SCANDINAVIAN WITH A MOROCCAN TWIST

dar amina

Don't you love when a dish comes together? Adding that pinch of herbs or spices makes all the difference to a somehow plain dish but the key is when all the flavours work in harmony.

In the home, ethnic and colourful pieces infuse the right amount of spice to wake up your visual senses, and when I think of spices what immediately comes to mind is Morocco. 

Perhaps the fact that I grew up surrounded by ethnic pieces that my parents brought back to Spain after a few years living in Casablanca, or maybe the fact that going on holidays to the South of Spain for twenty years where the arabic influence is clearly present in the architecture I always felt a special attraction and love for Moroccan Style; but not Moroccan style on itself but Scandinavian with a Moroccan twist, that pinch that when added will spice up your home.

 Srta Pepis

I always loved the bohemian edge in a quirky, contemporary tribal-chic style of moroccan poufs and the stunning colours and intricate graphic patterns of the Beni Ouran and Boucherouite rugs (see my post about 'Tips to find the right rug' here for amazing examples), not to mention the silver teapots and moroccan trays among other treasures. 

When you team up two opposite aesthetics, originated from two geographically opposing regions, Scandinavia and Morocco,  the results translate into beautiful, balanced,versatile, functional, styled interiors.

dar amina

The epitome of this style comes from a spanish couple, Salima (with moroccan roots) and Jose Eduardo, better known in the Interiors circles as Dar Amina who named this mix of styles NORETNIC (nordic + ethnic) for an exhibition at the Spanish trade fair Giftrend a couple of years ago.

dar amina

Dar amina has a shop online with amazing pieces. Salima explained that all their products are made by highly skilled artisans in Morocco some of whom are formed by women' cooperatives who mainly work with textiles.

I asked Dar Amina if they ever had to choose only one piece from their shop what would it be and why? - they specially love pouffs because of their versatility: they can serve as small tables, additional seating or footrest.

Live creating yourself

puro deco

the green eyed girl

Oh, I'd just adore a rug like this one in my sitting room (sigh)!

Do you like this style?, What would be your most loved moroccan piece?

I can't wait to hear your comments, -;).

With love,

Margarita xo

HOW TO MAKE A DREAMCATCHER / COMO HACER UN ATRAPASUEÑOS

Legend says Dreamcatchers were intended to protect you from bad dreams while letting good dreams through.

The positive dreams would slip through the hole in the center and glide down the feathers to the sleeping person below.

The bad dreams would get caught up in the web and disappear when the first rays of sun struck them.

What you need:

- an embroidery hoop

- cotton yarn or embroidery yarn

- needle (optional)

- assorted beads

- assorted feathers

- scissors

How to :

Take the embroidery thread and tie it to the hoop.

Make evenly spaced loops all the way around until you reach the first loop.

Make sure the loops are tight and have tension. Once you go back around the hoop repeat the looping process but this time go through the loops you just made.

Ensure that the knots are in the middle of the loops.

Repeat the process until you reach the center of the hoop and can't pass the ball of thread through the loop easily. You can use a needle when the net becomes too dense and at this point (or before) you can start adding some beads.

Add feathers and arrange them the way you like on the cords hanging from the hook until you are satisfied with the look.

With this post I'm taking part in the link party #diariodeco Diariodeco13, Handmade Decoration.

Estoy participando en la fiesta de enlaces #diariodeco Diariodeco13 "Decoration Handmade".

NATURE INSPIRED - SPRING COLOURS 2015

fabrics by liberty

The profound beauty of nature inspires me all the time. Nature never gets it wrong. There is balance, there is emphasis, there is harmony, scale and proportion, unity and variety. 

When you are looking for colour inspiration you just need to look outside your window. 

These photos were taken in my local gardening centre. 

fabric by NANI IRO

I could spend hours just admiring and tapping into my ability to wonder, wandering around, with no agenda.

eucalyptus tree branch

mini moodboard

BEAUTIFUL AND COLOURFUL MELBOURNE APARTMENT

Hello lovelies,

today the sun is shinning and life is good. 

I wanted to share with you this beautiful apartment belonging to Melbourne visual artist Miranda Skoczek.

Miranda's beautiful artwork can be seen reflected all around her home, and you'll notice it straight away for her use of colour ; as vitra magazine describes Miranda's home: "a carnival of colour, with splashes of green, pink and blue."

"Artwork The Verner Panton ‘S’ chair, a gift from her brother, matches the tones of the artwork by Kirra Jamison above." 

I love the sorbet colours in contrast with the dark wooden floors. 

The artwork above the sofa is from Rhys Lee

Splashes of candy colours from the painting repeat throughout the room creating harmony.

All about this home gives a sense of welcoming, relaxing and happy feeling.

A bit of drama is introduced with black in the original kitchen tiles 

In the living room Miranda has styled her books with colour in mind conferring an order to the space where a mix of patterns, textures and colours blend together creating a bohemian look that I love.

” On top of the bookcase are Polish religious artworks she found while travelling, a Noguchi lamp, an Andrew McKenzie perspex box from Hut 13 and an old papier mâché skull from Fenton & Fenton"

One of Miranda’s own works features over the blue bed from Scout House, dressed in Hay ‘Minimal’ bedlinen. The patchwork kilim rug is from Loom Rugs.

Miranda's paintings are, in her own words: 'an exploration of unrestrained fantasy, they create a space to enjoy beauty, the exotic and escape from the harsh realities we are bombarded with daily' and as you can see it here, her home is a clear reflection as well.

STYLING - Jason Grant

PHOTOGRAPHY - Lauren Bamford

SOURCES - homelife | FVF

GREY, THE NEW TREND?

Irresistible, Daring, Thrilling, Individual, Magical, Dramatic......these are just some of the attributes I've found myself fetching recently when looking for Interiors with a WOW factor.

GREY (and darker shades) is certainly having a moment.

I haven't the faintest idea why I am lately so drawn to dark, grey and moody interiors. 

But look at this room, ceiling, walls and floor have been painted in different shades of black creating immediately a feel of intimacy that wouldn't be achieved as easily with white. How does it work? you may ask: High ceilings, plenty of natural light, game of textures, velvet upholstery, faux fur on the bamboo chair, unexpected groupings on the fireplace, the glass accent from the chandelier, make this room just a perfect cocoon. For more photographs check Milk Magazine.

OH! I am enamoured of this bedroom, (sigh....) The wall in grey is the perfect background for this room where brick, natural wood, fur, and metal table combine to create this restful and glamorous in its simplicity with a masculine touch.  

The more interiors I look at in grey, the more I am convinced I want to do it in my home. This taste for dark and moody has been developing for a while. About a year ago I blogged about keys to decorate on a budget and guess what, yes, some of the striking interior ideas I found were based on grey/dark walls.

This is love, sorry not, envy! I wanna a bedroom like this one with the steel-framed doors (better known as Crittall windows), the wooden floors and those rugs!!!!

Blackboard paint

Ok, I couldn't help it! I just LOVE shoes (my other passion after interiors, -;)!

via

DO YOU DARE TO DECORATE YOUR WALLS IN GREY (OR BLACK)?

love,

Margarita x