Design

Marrakech: and a tale of my still curious home - Part 1: my bedroom

 I assemble small collections, and I create little vignettes.   I pin things to the wall, and I hang things on hooks.  I have piles of tribal textiles stacked up on chairs and on floors; I leave these piles everywhere.  

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My husband swears that in his next life, he will marry a minimalist.  I pat him on the arm and say, Of course you will.    

Today, some items in my bedroom at Peacock Pavilions in Marrakesh.

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A little pouch with Berber imagery to store receipts, books by Sibella Court (inspiring layouts), a clay hand holds Moroccan matches to light my candle in the evening.

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A jumble of cushions on the daybed.

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My jewelry, including a ring from Bouvier, bracelets from Tory Burch and Raven & Lilly, & antique tribal pieces on etched hands. (I sell the hand etched hands for $140 each  - useful, every day luxury is so nice.)  More favorite books - I am inspired by The Divine Home and love the photography in Interiors.

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A collection of antique spice boxes from Yemen.

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Kenyan bone beads and a necklace from Raven and Lily hanging from hooks of my own design. (The hooks are hand-made and I sell them for $55 each). A pom pom necklace from Tory Burch.  An image of a Berber woman found in the Marrakesh Thursday souk.

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A model hand with an old shell bead. Recent reading (odd & somewhat interesting).

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A vintage peacock on an Egyptian inlaid box.

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An old toy car found in the Marrakech souks, a terracotta head from Mali, a vintage Montague cigar box, an antique Tibetan tray.

What special little things are in your bedroom? 

PS  If you'd like to purchase hooks (3 models) or hands, pls email me at Moroccanmaryam(AT)yahoo.com

PPS Subscribe to My Marrakesh here.  Let's be friends on Facebook here or take a look at my Pinterest boards here

Marrakech: and a tale of a Raven & Lily Spring jewelry collection

They came with their selection of shoes

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And their long legs to wear them.

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And they came with their pretty dresses....

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And their plans for styling them...

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And of course, they came with their photographer (who doubled as a model).

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But mostly, they came with their jewelry.  

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{And the hopes & wishes of the women -- the marginalized, the trafficked, the ones with HIV -- who made them.}  

We dressed up Peacock Pavilions for the occasion...

with penants....

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And with stripey blankets...

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Until all there was left to do was smile for the camera....

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Raven & Lily's Spring collection is out!  So very covetable.  For those who love jewelry and the special hands that made them....

See the lookbook shot at Peacock Pavilions:  right here. And don't forget to shop.  {You'll be glad that you did.}

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 PS  Subscribe to My Marrakesh here  and receive it in your inbox.

Manhattan: and a tale of Scout Designs

When it comes to design and interiors, I always value interest over beauty.  I am drawn to artifacts {with their hidden histories} and to curiosities {with their strange tales}.  I like unexpected juxtapositions and intrigue.  And I like details. I am happy when people pick up things and say, What is that?  Because really, life is too short to keep seeing the same old thing. 

I decorate Peacock Pavilions myself.  But if I were to hire a firm to do that, the place that comes to mind is Scout Designs, run by Nicki Clendening and Callie Jenschke. These two have a fantastic and very personal design aesthetic.  And it's no surprise {to me} that they're drawn to ethnic details and items from farflung shores.   I also confess to having asked them if they would, Please be my best friends. {Ahem, I'm still waiting in line with several others on that request.}  Because honestly, they're just that cool.

Whenever I'm in New York, we spend some time together.  Here is Nicki in her beautiful appartment in Harlem.

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And Callie 

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And more importantly, here is some of their work.

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LizBanfeld1 Photo credit: Liz Banfield

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Photo credit: Liz Banfield

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Learn more about Scout Designs and Callie and Nickie

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Scout Designs
info@scoutdesignsnyc.com
And take a peek at their blog, Scouting and their shop, Mercantile.

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PS So nice to see this lovely blog post on Peacock Pavilions

Kabul and the quest for beauty: a tale of the wood carvers

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Oh, you can take your big box store, and your hollow core door.  
Yes, you can take your Home Depot, and your pre-fab low. 

But today please consider the wood carvers of Kabul....
And you might just leave with your eyes & your heart full.

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80 years old and still teaching.....

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Still teaching this....

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Which make this possible...............

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and ensures he knows how...

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As does he.

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And so does he......

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 I'll take this please....

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And one of these.....

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Images taken at Turquoise Mountain in Kabul, Afghanistan.