As I recently flipped through the pages of the April issue of Elle Decor I fell madly in love with the home of Maryam Montague and architect Chris Redecke in Marrakesh. Morocco happens to be at the top of 'my-life-will-be-complete-when' list. There is something magical about the country that draws me in. The rich textiles. The ornate decor with bold colors and intricate details. The amazing architecture. The lovely tea sets. Beautiful riads. Montague and Redecke designed, built and decorated the 4,500-square-foot home from scratch. It features two stories filled with Moroccan arches (believed to fend off evil genies), a space for the couple's home furnishing shop,
Red Thread Souk, two guest houses, and a pool. Montague claims to be "an accidental stylist" who doesn't follow the rules, mixes with abandon, and only buys things she loves. This is clearly seen by numerous objects displayed throughout the home that have been acquired from a life time of travels. Whatever she does it works.
In the living room the rug is form the couple's shop, Red Thread Souk; the custom sofa is upholstered with vintage Moroccan and Malian textiles and European velvet; the Frank Gehry Wiggle chairs are adorned with vintage belts from Rajasthan, and the antique campaign chair is decorated with a vintage carpet bag from Iran and record beads from Ghana
Chris designed and made the dining room table and chairs inspired by Charles Renne Mackintosh and Frank Lloyd Wright; the suzani is from Uzbekistan, and custom made horn sconces flank a collection of African masks.
Love. Love. Loooove the hallway.
The antique Indian door on the right has a large mask from Mali displayed above it; the stools and other masks are African.
In the library, also referred to as the Groovy Room, the brightly striped vintage blanket used as a rug sets the tone; the Moroccan lanterns are made from sardine tins, and the tables are made of old Moroccan road signs.
The standout feature of the guestroom is the hand painted mural inspired by a screen by Armand Albert Rateau; on the bed is an old hand embroidered kantha quilt, and the carpet is a fintage Moroccan Tazenarght; the stools were a purchase from Mali, and the chairs are covered in African mud cloth.
The master bedroom features a custom made headboard created from antique poster printing blocks; the fabrics are from Morocco and Africa; the sconces are vintage Italian, and the antique French poster was a gift from Montague's parents
The terrace floor is covered in Moroccan cement tile.
Home owners Maryam Montague and Chris Redecke
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