Design

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Marrakech: and a tale of a tiny film about my Moroccan interior design book

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Happy Monday, Lovelies, 

I hope you had a fun weekend.  Mine was spent shooting a tiny one minute film in Marrakech;-)  It's to introduce the coffee table book on Moroccan interior design  that I'm doing for Artisan Books.  Although, I've been in a few commercials and TV episodes, I've never done anything quite like this.  And so I was very glad to be working with talented Filmmaker William Hicklin and adorable Producer Anna Wang (who is also my best friend).  There were a lot of laughs and funny stories along the way and they are both just amazing. 

Here are some backstory shots just to give you a little feel. 

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Can't wait to share the film with you!

        With love from Marrakesh,

                Maryam

{PS Anyone coming to Marrakesh in the next 2 weeks from the US?  I need a kind courrier!}

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Moroccan design: and a tale of a Moroccan Modello door at Peacock Pavilions in Marrakesh

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It's a big door, it's a very big door, this entry door to the Medina Pavilion at Peacock Pavilions.  All painted black, towering overhead.  But I had plans for it.  Big plans.  They involved Melanie Royals from Modello Designs {the way many of my best plans do}.  I wanted something glamorous, something golden, something memorable.  And I wanted to add to the quirky global mix that is Peacock Pavilions.  Because influences from one or two or ten or twenty countries would never do around here. {You'd have to see Peacock Pavilions for yourself, to believe it.}

So Chinoiserie, yes Chinoiserie.  I did my research and I sent Melanie some inspiration images of the nature scene variety.  And then she took them and designed something new, something fabulous.  

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Using a Modello makes everything so much easier.  Melanie designs it, you peel it, apply it, paint it and then peel it off. Or Melanie knows many people who can do it for you, if you prefer.  Those talented Peacock Painters {love them all!} made it happen in less than a day.

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More to come!  {Wait until you see.....It's so beautiful that I stop breathing for a moment each time I look at it.}  And the best part is that Melanie's making stencils of it soon -- just in case you want a little Chinoiserie in your home, too!

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Marrakesh: and a tale of Melanie Royals and the Peacock Painters, Part 4

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Lovelies,

I'm back from Cairo just in time for a painting retreat at Peacock Pavilions.  Melanie Royals is working her unbelievable stencil magic with a talented group of Peacock Painters.  Oh!  We're painting the floor of a new yoga and pilates platform in the Peacock Pavilions olive grove in Marrakesh. (Yoga and pilates instructors take note!)

The inspiration I sent Melanie for this stencil project was Nigerian textile design.  Here's a sneak peek of the goings on:

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You can't tell in the pictures but the floor is actually a beautiful indigo color that architect husband Chris hand mixed himself!

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Look at this darling peacock feather that Melanie designed!  (Could I love it anymore?  I don't think so.)

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More to come.  Stay tuned!

Love,

Maryam in Marrakesh

PS So happy to be featured on ebay's The Inside Source!  (Did you know I am an ebay addict?)  Many many thanks to the fabulous Heather Summerville for the write up!  Check it out right here.