Bring it Home… From Marrakesh
Do you sometimes find yourself purchasing items on your travels then unpacking them at home and wondering why you bought them and where you’ll actually place them? Moroccan design is so dynamic, beautiful and intoxicating, you can’t visit the souks and not snap up beauties to bring home. A few items I love to bring back from Morocco for my clients include the following:
Vintage Moroccan rugs look fantastic in the homes I design. They are so cozy, each is unique and completely one-of-a-kind and I love that there is a story behind every single one. The designs are often fairly simple and easy to incorporate into most homes when you want to inject some color and warmth. The wool of vintage rugs can not be compared to the newly woven rugs of imported wool you can find all over Morocco. Vintage wool is silky soft and has a different feel to it.
Vintage handira (wedding blankets) can be found in the souks as well. Handira were made by Berber mothers and aunts for brides, who infused their baraka (blessings of good luck and prosperity) into the textile as they wove it. On their wedding day, a bride would wear it as a cape as they made their way to their new home with their husbands. These textiles make great pillows and also look lovely laid across the foot of a bed. The mirrored sequins (attached to ward off the evil eye and bring good luck to the bride and groom) sparkle and add just the right touch of chic and glamor, yet the nubby handwoven wool adds an earthy, organic element.
I love using the dynamic encaustic cement tiles made in Marrakesh by Popham Design. I clad a laundry room in their Paccha Honeycomb design, giving the room a punch of pattern and color. Available in the US through Ann Sacks.
Pierced metal lanterns are lightweight and easy to ship home. They add a lovely, magical ambience to any interior, as the light filters through the metalwork designs and reflects on the walls and ceiling. Designs range from more elaborate, traditional designs to simpler, modern forms.
See my full guide to Marrakesh in the Autumn 2020 issue of The Loaded Trunk, subscribe to the Trunk Club here and gain access to the entire library of issues.
