The Moroccan House
Interior Architecture | France
INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE
Defining the Brief
This beach side property in the south west of France is built in local pink stone sitting in large grounds which had planning permission for extension and new buildings. The clients vision was to create an exotic paradise for their young family , hosting throughout extended summer breaks large gatherings of guests and develop an estate for generations to come. The project was phased out over several years and we developed each stage in collaboration with a team of local craftsmen and architects. The style is an eclectic fusion of Asian-Arabian influences and we sourced furniture globally through travels and auctions to furnish interiors that feel lived-in, relaxed, cosy, comfortable, warm, faded and aged as if the place had been around for years already.
Space Planning
The footprint of the original house was extended at the rear, the enlarge the kitchen fit for preparing meals for large summer parties as well as adding also a grand new entrance with cloakroom facilities. At the front of the building we added an orangery which is the hub of the house and was designed to imitate the feeling of a Moroccan riad courtyard. The extensive basement was converted into bedrooms and ensuite spaces for children and staff. On the main floor the bedrooms access was reconfigured moving doors and windows, bathrooms were gutted and the master suite was separated from the rest of the house by adding a doorway
Kitchen Design
Setting the mood
By extension of the rear structural walls we doubled the kitchen space which is now laid out to allow multiple work stations with two sinks with each dishwashers and bins around a large central island and beautiful French Lacanche stove. The cabinetry was made by the French artisanal kitchen studio Provence et Fils and the chandelier was commissioned to include a rail for hanging hooks for drying herbs inside the metal structure.
INTERIOR DESIGN
Material Selection
Our vision to create an entirely different sensory experience and to be transported into another world had to encompass very aspect of the finishes, fixtures, materials, colours and furniture. The floors are a mix of wooden boards, tumbled limestone and white painted concrete with plenty of rugs dotted around the rooms for laying of texture and colour. The walls are plastered with rough textured lime wash affects and all corners, windows, door openings are rounded and shaped. The bathrooms are clad in a mix of marble, pebbles, zelliges imported from Morocco and traditional tadelakt. The original fireplace was reclad in plastermoulding to create an entirely new effect. The original ceiling beams were stained dark to work with the traditional dark timber furniture which we sourced and commissioned.
Colour Consultation
Rich vibrant contrasts
We selected a faded shade of red by Farrow and Ball to paint exterior woodwork and this runs as a thread through the house and the property beyond. Coupled with this we mix a rich tapestry of oranges, reds, purples, dark wood and whites which are evident in rugs, curtains, wall hangings, oil paintings, bespoke lampshades and much more.
Bespoke Furniture Commission
To realize our vision we researched the literature on buildings and interiors of the British and French colonial period style in the Caribbean, Africa and Asia, we drew inspiration from grand houses in India, Singapore, Morocco and many other exotic places. It was a wonderful immersion into this rich cultural heritage which we wove into our designs. Some pieces we could not find and had to commission and I drew on images and sources to work with artisans worldwide to make bespoke pieces for the house such as the dresser and sofa bed and others.
INTERIOR STYLING
Antiques and Art
Hunting for unique one-off pieces is one of the signature skills of our studio and I take great pride in locating and weaving stories into my projects. Each piece is meaningful and many were carefully restored, polished, regilded, recovered or otherwise adapted to fit into the house. The tree of life motif for the curved sitting room wall is an 18th century block print which was painstakingly restored by V&A specialists. I purchased items online, at auctions and travelled abroad to find artworks, lamps, mirrors, rugs and architectural details. The teak slatted doors of the master suite wardrobes are reclaimed doors from a retired ocean liner and the entrance portal is a reclaimed window arch from a place in India.
