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The Djellabar bar: or a tale of where to drink in Marrakech

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It was late and we were three girls out in Marrakech, without our husbands.  It could mean only one thing: trouble {cough}.  We headed to the Djellabar, a new spot in Marrakesh for eating and drinking. {And did I mention drinking?}

Djellabar is in a converted Moroccan marriage hall.  Moroccan mosaic zellij tile and sculpted geps plaster work cover the walls.  Fantastic. And there are fun paintings of Elvis, Bob Marley, Oum Kalthoum and more wearing Moroccan fez hats.  

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Even the king is there.

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Soon it was crowded. There were people at the Moroccan patterned bar.

Book section 1, pepe Nero, Djellabar 109
And others dancing and generally having a plain old good time.

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 We thought the owners were adorable.  This is Claude. He's a DJ with several Paris nightclubs under his belt.

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And we couldn't take our eyes off of Claude's beautiful love, Fadwa. 

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And then there were the Djellabar drinks, served up on hand incised tables.  They had names like Moroccan Love Potion and Oriental Hibiscus Nectar (Or something like that. My head was a little fuzzy, you see.)

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{Did I mention the drinks?} Oy.

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Djellabar, Marrakech's new hot spot, owned by Claude Challe and Stephane Atlas

Villa Bougainvillée, 2 rue Abou Hanifa,
Hivernage, Marrakech

Cocktails at about 100 dirhams.

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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.