Marrakech: and a tale of Designers Martin Raffone & Bill McIntosh's courtyard house cocktails

Yes, they have an apartment in New York and spend a month each year in St. Barts. And yes they take care of clients in Hong Kong while sourcing art in Barcelona.  

But best yet......they have a courtyard house, hundreds of years old, smack in the middle of the Marrakech medina or old city.  They renovated it from oceans away because that's what one does when you're New York designers Martin Raffone & Bill McIntosh, right?  

And now the renovation is all done.........And it's time for a little cocktail party with gin nestled among the roses. 

More roses in the kitchen (right next to Peacock Pavilions own olive oil).

Here I am with adorable Martin.

And here's Bill. (Check him out without a beard here - ridiculously handsome.)

There were swanky French locals at this cocktail party (ah yes, the kind married to former French TV stars, bien sûr.)

And as for the courtyard house itself.......... New York ethnic chic.....  But I can only give you a sneak peek  (just in case a design magazine wants to shoot it this very week.)

Did I mention that I got home at 2am?  Just a cocktail or two.....?

PS What about you?  Can you imagine buying a courtyard house in Marrakesh?  

Mali: and a tale of beauty and architecture

I’ve never been a fan of Bamako.  The streets caked with dirt, the piles of torn plastic bags, the pollution.  Almost comical is the ubiquitous 1970s-style overstuffed furniture sitting by the side of the main streets – waiting, waiting to be sold to lovers of brown velour.

No, I’ve always preferred to get out of the Malian capital and drive hours away.  There you can see clusters of tidy huts, fascinating in their organic precision. 

Or buildings with elements of Malian grandeur– spires and towers. 

Or perhaps most beautiful yet, the carved structures,brutalist and yet elegant with their sinuous lines and geometric cut outs. 

Can you imagine {really} living differently than you do?  In a yurt?  A camel hair tent? A mud hut?  The world through those windows might be so different.

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PS Just a few days left for free shipping on carpets & textiles at Red Thread Souk.  Take advantage of it while you can!

Morocco: and a tale of bringing the Moroccan souk to you!

Friends,

It's my birthday today!  Oui!

I wanted to celebrate this year with some Moroccan gorgeous, with some ethnic chic, with some exotic glamour.  Yes, I wanted to celebrate by bringing the Moroccan souk right to you! So for the first time ever, I'm offering free shipping (to North America and Europe) on Moroccan carpets and rugs (including Beni Ouarain) and Moroccan wedding blankets (known as handira) in Red Thread Souk.  This is a huge savings!  And the exotic beauty of these pieces is truly awe inspiring.  {Fresh stock of incredible sequined flatweaves or kilims are especially enchanting}.

Take a peek:

 

Check out all my stock right here.  And take advantage of the free shipping while it lasts!

            your friend in an olive grove in Marrakesh,

            Maryam 

PS I also offer a payment plan if there is something you love but can't afford to pay all just yet!  

Marrakech: and a tale of my Moroccan vanity in House Beautiful Magazine

Oh my goodness.....So happy to be in the October House Beautiful, one of my favorite magazines!  I love the new global direction that Editor in Chief Newell Turner has taken this issue!

I'm flattered to be in the What's on My Vanity feature sharing my sculptural Barcelona basin and Xenon faucet, favorite jewelery from Bouvier and Azza Fahmy, as well as makeup tips:-)  The vanity itself was stenciled by former Peacock Pavilions staffer Todd Oberndorfer using a stencil from Royal Design Studio. 

My shop Red Thread Souk was mentioned in the story and the hooks I designed were also  featured (yippee!). 

The jewelry hands in Red Thread Souk were also featured!

You can see the House Beautiful story in detail right here.  Many thanks to talented editor Lora Yoon.  This girl is so adorable it's ridiculous (and I was lucky enough to meet her in real life during my book tour for Marrakesh by Design).