“Hard as stone and soft as silk” is a phrase that is commonly used to describe a very uncommon, ancient form of plaster that is believed to trace it’s roots to the Atlas Mountains surrounding Marrakech. This unbelievably tactile and sensuous surface, which is waterproofed by burnishing repeatedly with a stone and further sealed with olive soap, used to be reserved for hammams (public steam baths) and royal palaces. It can now be found in most of the stylish riads and chic restaurants of Marrakech, where pierced tin lanterns fixed with colored glass cast amazing color and shadow on its rich, glossy surface. Positively dreamy. Here are some images from the Hotel du Tresor and Les Bains de Marrakech.

The little tower on our upstairs patio.

Peeking through a keyhole door (this room is best for short people, I think)

“My” bathroom

Reflections on a wall….

and a ceiling.

The very prettiest examples were in some of the restaurants, though, like Narwama and Le Tanjia. Click through to view!

I picked up a most amazing tile book at the airport bookstore in Casablanca on the way home from Marrakech. I seem to have a grave weakness for very large, very heavy and very expensive books. SO worth it! There are already ideas in the air for future Morocco projects and collaborations and I am positively smitten and inspired by the follow gorgeousness. They say the blue is the big “new” color this year. Um, I think it’s been pretty hot for a few thousand years…..

Far and away, one of the most enchanting and easily copied customs for exotic Moroccan dining and entertaining may be as near as your own backyard. If not yours, check your neighbors! It’s scattered rose petals….

In the fountains

At dreamy Dar Moha. So many there you could almost play Scrabble.

For our most special farewell lunch at Peacock Pavilions

and our farewell dinner at darling Hotel du Tresor. Aaaahhh, where are my pruning shears!

After a week in Marrakech, it was time to hit the beach and dip our toes in the chilly Atlantic Ocean, North Africa style. It’s a 2.5 hour drive of questionable auto safety on a busy two lane road to Essaouira and the coast, but well worth it once you arrive! We missed seeing GOATS IN TREES on this drive (Alas, I think goats in trees are currently out of season) but trust me, they do exist. Google proves it. 

Essaouira was once a fortified town, has fabulous shopping in a walled Medina area, and is all decked out in the most refreshing shades of blue painted wood set off by whitewashed walls.

I’ve already posted about the blue doors of Essaouira after my March trip but I must do so again as there are so gosh darn many gorgeous ones and they are SOOO photogenic.

Even their propane tanks are color coordinated!

Some more cool blueness

and a shot of my new favorite adult beverage, Campari and fresh-squeezed orange juice over ice. Is that our handsome horseman in the background?

Soon enough, the guest houses that make up Peacock Pavilions will be filled with exotic carpets and leather poufs, fluffed with down pillows and sequined vintage wedding blankets, buffed with silver vases filled with fresh flowers and sugary Moroccan mint tea. The plaster walls will reflect light from custom-made pierced metal sconces and pendants and Maryam will delight in making everything “just so”. For now though, Chris the architect husband is testing his talents for patience and perserverance as he fashions and finesses the glorious architecture that will house their family, Maryam’s delightful treasures and lucky visitors. It hasn’t been easy-and every day brings new challenges-but just look at what a fabulous job he has done!

Each of the three buildings boasts its own unique architectural details, while maintaining a connection to the land, the sky and its sister buildings. Each is filled with delightful nooks, crannies, arches, domes that are so visually strong they require no further need for decoration. And yet…..;)

Photos by Becky Roth and Debbie Hayes

A trip to Marrakech simply would NOT be complete without a visit to that great *Disney in the Desert*, Chez Ali. The timing was perfect as we were 10 of 1000’s that attended (they seat 3K) the night after we finished up the painting at Maryam’s. We were ready to party! Those of us who weren’t completely pooped, that is. 

After arriving and being whisked through the large gates and past many large Berber tents surrounding the open field *stage*, and *a cast of thousands* we arrived at our tables.

Four bottles of wine were ordered immediately-and let the floor show begin! Oh, and if you are sitting on the outside of the table-or simply moved by the rhythmic drumming , you might have to *be* the floor show.

Wave after wave of different tribes from Morocco move past as the dining commences. Todd got WAY to good at imitating that high-pitched trilling sound the woman do with their tongues. Something about having just the right amount of red Moroccan wine after spending 4 days trapped on scaffolding with three women….

I am very sorry that no one was there to video the look on our faces when the big gulp-sized tagine was placed on our table and the top dramatically removed to reveal-a whole lamb! Even the carnivores among us (and half are vegans) nearly jumped from our seats. Good thing there was more wine and dessert to consume!

Then it’s outside for the show. The Fantasia was, well, fantastic. Handsome men on gorgeous horses performing acrobatic feats at breakneck speeds. What’s not to like? Then there was the charging *army*, firing their weapons to get the adrenaline going.

After some belly dancing and a magic carpet ride it was time to go backstage to try and get some autographs. Mr. Camel was having none of us, however. I think that the celebrity has gone to his head.

*Some* among us were not so secretly hoping to get kidnapped by the handsome horseman and ridden off into the desert night. Alas, we all made it safely back to the bus….

We arrived in Marrakech with a song in our hearts and brushes in our suitcases.

We were on a mission to make magical patterns appear at Peacock Pavilions under the watchful eyes of this special woman.

We planned our strategy

to paint from here

to there.

We put up large patterns

and promptly pulled them down (with some painting in between, of course).

We painted stripes

and worked on top secret projects.

We made Maryam very, very happy.

And we clean up nicely too!

The Peacock Painters from left to right: Jackie Wiggens, Melanie Royals (me), Kari Caldwell, Debbie Hayes, Sandra Barron, Barbara Skivington, Todd Oberndorfer, April Long, Heather Mueller and Becky Roth (kneeling). Thanks for the hard work and wonderful memories guys!!

PS Check this post on decor8-simply the best design blog in cyberspace. Woohoo! 

We’re ba-a-a-a-a-a-ck, and missing Marrakech terribly I might add! The paint has dried, no one fell off the scaffolding and the husband was happy-complete success! Maryam treated us to fabulous shopping and even more fabulous food and in return we left her with hope, piles of painter’s trash and beautifully painted surfaces. I have SO much to share and am waiting for everyone’s photos so I can show you the very bestest. In the meantime here are some of my shots from the Dar Si Said Museum. WARNING! This may cause sensory overload. These photos are not for the faint of heart or non-lovers of decorative art.

I am leaving for Marrakech this Friday! EEK! I am SO excited and SO stressed with SO many things to do before I go I can’t stop capitalizing my words! OK, calm down. Breath. Breath again. That’s better. After exchanging about a million plus 6 emails with the famous and fabulous Maryam, we think we have all the details nailed down and MAN we are going to do some pretty fabulous things at Peacock Pavilions! There will be stenciled concrete floors

Suzani-inspired ceilings

Painted desks

Wonderful woven patterns inspired by camel-bone furniture inlays

and some other VERY cool things that I CAN’T share because they are special patterns that are secrets that will be used on equally special secret surfaces at Peacock Pavilions for a super secret project that I’ve been sworn to secrecy about. BUT if you pull the decoder ring out of your Lucky Charms cereal box and put on your special 3D glasses you MIGHT be able to figure it out. If not, I’m sorry, you must wait along with the rest of the world.

While it is mandatory in Marrakech to have your building be one of a few slightly varying shades of a peachy terra cotta color, it must be mandatory in the pretty little seaside town of Essaouira (2.5 hrs drive west to the Atlantic Ocean) to paint your ancient wooden door a fabulous shade of peeling blue paint. Me to my son: Look! There’s another great blue door, I have to get a picture. Him to me: (in the dry way only a child can say) Mom, they’re ALL blue! I guess I’ll have to go back to photograph the other 1,429.

Even the boats….

Maryam just recently posted about doors as well. Even better than what you see is what you can’t see behind them. Ahh, the mysteries of Morocco.