imports from marrakesh

Moroccan Beni Ouarain Carpets {you can often turn up a beauty even today}

2012-02-26T08:31:00.001-08:00

Marrakech Design notes: Moroccan carpets come in unconventional sizes, usually no wider than 6 1/2 feet. Interior designer Barrie Benson solves this problem by layering a long rectangular Beni Ourain carpet on top of a sisal rug to expand the floor covering area. The cream tones and texture of the undyed wool blend beautifully with the fibers of the sisal plant.

Beni Ouarain runners line the hallway of Mario Testino's Haceienda in Los Angeles.

The combinationof the modern art, Hispano-Moresque furniture mixes well with the simple geometic lines of the Beni Ouarain runners.

"Throughout history rugs have been the glory of decorating, and today we have a lavish choice.....
Moroccans ---wonderful beige, black and white geometrics that can bring together a roomful of oddments (you can often turn up a beauty even today). " - Billy Baldwin Decorates by Billy Baldwin

We are having a grand sale on our Moroccan Beni Ouarain runners and carpets.
Shop our special collection here.

Images: 1. interior design by Barrie Benson discovered via, Mario Testino's photos of his LA Haceienda,
from Vogue, March 2012 p. 521.

Beni Ourain Carpet Sale

2012-02-22T21:39:00.000-08:00

Now is the time to get that authentic Beni Ourain carpet you've always wanted for your office or home....we are having a Special Sale on our Beni Ourain Carpets. All of the Beni Ourain Carpets posted on our website are 30% off the listed price.

If you live NYC or Brooklyn - you can arrange a special viewing in your space.We also can ship carpets to view on approval - please call us for the details 212-675-9700.

Images: 1 & 2 J. Crew president and creative director Jenna Lyons has Beni Ourain rugs in her office and her home via, 3. Mohamed Elmaarouf in Brooklyn delivering Beni Ourain to one of our special clients, photo by Stephanie Rudloe. 4. Tom Delavan – Photo: Patrick Cline/Trad Home {he recently purchased one from us for his office}

Moroccan wedding blankets with a touch of pink

2012-02-09T09:15:00.000-08:00

A new collection of Moroccan wedding blankets has just arrived from Marrakech
just in time for Valentine's Day.
We have a few extra special ones with a touch of pink.

images: Moroccan Roses by Stephanie Rudloe

Moroccan Starlight

2012-01-26T09:32:00.000-08:00

Our giant starlight in Traditional Home...

Moroccan log baskets & other exotic home accessories

2012-01-22T19:11:00.000-08:00

Currently reading 'The Perfectly Imperfect Home' by Deborah Needleman...Her section on 'Log Baskets' has inspired us to add our favorite traditional Moroccan Log Basket to the online shop.
www.importsfrommarrakeshshop.com
It is definitely "something a little rough and real"~ excellent for carrying wood to the fireplace in Marrakesh and also great as"an extra place to stash things' ....

images: all photos by Stephanie Rudloe

Inspirations: poufs and teapots

2012-01-19T17:59:00.000-08:00

Why don't you try a Moroccan teapot with an English teacup or a Moroccan pouf with a French chair?
One of our muses is Diana Vreeland who declared the Moroccan caftan "the most becoming fashion ever invented" in Vogue 1966. She had her caftans custom-made in Morocco. We don't do custom caftans but we do make custom poufs.....and a new collection of one of a kind Moroccan tea-pots inspired by Islamic metalwork is coming soon.

images: top- from Elle Decor, June 2008, bottom from Casa Vogue, March 2009

morocco whites : zelige ~ zillij

2012-01-09T15:54:00.000-08:00

Endlessly inspired by morocco whites...all the subtle tones of white found in zelige tile walls
or tables...though we call it zillij...
the silky pile of a beni ourain in shimmering shades of cream
and the sparkle of sequins from a moroccan bridal blanket- never failing to bring magic to a room.

images: white zilige tables in Christian Louboutin's dining room in Egypt- scan from Elle Decor Italia, via, beni ourain carpet via, white zillij- image sent to us by a client for a special order -discovered via, wedding blanket via,

Happy New Year! Invitation to our Winter Sale

2012-01-05T09:37:00.000-08:00

We wish you a beautiful New Year &

invite you to a very special WINTER SALE

Thursday, January 5th - Wednesday, January 22, 2012

hosted by

L'ARISTOTE

90 West Houston Street

NEW YORK | NY | 10012

212-460-8780

image from Elle Decor

medina mirror, twitter & the food of morocco

2011-12-27T17:18:00.000-08:00

Our Medina Mirror is in Elle Decor'
'Best Mirrors' January/February2012 issue

...keeping warm with mint tea and looking forward to seeing our
silver filigree teaglass in the upcoming Vera Wang Wedding App
styled by Eric Hildebrand....
&
follow us on
twitter
2012
...
back in October 2011,
we provided our Moroccan decor for Paula Wolfert's The Food of Morocco
book launch party at the Core Club.

Mohamed Elmaarouf & Paula Wolfert

CUSTOM ORDERS- moroccan plaster arches, marrakesh tile & beni ourain carpets

2011-09-27T22:21:00.000-07:00

Custom hand carved plaster arches for Vosges Haut Chocolat in Beverly Hills
a few links about this spectacular project:here, here & here- more detailed photos coming soon.

Custom Marrakesh Tile inspired by our Zillij Tile, Weave ZT21

for Peter Pawlack Design Studio

A custom- made extra large Beni Ourain carpet {10' x 13'!!!}
for interior decorator/stylist Uta Winkler

@ the park avenue armory

2011-09-27T22:19:00.000-07:00

photos of our display {& the media lounge} @ T & L's Global Bazaar at the Park Avenue Armory @ 67th Street, NYC
....loved the opportunity to style objects from our collection on the crates created by 13 designs
....marrakesh warehouse style...

GLOBAL BAZAAR & Stylist's Guide to NYC

2011-09-08T11:43:00.000-07:00

Imports from Marrakesh will be at Travel & Leisure’s GLOBAL BAZAAR @ the Park Avenue Armory in NYC.

September 17 – 18, 2011

Come shop old world souk style & haggle with Mohamed for poufs, sequin capes, beni ourain carpets, moroccan mint tea services, and magical lanterns + special one of kind kaftans & djellabas….

Photos by Petra Van Raaij {via}

AND we are thrilled to be mentioned in the brand new

"Stylist's Guide to NYC", by Sibella Court. 

Cleverly arranged into loops of interest such as "Jewelry & Hardware,"
"Haberdashery & Handmade," and "Furniture & Interiors," The Stylist's
Guide to NYC takes the first-time visitor-or long-time resident-on a
number of surprising and beguiling journeys, uncovering traditional
merchants and hidden sanctuaries as well as some of the coolest spots in
town. This well-chosen collection of stores, services, galleries,
markets, and places to eat also contains city survival tips, maps, and
comprehensive indexes. With an idiosyncratic and impeccable eye, Court
celebrates the beautiful, the curious, and the unexpected, making The
Stylist's Guide to NYC an indispensible accessory for anyone visiting,
working, or living in New York. It includes a foldout map plus two
pockets for souvenir tickets, cards, and more...

~Be sure to update your copy~

we have moved out of the Chelsea Market to a warehouse in Jersey City.

Come visit us at the Global Bazaar next week or visit our warehouse by appointment in Jersey City...

moroccan teaglass

2011-05-09T07:40:00.000-07:00

With wedding season upon us, we are inspired once again by our moroccan tea glasses...they look beautiful on wedding-party tables holding single roses, miniature bouquets, or votive candles; also perfect for serving mint tea, wine, cocktails, sparkling kumquat spritzers or rose-petal sorbet...
and even as a glamorous container for a bridal dressing table to hold a toothbrush or cosmetics.

{images: a single rose this; votive candles this & this; a miniature bouquet this; for mint tea this; a glamorous container this}

a perfect pouf

2011-04-21T20:38:00.000-07:00

Soon 'moroccan style' gold poufs by Calypso will be in Target, some design blogs are saying the pouf fad is over... couldn't be further from the truth ~ the pouf (also known as a footstool, ottoman, hassock & pouffe) has been a fad for years…

The pastel colors of Ladurée macaroons and the custom-made Moroccan poufs in Doris Duke's

Shangri La continue to inspire our hand-stitched pouf collections....

{images: A Perfect Pouf...Marie Antoinette via; Imports from Marrakesh's pink pouf from Elle Decor, April 2010; a pair of violette poufs in Elle Decor; a trio of silver poufs in Barbie's Malibu Dream House by Johnathan Adler discovered via, + this}

Imports from Marrakesh is moving online

2011-04-15T20:59:00.000-07:00

After fourteen wonderful years in the Chelsea Market, Imports from Marrakesh, meatpacking district retail pioneer, is moving online. All of our exotic Moroccan decor will still be available via www.importsfrommarrakesh.com, from our New York area warehouse and from our Marrakesh workshops.

Imports from Marrakesh's founder Mohamed Elmaarouf is now offering personalized designed shopping tours in his home city of Marrakesh as featured in National Geographic Traveler article 'The Art of the Deal'. Come stay at Ryad Elmaarouf, get to know the back streets of Marrakesh with Mohamed and buy direct from our artisans.

Our customers, designers, and architects will find even better deals from our new warehouse and can find design inspirations at this blog.

We'll miss our friends at the Chelsea Market. Thank you Chelsea neighbors and fans for your support during our moving sale.

{ images: Imports from Marrakesh's retail showroom in the Chelsea Market}

{marrakesh tile ~ patchwork style}

2011-04-11T22:24:00.000-07:00

Sunday was our last day in the Chelsea Market. During our moving sale, we were deeply touched by the support of all of our customers in the neighborhood and across the country.

In our new sunny warehouse just across the river, resides our great collection of Marrakesh Tile,
(also known as moroccan pressed cement tile or moroccan encaustic tile) and our moving sale continues...

Here are some lovely modern inspirations & creative applications of mixed tile patterns:

{images: 1. mixed green tiles (via);
2. ilse crawford's design for the brasserie floor of high road house in chiswick;
3. 4. 5. House & Garden, March 2006, 'Alchemy in Iberia' photos by Oberto Gili (via);
6. patchwork tile floor (via)}

{inspirations: Talitha Getty's kaftan & roses in sunset colors}

2011-04-10T22:32:00.000-07:00

Inspirations: Talitha Getty's kaftan, antique silk hiatis and embroideries,

Moroccan roses in sunset colors...

{images: Paul Litchfied & Stephanie Rudloe}

{imports from marrakesh in elle decor}

2011-04-10T21:13:00.000-07:00

We are delighted to have our black & white marrakesh tile in Elle Decor this month.

Last April, our traditional pink pouf was in Elle Decor.
Thank you, Elle Decor!