Marrakesh: a mother's tale of Stephanie

It all started out with the missing. The missing of a mother of one girl in particular, named Stephanie.  

All the mother's three children were grown now, you see.  They had gone away to college -- some starting, some finishing, some finished. And even though the mother sent care packages, and made phone calls, and went for visits, the house was no longer the same.  The times when her family was all together seemed fewer and fewer now.

Stephanie was the oldest of the mother's three children and she had gone away the farthest.  She had left for Africa, for Morocco, for Peacock Pavilions.   

The mother got to thinking, got to talking, got to planning with her good natured golf-playing husband.  Suddenly,  tickets were purchased, cars were rented, and reservations were made.

Suddenly, they were coming -- all of them -- to Peacock Pavilions.  

It was a sunny day in Marrakesh when they arrived.

We made Peacock Petals cocktails.

and Moroccan briouwates.

We sat on the terrace and sipped and toasted.  And then it was time to go to the Peacock Pavilions dining tent for dinner.  So down the path we went.

(One couldn't help but notice that even though they had been married for years, the mother and father still walked hand in hand and were always kind to each other.)  

In the tent, there was candle light and bottles of wine.

and there was more food, of course.  

There was eggplant zeluk bruschetta.

There was couscous with lamb.

There was chocolate fondant with spiced strawberry butter.

and there was tea.

But really, none of that was very important.  What was important were the funny stories.

And the laughter.

And the pleasure

of the family, of all the children, together again.

I love a happy ending.

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PS If you like this blog, pls consider liking it on Facebook.  I have a brand new page for My Marrakesh. That would be so nice!: http://www.facebook.com/pages/My-Marrakesh/387670284601812 

Marrakesh: and a tale of a tiny little film for Marrakesh by Design

Produced by Griyo TV and Music

PS I'm in the US.  Would love to meet you.  Here's my schedule.

PPS  My book is shipping!  Eeek!  So very excited (and a little nervous...).  If you do pick it up, I'd be so grateful for your review.  

Marrakesh: and a tale of Spring cleaning

I was thinking that Spring is the time for many things.  Like Spring cleaning.  It's a time to get out our brooms and tackle the debris under the bed and couch.  A time to open the closets and toss the faded¸ dingy, and unused.  

But more than our homes, Spring cleaning should tackle the dust balls that reside in the corners of our minds.  Those dark and wintery ideas that hold us down.  The thoughts that are old, crumpled, and unnecessary like, I’ll never get there,  or she’s so much luckier, or no matter what I do  I will always be overweight.  These thoughts should be tossed in the bin, along with the stained shirt and the broken appliance.

Spring is also the time to get rid of the Only Ifs that keep us tethered and constrained, like If only I had more time, If only I had more money, If only I had more skills. Because really, Only Ifs are just excuses in disguise blocking our path to where we want to go. 

Spring, yes Spring, is the time for possibilities.  And new growth. 

Images of the white rose gardens at Peacock Pavilions in Marrakesh.

PS My book tour for Marrakesh by Design starts tomorrow!  More on that soon but I'll be at the International Fair for Books and Press in Geneva from Wednesday-Friday, April 25-27.  Morocco is the guest of honor and will have its own Moroccan Pavilion.  If you are nearby please come say hello!

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Marrakesh: and a tale of my home in Elle Decor. Part 1

I'm an accidental stylist.  I don't follow rules.  I mix with abandon. I don't worry decisions. I buy only things that I love.  

My home at Peacock Pavilions in Marrakesh, Morocco is in the April Elle Decor.  My architect husband Chris Redecke and I designed, built and decorated it from scratch (with love).  

Take a peek at a few images.

My livingroom. The carpet is from my shop, Red Thread Souk.  My husband designed the Indonesian-inspired couch, and it is upholstered with vintage Moroccan and Malian textiles, and European velvet. I designed the lantern with an ikat fabric.  The Frank Gehry wiggle chairs are dressed with old belts from Rajasthan.  The antique campaign chair is decorated with record beads from Ghana and a vintage carpet bag from Iran.  The Peacock mirror is Indian.  Standing on the back of the couch are African statues and old Koranic book plates. The little round hollow table is vintage Moroccan and filled with my collection of antique Egyptian hand door knockers.

My hallway.  The hallway is polished cement and is inset with light wells, lit from below.  We commissioned the star lanterns in the souks.

My terrace.  The floor is covered with Moroccan cement tile.  We had the Moroccan zillij tile table made  by a Moroccan artisan.  

My guestroom. The wall was done in collaboration with Melanie Royals of Modello Designs and a group of kind Peacock Painters.  The curtains were made by Corinne Bensimon with saris I brought back from Bangladesh.  The carpet is vintage Moroccan Tazenarght.  On the bed is an old kantha quilt with a hand embroidered running stich.  The cushions are decorated with the embroidery of Rabat.  The two small chairs have cushions made out of African mud cloth.  The stools were purchased in Mali.

The Elle Decor April issue is devoted to international homes -- some of them jawdroppingly beautiful. I am in love with the ones from Spain and London, in particular.

Photography by Simon Upton; Photos courtesy of ELLE DECOR

Produced by Elle Decor Design Director Anita Sarisidi