Moroccan Shapes, Colours, and Designs

One of the reasons I wanted to visit Morocco was because of its incredible architecture and colours. What I didn’t realize was how delicate and detailed all the work truly is. The extravagance of the country is brought to life through the deep and contrasting colors incorporated in the designs. So what types of Moroccan designs are there?

Moroccans put a lot of hardwork and time into the beauty that are their mosques, palaces, gardens, and walls. From the horseshoe arched doorways and gates to deep green and indigo blue tilework. To help better visualize some of these details and showcase the splendor, here are a list of some of the MAIN materials and styles of architecture used across Morocco.

Stucco

Intricate designs in patterns carved into plaster. They also incorporate Islamic calligraphy into the patterns. This takes hours to carve and a very delicate hand but the outcome is incredible. You find this on walls, around doorways, on gates, and on ceiling arches.

Carved Cedarwood

Beautiful motifs of flowers and leaves, Arabic words and phrases, and other designs. This is an extremely common sight as most doors are made of carved cedarwood. Also found on panels, walls, fountains and doorways.

Zellij Tilework

Colourful, individually shaped tiles arranged in geometric patterns, mostly in the shape of stars. This vibrant mosaic is found on floors and walls in both Mosques and every day houses.

Darj w Ktaf Pattern

A flower-like pattern pointing upwards usually in an emerald green shade. This pattern can be found on schools and Mosques.

Carved Copper

Copper and Bronze are cut-out in geometrical patterns which emit light as they are mainly used as lanterns and lamp shades. The Copper can be natural, painted black or any other colour. Sometimes coloured glass is inserted into the copper to provide accents.

Painted wooden ceilings

Hand-painted traditional designs in star and flower-like patterns. These are found on most ceilings in Mosques, Palaces, and in some homes. The work is detailed and the colours are complimentary.

These shapes, colours, patterns, and designs are all reasons I was inspired to visit Morocco. Being here has fed me more knowledge on understanding what these motifs are and why they are important. I adore Moroccans dedication to beauty and incorporating it into their everyday lives and homes – It gives everywhere a very unique and grand feel. The greens, blues, yellows, and browns. The horseshoe gates, the carved doorways, the tiled floors. There is SO much more to Moroccan design then these patterns, but they give you a good introduction into some of the majestic beauty that is Moroccan design.

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Moroccan dinner (Marrakesh)

Entertainment at a Moroccan dinner (Marrakesh)

The food here in Morocco is unique and delicious, although I have to admit that I haven't been daring enough to try the variety offered by the souks (sticking to restaurants...hoping that might be safer?). The national drink here is 'Moroccan whiskey,' which is actually green tea with mint. The Moroccans drink this tea very, very sweet—some even holding sugar cubes between their teeth as they sip the tea, which often has whole leaves of mint inside the glass. Last night, the group of us enjoyed a traditional Moroccan dinner with three courses. The first course was a delicious soup traditionally eaten as Muslims break their Ramadan fast. The second course was a variety of small dishes, not all of which were recognizable to me, but were comprised mostly of different pickled vegetables, olives, and tapenade. They were all scrumptious. Finally, the main dish was a tagine, which is a stew-like dish cooked in a traditional tagine clay pot, usually over charcoal. Tagine, along with couscous, is a national dish and can contain just about anything, but ours had olives, potatoes, and veal. It was delicious. I definitely like the food here.

Speaking of food, our Moroccan guide tells us that you cannot find frozen meat in Morocco—it's all fresh. This is due, in part, to Muslim dietary laws about what is considered 'halal' (or kosher) meat. Apparently, Muslim dietary laws are similar to Jewish laws and for meat to be considered halal, it must be sacrificed and not killed. As a result, animals that are being used for food must be sacrificed in a specific way and by a person qualified to do so. To avoid hunting and killing those animals that are not easily caught, trained falcons are used to catch the animals so they can be brought back and sacrificed properly. A proper sacrifice involves pointing the animal's head toward Mecca and slitting the animal's throat so all of the blood is drained from its meat. This all takes place the same day or the day before the meat is sold at market. Although this all sounds like a smashing-good idea (you know, fresh meat and all), I've seen the meat sold at the market and given that there appears to be no effort to keep the flies off of it, learning all of this makes me a bit queasy. I secretly hope there is a special, private market for meat sold to tourists. : )

On a side note, we went to the Mausoleum of Moulay Idriss, who was the founder of Fez in the 8th century. Muslims believe that if you pray to Moulay Idriss as you touch a copper plate on the outside of his tomb, you are blessed as though you 'had visited all the koubbas in Morocco,' which is saying a lot since there are a lot of koubbas in Morocco (koubbas are tombs of saints and other important people). Not being one to miss out on all the blessings of the saints, I said my little prayer and touched the plate.

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Moroccan tents, Bedouin tents, Marquees and interiors

Moroccan tents, Bedouin tents, Marquees and interiors Harem Nights specially designed Moroccan tents, Bedouin tents and interiors to suite your venue and your taste, using only quality fabrics, traditional Moroccan and Bedouin furniture and accessories to create a luxurious Arabian tent atmosphere for your party.

18th birthday in Oxford   A living room converted to a bedouin tent   Arabian Nights theatre food and bar tent at the BMW plant Oxford       Cafe' in a golf culb before transforming it into a bedouin tent   Cafe after being transformed into a bedouin tent (left)   Cafe after being transformed into a bedouin tent (right)       Lantern and wooden screen   Moroccan lantern and birthday cake   Moroccan lantern and a brass table           Clear span marquee with wooden floor and glass doors bfore decoration.       Arabian Nights theatre box office in BMW plant Oxford   Moroccan chillout room for 50th birthday party.   Moroccan hall settings       Marquee after being dresses with Moroccan interior   Morrocan tent for a garden party   Traditional Moroccan tent with interiour

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Moroccan Style,

Moroccan Style, 

I want to sit in this room and look pretty.  I want people I went to high school with to see me sitting in this Moroccan style room, and I want them to be so jealous.

They’ll be all, “Wow, you really did well for yourself.” And I’ll be all, “Oh this old room? It’s nothing. I only sit in it when I don’t care how I look.” (Or something like that.)

via SARAH ROSENHAUS interior design

I’m a terrible cook because I was raised Southern. That means I only know how to fry things and roll them in sugar. Once my gallbladder had to die for my addiction to sugar-glazed pork rinds, I really haven’t been too much in the kitchen.

Meanwhile if I had this Moroccan style kitchen, I would totally try and be Sally Cooking Pants again. It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve seen in the last 4 minutes.

via griyakulo.com

Don’t you look at these doors and want to know what’s behind them? I do. But then again, I’m always curious like that.

I would rock at that show… with the doors… you know… the one where you pick a door and dress up like Asian Elvis??

Ivia Rambling Roses

I totally dig this Blue Glass Moroccan Lantern I found on Amazon. I get that it’s not really from Morocco, but Peter Dinklage is not really from England and I still love him.

 

Meanwhile, aren’t these beautiful? I mean honestly! I don’t know what the hell they are but I want to own them all.  Are they Morrocan shoes? They look like a cross between Toms and Crocs. This photograph is so pretty… I love the colors.

via Ralph Ledergerber

These Moroccan bracelets are darling, are they not? You should know I never use the word darling – never. Maybe that’s why I have such a long list of ex-husbands.

In an unrelated story, I definitely use the word “jerk face.”

via Ana Osgood Jewelry

Okay so I could sit here all night posting Moroccan things that I’m in love with, but I’m a busy woman with an entire box of Black Box Merlot sitting in my kitchen that’s not going to pop its own spout.

If you want to see this Moroccan Decor Theme Ideas picture in full size, just right click on the pictures above and than select "Open link in new tab" in your browser. You can download Moroccan Decor Theme Ideas Free only at bestlivingroomdesign.com . I hope Best Living Room Design can provide ideas to make your house more elegant and modern as you wish during this, or if you Need related information or images from Moroccan Decor Theme Ideas, can be found in the image, at the Gallery at the bottom of this article .thank you for support, and also your visit, if you have questions, please send an email via the contact us page, or if you want to submit design / article, please go to Submit Design page.

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When Moroccan Lifestyle is reported by tourists...

When Moroccan Lifestyle is reported by tourists...
... it just doesn't sound right and above all the TRUTH is lost in translation.
The big question remains, how can a non Moroccan report and reflect on such a genuine, rich, ancient and subtle culture?
Some tourists and temporary residents think they can, but do they really? Personally, I don't think so.
Moroccan culture is such a unique, generous and rich culture.
The Moroccan language and the body language are so unique that I can't see a non Moroccan understanding/getting it. It makes it even harder when we know that the slang and the accent vary from one region to another, without mentioning the sense of humor. Therefore, whatever they write misses the point.
Yes, they can be paid by Google for the number of hits to their respective blogs or have sponsors all over their blogs, but they will never capture the truth about Moroccan lifestyle and its people. To do so, you need to speak/write from the heart and certainly not just from the keyboard.
Again, making money on Moroccan culture by writing nonsense interpretations and pretending to know it is an absolute fraud.
It sounds to me more and more like they are trying to sell a POSTCARD of Morocco for money than telling the absolute TRUTH. I believe, they only contribute to the ripping the soul out of this genuine Moroccan culture, or what is left of it.
Do these sharks really care? No, but I do and I will keep painting them just the way they are: Opportunists, narcissistic and materialistic... etc
I will be the uncompromising and punishing eye, because compromising with this new breed is nothing more than lying and letting down a genuine and beautiful culture.


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Shopping the Moroccan Way - Buying Fresh Chicken..

Shopping the Moroccan Way - Buying Fresh Chicken..

In Morocco, most traditional families are still buying chicken the old fashioned way. You choose your live chicken then you go to do the rest of the shopping. When you come back the chicken is ready. That was just what I did with my brother and Zachary.

After parking the car, we walked to the chicken area of the market. Zachary had to choose and catch the chickens. Yes, you read it right, Zachary had to catch the chicken. Zachary was all smiles, as you can imagine, for an Australian boy to have the opportunity of catching live chickens. The Man weighed the chickens and told us the price and to come back in half an hour.

Weighing the Chickens

After doing the rest of the shopping: buying the freshest herbs, vegetables and fruits, we went back to pick up our four chickens. Ready in two black plastic bags and waiting for us. Then, the man gave Zachary half a dozen fresh eggs. It was a gift to the boy. Generosity is just part of Moroccan culture.

Happy Zachary Showing his Free Eggs

Once home, the chickens were handed to my sister-in-law. Around two hours later, we were served this magnificent dish:  A Moroccan chicken, preserved lemon and olive tagine. It was divine.

Once there Were Four Chickens.... cooked by my Sister-in-Law

This is an everyday routine in traditional Moroccan family life...

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Selling Snails in Morocco

Selling Snails in Morocco


We all know that Morocco is a great touristic place because of its colorful, ancient and rich history. Today I wanted to write about this photo I took while visiting Morocco in early 2011, it shows another side….

I called the photo "The Woman Selling Snails". My point is that there are so many different ways to look at this photo, depending if you are Moroccan, a tourist or just a computer onlooker.

Tourists will just adore the scene and will see it with only one eye and certainly take so many pictures, as I did.

But, there is much more to this picture than just the beauty of the picture. This picture reflects for me sadness and sorrow as well as profound courage.

Indeed, you can weep for the woman at the same time admiring her courage. You can weep for the social injustice. For what life can throw at you in this Land and it all depends on which side of the fence you are.

In Morocco you can be doing it so hard just to survive just as easily as you can be driven around every day doing nothing by a chauffeur in a luxurious car.

It was morning in the old market of Casablanca. It was pouring with rain and the footpaths were muddy. It smelled of the chicken and rabbit excrement all around her. This old woman was sitting in the middle of the footpath and didn't even try to escape the rain. The snails, on the other hand, were trying to do just that, escape the rain and the boxes. The woman was confronting the rain, the mud and the smells because she had to sell snails so she can make ends meet.

As I have been living in the West for thirty years, I know that if the Woman Selling Snails was  living in a Western country, she would be sitting at home in the warmth, with probably her grandchildren and close friends, enjoying life, as you do when you are old. Here, she has to work to feed her family at home to survive...


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Moroccan decor of Nights Parties.

Moroccan and Arabian Nights Themed Parties.


Moroccan decor offer an elegant atmosphere for any occasion and never cease to please guests.

Visit our showroom and take first look at all the Moroccan party furniture and accessories we display for sale and rental.

It is our attention to all details, our formula for success to a unique and elegant Moroccan party.
Transform your next Moroccan event into an unforgettable Night In Marrakech.

A Moroccan theme party that will captivate your guests. Our theme takes inspiration from the majestic palaces of Morocco: opulent silk and velvet cushions are scattered upon luxurious rich silk covered cotton mattresses, brass tray tables and authentic hand painted, low Moroccan wood tables, feature traditional Moroccan glass colored lanterns; rich gold embroidered drapes are hung against the walls to recreate the splendor of the ancient palaces.
This royal Moroccan theme is sure to entertain and delight every guest guaranteeing a profusion of compliments.

The lavish Moroccan events we specialize in combine rich colors, lavish textures, tastes, location with creativity in order to come up with new and unique ideas that integrate seamlessly into an overall elaborate theme.


We have everything you'll need to recreate the mysterious atmosphere of Marrakech with an authentic Moroccan ambiance for a special occasion, photo shoot, music video, or movie set. You can click here to get some ideas and view some our Moroccan Parties.

Just picture all of the richness of Morocco and India with its opulence and celebrated elegance, then add belly dancers and the cuisine of our Moroccan chef with those sumptuous Moroccan recipes, and you've got a perfect enchanting evening in Marrakech.


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Languages of Morocco

Languages of Morocco


Ethnolinguistic Groups in Morocco
Morocco's official languages are Classical Arabic and since July 2011, also "Amazigh language" which is a standardized version of the Berber languages.
The majority of the population natively speaks Moroccan-Arabic. More than 12 million Moroccans speak Berber — which exists in Morocco in three different dialects (Riff, Shilha, and Central Atlas Tamazight) — either as a first language or bilingually with Moroccan Arabic.
The Hassaniya Arabic is spoken in the southern part of country. Morocco has recently included the protection of Hassaniya in the constitution as part of the July 2011 reforms.
French is taught universally and still serves as Morocco's primary language of commerce and economics; it is also widely used in education and government.
Spanish is also spoken by some in the northern part of the country as a foreign language. Meanwhile English, is increasingly becoming more popular among the educated particularly in the science fields although its usage remains very limited.


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Through Moroccan history

Morocco has set among its top priorities the protection of its diversity and the preservation of its cultural heritage.
The traditional dress for men and women is called djellaba; a long, loose, hooded garment with full sleeves. For special occasions, men also wear a red cap called a bernousse, more commonly referred to as a Fez. Women wear kaftans decorated with ornaments. Nearly all men, and most women, wear balgha (بلغه) —- soft leather slippers with no heel, often dyed yellow. Women also wear high-heeled sandals, often with silver or gold tinsel.
Moroccan style is a new trend in decoration which takes its roots from Moorish architecture, it has been made popular by the vogue of Riads renovation in Marrakech. Dar is the name given to one of the most common types of domestic structures in Morocco, is a home found in a medina, or walled urban area of a city. Most Moroccan homes traditionally adhere to the Dar al-Islam, a series of tenets on Islamic domestic life. Dar exteriors are typically devoid of ornamentation and windows, except occasional small openings in secondary quarters, such as stairways and service areas. These piercings provide light and ventilation.
Moroccan cuisine is home to Berber, Moorish, and Arab influences. It is known for dishes like couscous, pastilla, and others. Spices such as cinnamon are used in Moroccan cooking. Sweets like halwa are popular, as well as other sweets. Cuisines from neighbouring countries also influence the country's culinary traditions.
Moroccan craftsmanship has a rich tradition of jewellery, pottery, leather-work and and woodwork
The music of Morocco ranges and differs according to the various areas of the country, Moroccan music has a variety of styles from complex sophisticated orchestral music to simple music involving only voice and drums . There are three varieties of Berber folk music: village and ritual music, and the music performed by professional musicians. Chaabi الشعبي is a music consisting of numerous varieties which descend from the multifarious forms of Moroccan folk music. Chaabi was originally performed in markets, but is now found at any celebration or meeting. Gnawa is a form of music that is mystical. It was gradually brought to Morocco by Sub-Saharan Africans and later became part of the Moroccan tradition. Sufi brotherhoods (tarikas) are common in Morocco, and music is an integral part of their spiritual tradition. This music is an attempt at reaching a trance state which inspires mystical ecstasy.


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The Moroccan people

The Moroccan people are a people that share a common Moroccan culture, ancestry and speak the Moroccan variant of the Arabic language or a Berber language as a mother tongue.
In addition to the 35 million Moroccans in Morocco, there is a large population in France, Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and smaller groups in United Kingdom, United States and Canada (see Moroccan diaspora).
Because of wide-ranging diaspora, about estimated 4.5 million Moroccans living abroad and of full or partial Moroccan ancestry live outside of Morocco, most notably in Europe, North America and many Arabic-speaking countries like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait amongst others.


The prehistoric populations (Berbers) of Morocco are related to the wider group of Paleo-Mediterranean peoples. The Afroasiatic phylum probably originated in the mesolithic period, perhaps in the context of the Capsian culture.DNA analysis has found commonalities between Berber Moroccan populations and those of the Sami people of Scandinavia showing a link dating from around 9,000 years ago. By 5000 BC, the populations of Morocco are an amalgamation of Ibero-Maurisian and a minority of Capsian stock blended with a more recent intrusion associated with the Neolithic revolution. Out of these populations, the proto-Berber tribes form during the Late Paleoltihic Era.
According to the leading evolutionary theory of human origins, known as the Out of Africa theory, anatomically modern humans first emerged in Africa 150,000-200,000 years ago. All non-Africans are descended from at least one group of humans who migrated out of Africa into western Asia 50,000-70,000 years ago. The first modern humans in Europe, the Cro-Magnon, arrived from North-west Africa and are believed to have completely replaced the previous inhabitants, the Neanderthals. Cro-Magnons are known as Ibero-Maurisians or Mechta-Afalou People, they were in Morocco by 45,000 years ago or Probably they were Evolved from The Aterians, the Cro-Magnon people had populated much of North Africa. There was a massive major human migration from Morocco and this paleolithic population was weakly Mixed by later Capsian migrations during the Neolithic Era, this Prehistoric Population still survived and isolated in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco known until our days as Berbers.

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Moroccan Skirt Steak with Roasted Pepper Couscous

Moroccan Skirt Steak with Roasted Pepper Couscous

Thin cuts of beef, such as skirt steak or sirloin steak, cook very quickly when seared in a hot skillet—just right for a busy weeknight. We love how the spicy Moroccan flavors on the steak complement the sweet, roasted pepper-studded couscous. Serve with: Arugula salad and a glass of Pinot Noir.


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Mediterranean Couscous Cabbage Rolls

Mediterranean Couscous Cabbage Rolls

We love the subtle flavor of cinnamon with fresh mint in these vegetarian cabbage rolls stuffed with couscous, olives and feta cheese. Don’t worry if your cabbage leaves tear a little when you pull them off the head; they will wrap up just fine. As a precaution you can cook a couple extra leaves and roll two partly overlapping if needed. Serve with roasted butternut squash tossed with olive oil, cinnamon and garlic. To double this recipe, use 2 large skillets and prepare one 4-serving recipe in each.








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Orange-Tomato Couscous with Chicken

Orange-Tomato Couscous with Chicken
This cinnamon- and cumin-spiked couscous with chicken takes its inspiration from Morocco. It’s made mostly with pantry staples—all you have to pick up is some chicken thighs, a bunch of cilantro and an orange. The orange slices become tender after cooking—you can eat them skin and all. For a variation, substitute diced, boneless leg of lamb for the chicken. Serve with steamed green beans or a spinach salad.



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