Dreams of Marrakesh
There are countless co eetable books on Moroccan style, showing photographs of saffron walls tumbling with bougainvillea, multicoloured glass lanterns and intricate tiled floors. Such titles depict glamorous, dreamy homes, which seem unattainable to the average Briton struggling to work in the rain.
It seems impossible to replicate these interiors in your own modest dwelling – until you look at Maryam Montague’s Marrakesh By Design. In this, she shows you how to introduce Moroccan touches into any home, whether in London, Los Angeles or Leamington Spa.
The children’s playroom features a pink, white and red vintage rug, with blankets and cushions
‘If you want to see interiors of grand riyadhs, go to the relevant websites,’ suggests Maryam. ‘I’m here to show you how to add a layer to your own home, thus creating a pastiche of Moroccan style in another country.’
Maryam was born in Egypt to an American father and Iranian mother and spent a peripatetic childhood at schools in Washington, Paris and Bologna. Since then she has lived all over the world, from New York and Senegal to Tunisia.
She fell in love with Morocco when she became involved in humanitarian aid work and was sent there with a brief to empower women in the Arab world.
Lanterns designed by a friend of Maryam hang in the hallway dining area of his apartment. Mr Pico the dog keeps watch Right: Antique lanterns hover over a handcarved table, bought in the Marrakesh souks
Ten years later, Maryam and her architect husband are based in Marrakesh and their chic guest house, Peacock Pavilions, lies just outside the city. Their two children attend the American School: ‘We want to raise our children as citizens of the world who can speak French, Arabic and English,’ she says.
As a mother, writer of a blog, My Marrakesh, and working for a Non-Governmental Organisation, which calls for frequent travel, Maryam has to be very organised at home. To achieve this, she subscribes to a time-organisation system called Pomodoro – this breaks down your day into 25-minute chunks, during which you stay completely focused on one particular job without taking any calls or multitasking.
This, presumably, is how Maryam wrote Marrakesh By Design. It’s certainly set out in a very organised way, and doubles as an aid for a first-time visitor to Morocco as well as being a handy guide for a DIY decorator who wants to create a little corner of the country back home.
Tiled lower walls and floors provide a lively backdrop to a Moroccan banquette
Maryam has also included a page on key Arabic phrases, as well as brief notes on the architectural and religious history of the country. Practical sections show you how to add Arabic patterns to your ceiling with wallpaper, create a coffee table from a Moroccan window, or make a wedding blanket in an afternoon. Instructions on making mint tea Moroccan-style are accompanied by notes on planting a herb garden, as well as growing the right variety of mint.
When creating a bit of Marrakesh or Fez, Maryam is keen for us to buy authentic Moroccan items. ‘Far East factories are turning out cheap lanterns and carpets,’ she explains. ‘I have been asked by large discount websites to source items from there, but I have refused to do so. Artefacts made in Morocco may be a little more expensive, but they have that handmade feel. Thanks to the efforts of King Hassan, local crafts in the country that were dying out have now been revived and young people are being trained in original techniques.’
Marrakesh By Design, by Maryam Montague, is published by Artisan Books, priced £20.
Kasbah Bab Ourika, 40 minutes from the city: 00 212 668 749547, www.kasbahbabourika.com
Riyad Edward, in the city: 00 212-524 389797, www.riyadedward.com
For more details about Marrakesh: 020-8816 7065, www.hipmarrakech.com
It seems impossible to replicate these interiors in your own modest dwelling – until you look at Maryam Montague’s Marrakesh By Design. In this, she shows you how to introduce Moroccan touches into any home, whether in London, Los Angeles or Leamington Spa.
The children’s playroom features a pink, white and red vintage rug, with blankets and cushions‘If you want to see interiors of grand riyadhs, go to the relevant websites,’ suggests Maryam. ‘I’m here to show you how to add a layer to your own home, thus creating a pastiche of Moroccan style in another country.’
Maryam was born in Egypt to an American father and Iranian mother and spent a peripatetic childhood at schools in Washington, Paris and Bologna. Since then she has lived all over the world, from New York and Senegal to Tunisia.
She fell in love with Morocco when she became involved in humanitarian aid work and was sent there with a brief to empower women in the Arab world.
Lanterns designed by a friend of Maryam hang in the hallway dining area of his apartment. Mr Pico the dog keeps watch Right: Antique lanterns hover over a handcarved table, bought in the Marrakesh souksTen years later, Maryam and her architect husband are based in Marrakesh and their chic guest house, Peacock Pavilions, lies just outside the city. Their two children attend the American School: ‘We want to raise our children as citizens of the world who can speak French, Arabic and English,’ she says.
As a mother, writer of a blog, My Marrakesh, and working for a Non-Governmental Organisation, which calls for frequent travel, Maryam has to be very organised at home. To achieve this, she subscribes to a time-organisation system called Pomodoro – this breaks down your day into 25-minute chunks, during which you stay completely focused on one particular job without taking any calls or multitasking.
This, presumably, is how Maryam wrote Marrakesh By Design. It’s certainly set out in a very organised way, and doubles as an aid for a first-time visitor to Morocco as well as being a handy guide for a DIY decorator who wants to create a little corner of the country back home.
Tiled lower walls and floors provide a lively backdrop to a Moroccan banquetteMaryam has also included a page on key Arabic phrases, as well as brief notes on the architectural and religious history of the country. Practical sections show you how to add Arabic patterns to your ceiling with wallpaper, create a coffee table from a Moroccan window, or make a wedding blanket in an afternoon. Instructions on making mint tea Moroccan-style are accompanied by notes on planting a herb garden, as well as growing the right variety of mint.
When creating a bit of Marrakesh or Fez, Maryam is keen for us to buy authentic Moroccan items. ‘Far East factories are turning out cheap lanterns and carpets,’ she explains. ‘I have been asked by large discount websites to source items from there, but I have refused to do so. Artefacts made in Morocco may be a little more expensive, but they have that handmade feel. Thanks to the efforts of King Hassan, local crafts in the country that were dying out have now been revived and young people are being trained in original techniques.’
Marrakesh By Design, by Maryam Montague, is published by Artisan Books, priced £20.
Places to stay
Peacock Pavilions: 00 212 664 414653, www.peacockpavilions.comKasbah Bab Ourika, 40 minutes from the city: 00 212 668 749547, www.kasbahbabourika.com
Riyad Edward, in the city: 00 212-524 389797, www.riyadedward.com
For more details about Marrakesh: 020-8816 7065, www.hipmarrakech.com