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MID-CENTURY MODERN

If you’re as much a fan of Moroccan rugs as we are, you will know that they were first introduced to the world of interior design by mid-century modernists such as Le Corbusier, Alvar Aalto, Charles and Ray Eames and Frank Lloyd Wright, who used (now classic) Beni Ouarain carpets in his design of Fallingwater House. So what is mid-century modern? It’s a term which describes architecture and design for a period of roughly three decades, from the 1930’s to the 1960’s. The abstract art of Berber rugs was used by these mid century designers to create a complete contrast to the sleek, modern designs of furniture and buildings of the period.

Photo Credit Livingetc. UK
Photo Credit Livingetc. UK

The mid-century vibe is currently enjoying a bit of a revival, although it never really has gone out of style. Mixing pieces of re-claimed or re-invented pieces of mid-century furniture and accessories can make a contemporary home completely unique. Vintage Moroccan rugs do of course fit perfectly with this aesthetic! Most vintage pieces found were woven from the 1950’s to the 1970’s.

Mid-century New York Apartment. Photo credit mid-centuryhome.com
Mid-century New York Apartment. Photo credit mid-centuryhome.com

Read more about how to give your home mid-century appeal with Livingetc. (see their Facebook page). We love the etagere by Jonathan Adler for displaying a treasured vinyl collection!

Photo credit housetohome.co.uk
Photo credit housetohome.co.uk

TAKING THE INDOORS OUTDOORS - MOROCCAN RUGS

I came across this image from Houzz today, what a perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon, and I love the camel print on the tepee! The only thing missing is a nice Moroccan rug spread out on the sand…..and so it inspired me to think more about using rugs outside….

We don’t always have long sustained periods of sunshine in the UK like we had recently, but when we do everyone wants to get outside, to lock up the house and change to outdoor living. Even if you only have a small outdoor space, such as a balcony or small courtyard, you can still create a cool and stylish area to sit, eat and enjoy the weather. There’s nothing I like more than being able to eat outside, to see the sun rising with breakfast and setting with dinner.

Photo Credit - Pinterest

So why not embellish your outdoor seating arrangement with rugs and cushions, to make it a complete outdoor living space. Vintage Flatweaves and Boucherouite rugs are perfect for this. They are easy to roll up if there is an unexpected shower, and easy to wash….place one in front of an outdoor sofa or underneath a garden table for a really cosy setting. Add a few other accessories such as lanterns or string lights and it will be a place you’ll never want to leave! If you like to sit on the grass and eat - picnic style - spread a few different rugs out with cushions….so much more stylish than a picnic blanket!

BLACK AND WHITE BENI OUARAIN RUGS

There are so many new styles of contemporary Beni rugs coming out of Morocco at the moment. With the increasing prices and scarcity of vintage pieces, weavers are becoming more and more inventive as people look to buying a rug with a contemporary feel but made with traditional techniques. The latest to arrive is the black Ben Ouarain. Made from super soft hand spun wool, the black background is broken down with flecks of creamy white wool. An absolutely stunning addition to contemporary or minimalistic space! For more information and prices please email us at [email protected]

CUSTOM MADE BENI OUARAIN RUGS

Most of you will know that we offer a custom made service for the ever popular Beni Ouarain rugs. These rugs have always been woven with a superior quality soft, silky type wool which gives them a smooth appearance. The geometric designs are woven with either black or brown wool and they usually have a short fringe at one end.

However, we are often asked about new, longer (shaggier) pile Beni rugs. There are lots of these around to buy, most of the new rugs are not produced from the best quality wool, and this is of course reflected in the price, but they are still a great addition to a contemporary space if you are on a budget. We have always been able to source this style of rug, but if we can’t find what you’re looking for, it is possible to commission a custom made rug with this type of finish, with a design modelled on the traditional vintage Beni rugs.

Photo Credit - Livingetc

We were over the moon yesterday to see a photo of a recently completed custom made rug from Marrakech. This beautiful Beni has been made using a vintage rug as a template, woven using the traditional designs and techniques employed by one specific tribe from the Beni Ouarain region. A new rug with all the history and traditions of an old one….fabulous! If you would like more information on commissioning a custom made Beni rug, please email us at [email protected]

VINTAGE FLAT WEAVE KILIM BOUCHEROUITE

Since we introduced Kilim Boucherouite to our collection last year, they have become some of our best sellers. These beautiful kilims are made from recycled textiles, just like Boucherouite rugs, but are flat weaves rather than pile rugs. (The Arabic word ‘Boucherouite’ means a piece or scrap of clothing). Most of them are approximately 20 to 30 years old, and have stylish geometric designs which often have a very retro appearance. They originate from the Azilal region of Morocco. Because of a bit of a rejig of our stock, we now have one of my favourite Kilim Boucherouite available in the UK. I love the muted colours in this one, and the design reminds me very much of Missoni! Like the traditional Boucherouite ‘rag rugs’ they are reasonably priced, easy to wash and look great in contemporary spaces. Keeping this in mind we hope to find some more beautiful examples late Summer time to add to our collection. We’ll keep you updated!

Vintage Kilim Boucherouite

 

 

Symbolism of Berber Rugs

Morocco is the country where most Berber people live today. Their origin is not really known and neither is the origin of the name Berber. Recent research suggests that the Berber people once populated the whole of North Africa until Arab immigration drove them out of the Eastern regions. We now describe all tribal and village carpets from Morocco as Berber even though the tribe may now speak Arabic.

Berber carpets generally have a coarse quality. They are creations of rustic folk art by women living with their families in villages or as nomads. They are woven for their own use, as bedding or blankets, or to decorate their homes for special occasions such as a wedding. They are prized possessions but if cash is needed, a carpet is taken to a local souk to be sold.

Whilst weaving, the lower part of the carpet is rolled and disappears from sight, so the weaver must rely on her creativity to continue her work, using tradition but also her imagination. The symbolism of the Berber carpet is the expression of a primitive fertility cult, originating from remote early cultures. There is no other form of artisan art in which this still survives to this day.

A weaver will not generally be aware of the meanings of the symbols she uses, simply saying that her mother or grandmother used the same ones. However, we do know that the main ‘female’ symbols in Berber carpets are the lozenge, the chevron and the X shape. The eight pointed star, known as ‘Solomon’s Star’ also belongs to the feminine fertility symbols. Maternity is the most important aspect of a Berber woman’s life. ‘Male’ symbols are always long and thin, straight lines or sticks next to one another, sometimes forming a fish-bone pattern. The ‘snake’ also plays an important part in male symbolism and is the only animal which appears in Berber carpets with a symbolic meaning. Male motifs usually frame the female motifs and almost always form a border to the rectangular area of a carpet.

Understanding the meaning of symbols gives a Berber carpet a new dimension other than just aesthetic admiration.

Extracts and images from ‘Berber Carpets of Morocco - the Symbols, Origin and Meaning’ by Bruno Barbatti. A recommended read for anyone interested in exploring the history and style of Moroccan carpets.

Decorating Children’s Rooms

Designing a child’s room should give you an excuse to be wildly imaginative. There are no rules, just a few basic principles to consider. Think about storage, that’s essential, somewhere to put everything away at the end of the day to restore a restful atmosphere for relaxation and sleep. It’s also good to give some consideration to the flexibility of the room as your child grows, the addition of interchangeable accessories will make the transition easy. Although practical can sometimes be a little boring, it’s also good to consider how easily the wall and floor surfaces can be cleaned!

Image from Pinterest

A child’s room is perfect for playing around with colour, but do think about your child’s personality. Research into the psychology of colour suggests that certain colours affect our moods. Just looking at the primary colours, for example; Red energises and excites, but can over stimulate a restless child; Yellow aids concentration; Blue is calming and soothing. A colour palette using a backdrop of subtle or neutral colours, combined with bold colour accents is a good choice.

Image from Pinterest

I delved into Pinterest to find some images of Boucherouite rugs used in children’s rooms. They are just the perfect addition. They add texture, interest and bold colour splashes and are of course completely washable! They’re very versatile and will move easily from a room created for a child to a teenager’s room, and still look exceptionally stylish!

Vintage Boucherouite rug from our collection

 

 

Moroccan Rugs and Coastal Cool

Having been lucky enough to spend quite a lot of time in Dubai recently, and working with Jo at Tribe Dubai (tribedubai.com) I’ve learned that interior trends are a little different to those here in the UK. Coastal cool is the name of the game, and it’s easy to see why….this is what works best in a country where everyone needs a retreat from the heat of the desert sun.

Photo credit Tribe Dubai

White walls, cool floor tiles and neutral coloured furniture and accessories just seem to be the best fit for the climate. Beni Ouarain rugs with their neutral colour palettes and simple designs complement perfectly this look, but adding a limited amount of colour can look stunning too. A white or neutral backdrop is great to display a colourful Boucherouite rug, either on the floor or as a wall hanging. The predominantly ‘grey’ light that we have in the UK can dull colours a little, but in the bright white light of the Middle East, the colours in these rugs look amazing. Go along and see Jo at Tribe for advice about buying a Beni rug, we have lots of stock on the ground in Morocco in addition to our custom made service. Or be bold and take a look at our collection of colourful vintage Moroccan rugs! We have some stock already in Dubai, but your choice isn’t limited to these, we can ship worldwide from either the UK or Morocco. http://marbleandmint.co.uk/product-category/dubai-collection/

Viewing our Rugs - Clent, Worcestershire

We had great fun yesterday doing a mini photo shoot at Marble and Mint HQ at the foot of Worcestershire’s Clent Hills where I’m lucky enough to live and work.

Peel House is a well known property in the village which was the local police station and police houses until the 1950’s, and still has lots of original features including a fabulous cellar. I’m reliably informed that this wasn’t used to keep prisoners, but my next door neighbour and photographer (Ann Ashfield) still has the original police cells! Our collection of Moroccan rugs is available to view here at any time (by appointment), so please either email us at [email protected] or call 07746 727536 if there is a particular rug or rugs you would like to see. You can see the rest of our photos here on our Facebook page. All photography by Ann Ashfield.

Martina

House Tour - Rustic Moroccan Home

Take a tour of this simple but absolutely stunning Moroccan home decorated by @couleurlocaleconceptstore for a photoshoot.

http://www.vosgesparis.com/2016/04/a-beautiful-moroccan-home-decorated-by.html

Full of beldi ware, it conveys a feeling of absolute calm, and I particularly love this image of an open corridor with a small Beni Ouarain rug. Take a look at the cedarwood writing tablets arranged on a wall. These were originally used by students to practice Quranic script. There are lots of nice examples to buy in Marrakech medina. Although not all are old like these, just distressed to appear so, they still make beautiful wall decorations. I also love the recesses in the stone kitchen wall for storing and displaying all sorts of traditional kitchen utensils and baskets. With it’s stone floors and plaster walls, this home must make a perfect retreat from the heat of the summer in Morocco.