Moroccan Style decorations: an overview

Ethnic Moroccan style is a new trend in decoration, which has been made popular by the vogue of Riads renovation in Marrakech. Chief in this regard, Moroccan decor has gained tremendous popularity throughout the western world in recent years. Handcrafted, and with production value, Moroccan furniture are already making waves in the western world for their unparalleled aesthetic value. Chief idea behind designing these Moroccan furniture lies in the fact for their incredible level of detail, with almost every aspect, right from coloring to spacing covered. Whether it,s beautiful Moroccan tables, or aromatic henna lamps, Moroccan furniture have the word beauty etched all over it. Being hand-made, with techniques being passed down by generation to generation by the Moroccan artisans, Moroccan furniture styles are unmatched and unparallel. It’s no wonder that each piece of furniture has a unique appeal, and adds to the dimension and vibrance of the interiors. It’s for this reason perhaps that Moroccan furniture are in very high demand in the western world.

Chief difference between Moroccan furniture and furniture of the western world lies in the fact with its sheer number of varieties.  Furniture from Morocco are available in different colors, designs and dimensions and are available for living room, bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, patio or even the swimming pool area. Moroccan tables itself comes in various varieties. There are Moroccan etched tables, which are round in shape with a metallic top. The legs are elegantly designed to simultaneously provide support and rigidity. These tables can be put to use in different ways. Added glassware on the top only enhances the beauty. Then there are Moroccan round tables, which have round shaped top with metallic finish and attractive etching on the top. These are ideally used for keeping candles or other attractive articles. The long and slender legs enable it to be used as side table or corner table. For people looking for space, there are also wide oval shaped Moroccan tables, which are excellent to be placed at the corner of the sitting room with flower pots. The long legs are crossed at the bottom and provide good support with the ground. The top plate is wide enough to provide ample area to keep articles.

However, an empty table is generally regarded as a bad symbol in the Moroccan culture, and for this reason, virtually every Moroccan table are accompanied with beautiful tea glasses. Moroccan tea glasses are the prime symbol of the warm Moroccan hospitality. Whether chitchatting with friends just after a meal, or even eating breakfast, Moroccans find mint tea as their favorite drink during any occasion. It is analogical as beer for Americans or wine for French or scotch for Scots or even sake for Japanese. Moroccan tea glasses again come in various shapes and sizes, and like their Moroccan table counterparts, are delicately designed with rich and vibrant color. And you don’t have to go all the way to Morocco to get a taste of the Moroccan décor. A wide variety of Moroccan tea glasses, and their table counterparts can be viewed online at many sites like www.treasuresofmorocco.com/. Where you will find exquisite furniture imported from Morocco that will add that extra charm to your homes.

Moroccan Interior Decorations: A Brief Exploration

Morocco is a land of exquisite culture and vibrant color. Be its placid population, or extremely rich decorations, Morocco culture is unique and highly treasured. However, what adds an extra aspect to this dynamic culture is the highly influential Moroccan décor. Famous for its liberal use of colors and incredible level of detailing, Moroccan interior decoration is the thriving lighthouse of the Moroccan culture.

High value in the Moroccan décor comes from the variety of exotic Moroccan lanterns. These lanterns or chandeliers are an excellent way to bring a subtle exotic touch to an outdoor patio or front-door entryway or to create a majestic entrance in the foyer of a home. Made of colored glass and finely hand worked brass, any Moroccan lantern can add a magical and mystic feel to any room. These special lanterns from Morocco sport a skilled level of craftsmanship by the local Moroccan artisans.  The different types of craftsmanship used are wood, metal and brass hand-carving and hand-painting. The Moroccan lanterns comes in variety of shapes and sizes, with some being as much as 7 feet tall. Mostly, these lanterns sports high value for details and technique, featuring high quality colorful glasses to evenly and adequately spread the radiance.

Next comes Moroccan Henna lamps, which are made of sheep or goat skin that is stretched around different shapes of handmade Moroccan wrought iron frames. After dying the skin, with a needle, the henna artists, generally girls, meticulously draw different intricate motifs, which appear to be fine black lines on the skins. They let the henna dry for around one hour and then the painter artists apply different color paints in the different recipients drawn with henna. Moroccan henna lamps use vibrant colors, such as red, yellow, orange or blue to add color to the interiors. These handmade henna lamps are made as such to reflect a soft glowing light, hence adding superb value to the decoration factor.

Finally, to add the last bit of dimension to the Moroccan décor, there are a variety of quality Moroccan rugs to choose from. The origin of these mystical and beautiful Moroccan rugs can be dated back a thousand years. While once used as protection against the cold, it is now also considered as an integral part of Moroccan art. Moroccan rugs or Berber area rugs can be divided into two large categories, the urban Moroccan rugs such as the ones from Rabat, and the rural Moroccan rugs which are mainly from the Atlas Mountains and Marrakech. The key of making superb rugs is due the creativity of craftsmen coming from many different regions of Morocco and the multiples dynasties that succeeded one another. Thus, every rug, even contemporary ones carry a thousand-year-old tradition. Every region in Morocco manufactures rugs with specific local characteristics, such as colors, motifs, weaving techniques and material used.

To view a complete catalogue of these superb Moroccan interior decorations, one can visit many online websites with authentic Moroccan décor content like www.treasuresofmorocco.com/

All About Moroccan Clothing and Food cuisines

Morocco is a country of multi-ethnic groups with a rich culture and civilization. Throughout Moroccan history, the country has hosted many people in addition to the indigenous Berbers, coming from both East, South and North, all of which had an impact on the social structure of Morocco.

Each region possesses its own uniqueness, contributing to its national culture. Morocco has set among its top priorities the protection of its diversity and the preservation of its culture. Prime among this vibrant Moroccan culture is the rich and colorful Moroccan clothing. The traditional Moroccan clothing for men is called djellaba; a long, loose, hooded garment with full sleeves. Traditional Moroccan djellabas are generally made of two types of material, cotton for summer wear and coarse wool for the winter. The wool is typically harvested from sheep living in the surrounding mountains. For special occasions, men also wear a red cap called a bernousse, more commonly referred to as a Fez. Women wear Moroccan kaftans decorated with ornaments. Moroccan kaftans, unlike djellaba, are only worn by women, and are substantially different from their Turkish counterpart. The Moroccan kaftans is an original dress, born right out of Morocco, and can be dressed casual to extremely formal depending on the materials used. The versatility of the kaftans lies in the fact that it can be worn at dinner parties, baby showers, engagement parties and weddings.

The prime distinction between a Moroccan djellaba and a Moroccan kaftan is that the djellaba has a hood, while a kaftan does not. Women are strongly attached to their Moroccan clothing, despite the financial costs involved. The production of such garments is relatively expensive, as most of the work is done by hand, yet most women purchase a minimum of one new Moroccan kaftan   every year, normally for a special social event, such as a religious festival or a wedding. Nowadays, it is an unwritten rule that traditional Moroccan clothing is worn at such events.

Moving on from Moroccan clothing, another distinctive attraction of Moroccan culture is its delicious food. Chief in the cuisine department is a traditional dish the Moroccan tajine. Most Moroccan tajines are slow-cooked stews braised at low temperatures, resulting in tender meat with aromatic vegetables and sauce. These tajines are traditionally cooked in the tajine pot, whose cover has a knob-like handle at its top to facilitate removal. While simmering, the cover can be lifted off without the aid of a mitten, enabling the cook to inspect the main ingredients, add vegetables, mix the contents, or add additional braising liquid. Moroccan tajines often combine lamb or chicken with a medley of ingredients or seasonings: olives, quinces, apples, pears, apricots, raisins, prunes, dates, nuts, with fresh or preserved lemons, with or without honey, with or without a complexity of spices. Some famous Moroccan tajine dishes are mqualli or mshermel, kefta, and mrouzia. So if you are curious about the various Moroccan clothing, and would like to have a taste of the famous Moroccan tajines look no further as  http://www.treasuresofmorocco.com/ provide you with just the same. Log in today & check out their wide range of Moroccan delights.

Buying Classy Moroccan Furniture

The North African country of morocco is a very well know place for its excellent architecture and housings. The construction of buildings in this place is a witness to great architecture and hand work. With Moroccan settings and designing, you can decorate your home very well. The furniture that is used in Morocco is created in a very versatile way. The furniture are very elegantly which mostly is inspired from the beauty and calmness of the deserts. The furniture there depicts the African life style and excellent designing. Even though they are made of good material, their ranges are not very high which enables common people to buy them.

Moroccan tables are very stylish and sober. This furniture makes you and your guests feel very relaxed and comfortable. They are strong, durable and elegant enough to draw your guests’ attentions. If you can maintain them well, they will serve you a life time. Just regular care will do the work. Preventing them from scratches, dents and cracks is a must. Furniture is the beauty of the house. The better they are, the classier your house looks. Various colors like red, blue, bottle green etc. and many more shades are also available. If you want an antique look in your house, you can also try the black or gray colored furniture. The oxidized color is also gaining popularity as they are uncommon but they bring in a total different look.

The best thing about Moroccan furniture is that, you can get any type of furniture you want and not just chairs, tables and beds. For the living room or any other room where you want your guests to be seated, you can place nicely designed benches. Most of us have sofa sets or small folding beds to make the guests comfortable. But placing a bench is something new. You can order benches with head and arm rest and buy cushions according to your need. For further more decorations, using elegant lanterns is also an excellent idea.

Now coming to other places like bedrooms for your self or for your children, needs an extra attention. A bed must be made in such a way that it is not only very luxurious and relaxing but also useful. Small racks and tables attached to the beds are always very handy and useful. Small tools can also be kept in the room. For your dinning room, you will need a large table if you have a big family. Flower pots by the window sill looks very elegant in the dinning and the living rooms.

Apart from these, you can also keep furniture in the garden or free spaces. Rocking chairs, small tea tables make the house look complete. The excellent work and craftsmanship have brought fame to the Moroccan furniture makers. Their styling and elegant finish of the products makes the entire house look very good and classier. Therefore you can always buy the Moroccan furniture to complete the decorations of your home. They are the best in their category.

Moroccan Décor For Modern Homes

Are you fond of decorating your home with variations and like to keep changing styles then this is the right article for you. In general there are lots of decorating styles, patterns in the world-European, American, and Oriental but Moroccan décor among all other decors in the world stands out from the crowd because of its mystic nature and a unique combination of African and Western culture. The bright color combination, the material of the fabrics, the beautiful shapes of the lamps and lanterns will simply take you to a different world altogether.

Morocco has welcomed a number of civilization including Jews, French, Persian and many others. These civilizations have lot of contributions in Moroccan culture which reflects in their home décor also. But above all the Islamic trend dominates. Moroccan home décor is quite popular now almost in the world as it has got a superb blend of different cultures and is very much eye catching. 

In Moroccan décor we must keep in mind the color combination. Colors are always rich in texture, bright and vibrant. The houses may look plain from outside but the interior is vibrant with red, yellow, golden color combination. The moment you step into the house you will feel the warmth of the inhabitants.

Moroccan furniture is generally set lower than other regular furniture so that it remains closer to the floor. Furniture is either made of wrought iron or wood. The artwork carved in the wooden frame adds to its delicacy. You can select from varieties of ranges like wooden tables, room divider, lamps and so many other home décor items.

Moroccan floor tiles are also an important factor in Moroccan décor. There are varieties of patterns in tiles, if you wish you can get it in bulk or in few. You can fix some beautiful tiles or put a bright colorful Moroccan rug in your bedroom or in the living room.

A Moroccan rug is a floor cover made of hard and colorful wool with hand made tapestry work or any colorful stitching. This can even be used as wall hang.

Moroccan décor is incomplete without its interior lighting. The famous Henna lamp or Moroccan lantern is a must if you wish to decorate your home in Moroccan style. These wrought iron lamps or lantern are very colorful and made by stained glass. These glasses simply create a mesmerizing ambiance in your room. You can fix it in the wall or hang it any suitable place, what ever you do it will only enhance your décor. The lanterns are of rustic and of modern types. They have unique geometrical shapes; some have semi-oval shapes. It is available   in Chandelier types also.

Last but not the least is the typical aroma or fragrance of Morocco. These aromas are made of expensive spices like cinnamon, nutmeg etc.Aromatic incense sticks; candles are easily available in the market.

So you can select and decorate your house in just the way you dream of, nothing is out of reach or unavailable now!

Rich Moroccan Clothing

The beautiful country of Morocco is located in the extreme north western region in Africa. It lies in the great Sahara desert and is a region where the climate is usually very hot. Moroccan climate is Mediterranean type of climate which goes extreme towards the interior region. The climate is very humid and place to place it varies also. Even in some places it is very dry especially where the region faces Sahara desert. The summer lasts here for very long time.

Morocco has got a very rich culture and civilization. Since Morocco had welcomed many civilization from past to help building up their history  such as Arabs Romans Jews , present Morocco is a vast ethnic mixture of all these culture. These cultures have influenced its way of living life, its mannerism, its clothing, food, in short almost everything. The population is dominated by Arab ethnic groups by heritage so the clothing mostly goes according to their own style and custom.

The traditional Moroccan clothing for both men and women is called djellaba, a long loose outfit with long sleeves and hood. On special occasions they also wear a red cap which is locally called fez. Women wear kaftans dazzled by ornaments. There is a difference between djellaba and kaftans. A djellaba has hood while a kaftans does not.

Djellabas for women are generally very much decorated sometimes with beads or ornaments and are always very bright in color.Mens djellaba or kaftans are always plain in color. They look very simple. Women are very loyal to their own ethnic wear despite its high cost. Kaftans are always hand made because of their delicacy. Still most women love to wear their national dress. Every year they must buy at least one if not more either for wedding or their religious festival. Keeping in mind the warmer weather and hot dry climate the kaftans are made either of cotton or silk. As these dresses are exclusively worn in ceremony or festivals the outfits are quite expensive. Clothing is a part of the social status so the lower groups of people try to wear neatly pressed dress so as to avoid their own shabby condition if they cannot afford to buy costly kaftans or Djellabas.

Morocco is a highly progressing country. Though Muslim culture dominates still along with western higher education western culture started prevailing its influence. Since woman’s dress is a major issue in Islamic culture it is always observed that nobody violates the unwritten law of exposing any part of the body. Modern Moroccan youth have nicely combined western design with the traditional one. Moroccan Kaftans have been reduced in length and have become tight in fittings with modern jeans.

Over the past years, Moroccan dressing has improved a lot and in a way that made it more popular. Rich works on Djellabas are not just a favorite amongst all women, but they show the richness of Morocco and the North African countries. Visiting these places, you can surely catch a glimpse of these great hand works.

Moroccan rugs- bright and beautiful

Bringing in a touch of ethnicity in homes is now considered fashionable and even if cannot do up your entire house in the current fashionable mode, adding a few native touches here and there is enough to brighten up the atmosphere. One of the most popular and emerging home décor styles is the moroccan décor and the best way to impart it is by scattering a few of the lovely moroccan rugs through the house. Ethnic styles have really caught on and hand-woven moroccan rugs are a lovely way of bringing in the warmth and brightness of that country. Moroccan furnitures including tables and lanterns have become de rigueur in many houses.

 

The usage of moroccan rugs is not a new phenomenon as they have always been used in millions of homes as the easiest way of imparting some color to the home décor. The geometric patterns of these rugs have long been popular in stylish, urbane homes and the renowned pile carpets from the middle atlas mountains of morocco are displayed in many famous houses.

For many, on a visit to morocco, a trip to the famous ‘souk’ of marrakech to buy moroccan clothing or rugs is a must and they happily spend half a day haggling over the prices of carpets or clothing while sipping mint tea from one of those lovely tea glasses moroccan. There are many types of moroccan rugs like the berber carpets, ‘kilims’ and fez carpets. 

The berber carpet is the most famous of the moroccan rugs and is made of naturally dyed wool. The colors maybe bright or faded and the rug is normally handmade. The berbers are an indigenous tribe of north africa living in morocco. The berber carpets are unique in their designs and colors and maybe somewhat similar to those of the native americans. Some berber carpets can be ancient and can cost the earth. 

‘kilims’ or ‘hanbels’ are the cheaper variety of moroccan rugs and are normally made from silk or wool or a combination of both. They are lightweight with flat weaves and the motifs are in shades of red, blue, green, white and mauve. They look beautiful and also make for great wall hangings.

Fez carpets are of excellent quality boasting of very intricate patterns and are very densely knotted. These are the most expensive types of moroccan rugs and they always come with a tag stating their quality. The size, quality, designs and colors determine the prices of these moroccan carpets. 

Moroccan rugs are a pleasant mixture of modern and ethnic styling. The warm and bright hues of these rugs can liven up any space and impart a trendy, colorful and luxurious feel to the area. With theirs striking colors and bold patterns, they make for perfect flooring accessories or as throws. Since they are handmade from wool or silk, moroccan rugs have an inherent indigenous character and quality which makes them stand apart from other factory-made, synthetic carpets and lend a distinctive look to your home.