| The Moroccan home is a palace of the imagination | | | | Imagine coming home after a long day's work and |
| and a poetic harmonizing between man and the natural | | | | slipping into a living room oasis where you're bathed in |
| world. Walls borrow their hues from the earth and | | | | soft reds, yellows and oranges while resting on a plush |
| desert sand – muted reds and honeyed yellows. | | | | cushion, next to a set of mini palm trees, breathing in |
| Tedelakt, the ancient technique of rendering smooth | | | | the scent of Jasmine incense, listening to light jazz |
| waxed surfaces using a colored limestone paste and | | | | flutes. Selecting Moroccan furniture isn't just about |
| black soap, give walls and floors all the appearance of | | | | functionality anymore; it's about creating a comfortable |
| clay ceramic. Interior structuring takes on organic | | | | habitat where you can relax, de-stress and enjoy your |
| shapes. Bends and arches complement geometric | | | | downtime. |
| zellige tiles and curvilinear vases, set with fresh roses | | | | Finding the right lighting is the key to creating an ideal |
| from the garden. Floaty, gossamer curtains in place of | | | | atmosphere. As early as 5,000 BC, the Chinese have |
| doors give a pleasing open feeling to the living space, | | | | been building homes in correlation with the sun to |
| while allowing breezes to circulate freely. | | | | provide optimal light, warmth and energy. Historically, |
| The Moroccan style home is a unique blend of African, | | | | Morocco has hosted groups of diverse people from all |
| Berber, and Islamic aesthetics. Plush cushions in richly | | | | directions - Phoenicians and Carthaginians from the |
| textured fabrics are set upon carved ebony-stained | | | | East, Sub-Saharan Africans from the South, in addition |
| pine and cedar moucharabi furniture. Casting the | | | | to Romans, Vandals and Andalusians from the North. |
| afternoon sunlight in abstract patterns are pierced | | | | This Diaspora of culture comes together and can be |
| metal and brass lamps standing on tables or hanging | | | | clearly seen in these colorful Moroccan lamps and |
| overhead. Seating, tables, and accessories throughout | | | | lanterns. |
| the home are patterned and shaped by beautifully | | | | What makes Moroccan lamps truly unique is that |
| crafted hexagonal, octagonal and arched forms. The | | | | they're not mass-produced in a sterile factory -- but |
| total effect is a private visual playground and a | | | | rather, each shade is made of sheep or goatskin and |
| welcoming museum-like showland that is at once | | | | is then dyed and stretched over a solid iron frame, |
| masterful and inviting. | | | | where it is hand-painted with a needle in brilliant colors, |
| The scents of cedar and roses eddy with the aroma | | | | in the decorative tradition of Henna tattoo artistry. |
| of lamb and apricots. Guests have arrived with a | | | | Dating back to the Bronze Age, Henna design mimics |
| tap-tapping of a brass knocker on a heavy wooden | | | | the Henna plant, which has a plethora of long, thin |
| door. The setting sun fires the purple-pink of jasmine | | | | stalks and tiny blossoms. Much like the tattoos, the |
| and bougainvillea in the garden outside, as Tajine | | | | lamp designs showcase fluid black lines and shapes, |
| simmers a last few minutes in the oven. Domestic | | | | outlined by tiny dots. |
| architecture in Morocco varies greatly according to | | | | Moroccan lamps, varying in shape, size, color and |
| regional climate and personal wealth. There are the | | | | mood offer the opportunity to turn your living room into |
| simple stucco constructions of the poorer townsfolk, | | | | a stunning art museum. The African Berbers were |
| and there are villas of such magnificence as to lure the | | | | primarily an agricultural people, so the curved |
| wandering soul across several continents for the mere | | | | "Berber" floor lamp is painted with a classy, |
| occasion to stand enchanted outside their gates. | | | | simple style in neutral colors. Tall, slender styles like |
| In Moroccan homes irrespective of means the blind | | | | "The Pharaoh's Light", "Red Sun" |
| indented arch is a most charming feature, one whose | | | | or "Orange Magical Arabian Nights" capture |
| inspiration is taken directly from the mihrab, or prayer | | | | one's imagination, while dazzling with dancing patterns, |
| niche constructed on the qibla wall of the mosque. The | | | | vibrant colors and swaths of vacuous space that |
| interior courtyard, or riad, is another characteristic | | | | instinctively pulls the eyes toward it in wonderment. |
| element of Moroccan architecture and of Islamic | | | | End table lamps like "African Sun" or |
| architecture in general. | | | | "Fez Sun" provide multifunctional use, |
| Situated most often at the center of the home, the | | | | emanating a soothing glow, while the glass top holds a |
| riad is a tool for privacy and practicality. Since often | | | | piece of art, a plant or a tea set for entertaining |
| the main door off the street opens onto the courtyard, | | | | guests. When you behold a piece like "Ocean |
| visitors are directed from the patio into a salon used | | | | Sun," breathing moonlight into the room with its |
| especially for entertaining – and this without | | | | purple hues and oceanic design, you know that this |
| ever passing through other the living areas of the | | | | lamp is not just for providing light, but is a piece of art |
| home. The riad allows for plenty of light and needed | | | | that will compliment other furniture and themes in the |
| shade, since the sun’s rays and also cooler air | | | | room. |
| can permeate the whole of the dwelling, while at the | | | | Moroccan lanterns made of stained glass resemble |
| same time the harsher elements of wind and direct | | | | the sort of Church decor that pervades the Holy Land. |
| sunlight are kept out. | | | | The shapes range from a rounded hot air balloon |
| Interior decor is essential to Islamic architecture. Vaults, | | | | design, to a diamond-shaped street lantern style and |
| cupolas, and arched doorways are principle features | | | | they can be hung from the ceiling or mounted on the |
| which serve both functional and aesthetic purposes. In | | | | wall. Traditionally, the stained glass panes are subtle, |
| some village homes, recessed walls and benches set | | | | soothing colors - an olive green, a periwinkle blue or a |
| in cement stucco offer simple detail. | | | | hint of gold. Handmade and framed in black wrought |
| More elaborate elements may include geometric and | | | | iron, Moroccan lanterns can bring that one |
| floral motifs carved into wood beams or plaster walls. | | | | unforgettable, warm summer night into your home. |
| Ceramic tile, known as zellige, is also used, and may be | | | | Moroccan lamps and Moroccan lanterns will add an air |
| applied to any and all surfaces, and not limited to walls, | | | | of magic to any room. When paired with Moroccan |
| floors, roofs, and ceilings. Creative and surprising | | | | rugs, plants and other Moroccan furniture, these |
| patterns, molded organic materials, and the intriguing | | | | handmade Moroccan lights really put the finishing |
| lines of Moroccan structural motifs make the | | | | touches on a relaxing, unique escape. |
| Moroccan home an extraordinary visual playground. | | | | |