh by Design -- so you can use this beautiful color palette (red and so much more!) in your home, no matter where you live:-)
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