Customer Reviews

Moroccan Interiors

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The first time I saw this book I couldn't stop looking at it. I was entirely engrossed with the beauty of the interiors, the use of color, texture and interior architecture in these homes. In a word...MESMERIZED! I should say that the interior design in this book is not my 'style'. It doesn't matter in the least. I have integrated, and plan to integrate, many of the ideas into my own home (Colonial - which couldn't be more different) and have, and will, simply do it in my own way. To add to my point I have shown this book to my mother-in-law who is extremely traditional and conservative in her tastes and she was delighted and inspired. I showed it to my sister, who's taste run to the super modern Italian leather look, and she loved it and plans to use some of the ideas for color in her own home. I showed this to another friend who's tastes are essentially 'the cottage look' (she is very good at it) and she was thrilled with the wealth of ideas she obtained. This book can be used as the ultimate coffee table book or the launching pad for new ideas for decorating your own home. Opening this book is like entering a dream world, where magic and graceful living really do exist.

I would like to add to my previous reveiw some more practical notes on the contents of the book. The book is seperated into different regions and cities of Morocco and almost all the homes featured are renovations of delightful, but previously run down, Moroccan palaces and estates. In all but one home the owners are Europeans who have settled, or reside much of the year, in Morocco. This is important because, until recently, the Moroccans themselves weren't much interested in preserving thier architectural history, preferring to knock down old buildings and replace them with new ones. Neither were they much interested in preserving thier own style. The Europeans however were devoted to preserving both and created a movement, over time, within the country for Moroccans to begin to do the same. Each home featured reveals the owners deep love for Morocco and for its history. The photographs are lush and beautiful, and the wealth of ideas for interior design and architecture are matched by few books available today.

Moroccan interiors sets a new standard in photography and explores the interiors of Moroccan homes. As a fan of Morocco, with its breathtaking colors, fabrics, and designs this is a marvellous companion when returning home. The book mirrors the vivid Moroccan heritage and gives ideas for home decoration. You will love the marvellous pictures and the variety of Moroccan styles with its by French and Spanish influence.

Preservation or desecration of certain architectural styles and decorative heritage goes in and out of fashion the world over. It's not only Morocco that wanted to demolish the old and over-value the new. How much of the beauty and culture of the East has been lost in the name of "progress"? The situation is not simple, however. In the latter part of the 20th century there was an urgent need throughout the Mediterranean for affordable, modern housing for quickly expanding populations and growing economies strapped for cash, skills and resources. Unfortunately aesthetics and the traditions of artisans often got trampled in the rush. Lisa Lovett-Smith's sumptuous Moroccan Interiors reminds us that embracing preservation has so much to offer the present and the future. While she focuses on the homes of the rich, ex-patriate and famous and could therefore be accused of being elitist, she also illuminates the beauty of the simplest of objects that could be found in any home, rich or poor. Lovett-Smith has divided Morocco into regions and cities and celebrated the best of each, appreciating the exquisite, ornate beauty of Islamic art and the colour schemes reflecting the dramatic terrain of the Mediterranean: desert ochre and blistering reds, turquoise, azure, sapphire, gold, saffron and cinnamon to name a few. Lovett-Smith is aware that a picture tells a thousand words and her accompanying text in several languages is brief. The photography is faultless and the lighting of the interiors unobtrusive. This is not just an ornate coffee table book. It is a valuable archive, a celebration of great style and a treasure trove of inspiration for interior architects, artists and designers.

Morocco is beautiful and full of color, thats what I was expecting and hoping for, the book is kind of okish, many pages having drawings, like a kid from school did it, the rest of the photos, have mainly brown tones to them, a good portion of the pages have no photos, but some info and the picture on the opposit page, and there are prints in three languages, even the the front cover of the book is in large english, the english portion in the book is teeny tiny, I must struggle to read it, or get a magnifier, or better yet to make it simple, dont even read it, just browse through looking at the photos, which arent all that or inspriing, basicly I found the book to be more of a huge let down more than any thing else, no I would not reccomend this book, something you might check out from a library, but in no means to actually buy, and pay money for

In her wordy preface, thoughtfully presented in three European languages, the author/producer of this book sums her entire attitude: 'The notion of "Orientalism", of Islamic culture filtered through the perceptions of the West, had captivated me.' No irony, no acknowledgement of the history and politics of Morocco, and absolutely no understanding of what Orientalism truly means and signifies.

The lovely houses pictured are mostly owned by dilitante Europeans, who have the money to live in renovator's delights by the beach in a country where many people can't afford proper education or health care. The artisan-crafted furniture sits next to their Louis the nth antiques, and we nod sympathetically as we read (squinting at the tiny print) that the house is so minimalist due to its being only a holiday house, where they can barely spend half the year. I was particularly interested in the statement that one swimming pool was placed on the first floor level in accordance with Islamic regulations. I am now most curious as to why a ground floor pool is un-Islamic, and will be consulting the Koran before choosing my new curtains.

While showing several indigenous Moroccan architectural and design features, the book does not explain what they are or how they work. It does not explain why Paul Bowles, an otherwise undistinguished character, is cited as such a cultural authority, but I presume Norman Douglas was busy, and the locals have no idea about such things.

Would really like some of those tiles and lanterns, though -

Absolutely georgeous photography and Lovatt-Smith has obviously hiked all across Morocco searching for homes. I was most impressed with the variety of homes, especially the cave homes.

I'm sure there is a great deal of useful information in this book, but I gave it three stars because the print was tiny and itallicized. In places where it was superimpossed over sand, water or some other scenery, it was unreadable. Why didn't an editor catch that?

This is the book to buy if you want to experience the color an style Of Moroccan houses.
If you look for ideas for your interior ,and you like warm colors ,this book is the one to choose.

This book features some very interesting residences. Many of the homes featured in this book were actually purchased and fixed up by foreigners to be used as secondary residences, although some live there primarily. There are also some very unusual residences featured in this book.