Moroccan Lanterns, second part

September 27th, 2007

As promised, this is the second part of the article regarding Moroccan lanterns. Enjoy

Not only are the glass patterns of Moroccan lanterns unique, but the lanterns themselves are also available in various shapes – diamond, hexagonal, triangular, square, and even hot air balloon. Some lanterns can use candles, like in ancient times, but others come fully wired and modernized to accommodate light bulbs. These handmade lanterns were created using an ancient tradition passed down from generation to generation, making each individual piece a work of North African art. No two lanterns are exactly alike! What can a Moroccan lantern do for your backyard décor? Add a splash of color, a hint of mystique, or create a theme. Your Moroccan lantern purchase can reflect many things about your character; it can be a symbol of distinctive taste, a sign that you support local artisans, a flash of cultural heritage, or a spiritual design to invite ancient protection into your home.   

Light décor is all about establishing a mood. In fact, lighting can affect the emotions much like eating a proper breakfast, going for a jog or receiving a loving embrace. Unless you live in

Russia, where some nights the sun doesn’t descend until 3am, you will undoubtedly need some outdoor lighting to make your backyard oasis last until your bedtime. Nights like this are best savored at your own pace, rather than hurriedly wrapped up as soon as the sun goes down.

Fyi: Hope you enjoyed the article. I just added a new page with new Moroccan mosaic tables. Please check it out. Will be back tomorrow.

Moroccan Lanterns

September 27th, 2007

This is the first part of an article discussing Moroccan lanterns.

It’s a humid August evening: the sun is setting against a crimson, flamingo pink and golden sky; the purple twilight has begun to rise in the distance. You’re lying on a floating lounge chair in your reflective turquoise pool with a glass of wine in hand. Take a deep breath and smell the jasmine tree, listen to the palms rustling in the breeze. Life is good… but it’s getting dark. You’d like to enjoy this time with a few loved ones, perhaps dry off by the blazing orange glow of the fire. What you need is a few Moroccan lanterns to provide a sultry, mystical ambiance to your backyard enjoyment.

Torches are neat, but they often tip over and require constant refueling. Pod lights along the garden or walkway also create that ideal night mood; however, they don’t provide enough practical light to see people’s faces or get things done. Purple bug-attracting lights give off a more comfortable glow, but no one wants to be surrounded by a plague of insects or hear the constant “zapping” of bugs meeting their unfortunate demise. And the abrasive garage lighting simply won’t do, unless you’re Corey Hart, “wearing your sunglasses at night.”  

This is where Moroccan lanterns have stepped in as a perfect solution. With a stained glass covering, light is diffused in a soft, pleasing way, emanating geometric patterns of olive green, cornflower blue, mauve, gold, and other non-abrasive colors. The colorful shadows capture the heart in an almost spiritual way as you gaze upon them, whisking away your mind to the Sahara Desert or Moroccan marketplace, much like reading a story from 1,0001 Arabian Nights.

second part of the article to be posted tomorrow. We are continuously posting new unique Moroccan decor pieces as we get them. Please visit us for more ideas and inspiration. 

Mediterranean furniture and decor

August 30th, 2007

Hello everybody,

 I wanted to let you know that I have added 2 new categories on my website. the first one is Mediterranean decor which mainly contains candle holders as well as handpainted Moroccan tea glasses. I will be adding more products to it in the near future. The second category is Mediterranean furniture which includes most of Star of Morocco’s handpainted pieces. It contains armoires, coffee tables, room dividers, mirrors, chairs and different types of benches.

Please do not miss out on our new headboards, they are going fast, and there are only few left. They are stunningly gorgeous. They are all handpainted by master artisans in Marrackech, and they will definitely add a spunk to any bedroom. You can check them out at our new arrival section of the website or at the moroccan bedding section.

 I will be posting some more today, as I will be updating you on some more new items I added to our collection.

 Please feel free to post any comment, it will be highly appreciated.

Moroccan Lanterns

August 29th, 2007

This is an article I wrote and published in the past about Moroccan Lanterns, lamps, and home Lighting. I thought you may want to read it. In this article I campare and contrast lamps and lanterns in their look, design, and functionality.

There you go.

Everyone tends to neglect their home lighting. With a few changes and a small budget, one can alter the way he or she ever thought about lighting. Lighting in any room of your home can be as important to your mood as exercising on a regular basis or eating healthy food every day. Food rich in vitamins makes your body feel good and in turn affects your mood, which can affect your productivity. Believe it or not, the right home lighting can be as important. Not only does it help our aptitude to perceive the world surrounding us, but also can impinge on our mood and therefore influence our decision-making in certain cases.

The first step in choosing the right home lighting is to determine the mood you wish to set and then the color scheme, light brightness and design.

Moroccan henna lamps are starting to be the number-one lighting style picked by most interior designers due to their striking, soothing light and due to their level of craftsmanship. Did you know that there are no two henna lamps that look exactly alike? They may look similar, but after paying closer attention to every detail of the lamp, you’ll come to the same conclusion. The reason why is that all henna lamps are handmade, and every artisan’s design varies. Different henna pastes are used as well, and even the wrought-iron frame are diverse.Henna lamps exist in different sizes, shapes and colors. Most use vibrant Moroccan colors, such as yellow, orange, red or even blue. They are readily available in 14-16 inches, 30-35 inches and can be even as tall as 70 inches or more. The smaller models can be utilized as table lamps, which will accentuate any table top. On the other hand, the taller models can be utilized as floor lamps, which will bring life and wonderful aura to any living space in your home.

Another type of Moroccan lighting that has dazzled more than one is stained-glass Moroccan lanterns. Usually they are handmade by local artisans in Morocco using century-old traditions passed from father to son. As with henna lamps, they also come in different shapes, designs, and sizes. The colored glass of these lanterns comes in different colors that will either match any home décor or accentuate it. The light glowing through the hand-carved metal happily reflects through the Moroccan-style colors, making walls and ceilings breath-taking.

Either using candles or bulbs, these handmade lanterns reflect a glowing and vibrant light that will sooth your mind yet sparkle on your walls, bringing an atmosphere of admiration. Contrasted to the henna lamps, which emit an even glow of light, stained-glass lanterns create geometric patterns wherever the light shines through the panes of glass. Therefore, these two different types of Moroccan lighting will create different moods. If you are looking for punches of color that have flare, then you are probably looking for a stained-glass lantern; however, if you are going for a more chill, relaxed ambiance, then henna lamps are the perfect light to create that lounge vibe.

Please feel free to post your comment.

Moroccan Furniture

August 22nd, 2007

The modern Moroccan living room is not the traditional Moroccan salon of the past. The younger generation has taken the traditional designs of the past and has brought them into the modern age. The classical salon has now turned into lush and relaxing environment full of rich colors, textures and patterns. 

It is this Moroccan style decor that has been imported into the United States in recent years, appearing on decorating shows and interior design books. The style of artisan work coming out of Morocco has also been modernized and artisans are now taking their old traditions and bringing them up to date, expanding on the classical designs by introducing more experimental techniques. To sum it up, they are definitely creating pieces geared more towards the western tourist, yet at the same time maintaining their traditional roots. Therefore, when thinking about creating a Moroccan living room, you are free to mix traditional Moroccan furniture with any modern design you might already have in place. Because Morocco has expanded its classical artisan designs nowadays, you can easily blend the old with the new. The question really is what type of atmosphere you want to create. Because Moroccan artisan work is flexible, you have a myriad of choices to experiment with.

For example if you are looking to create a cozy and fun setting, consider using a Moroccan henna lamp. These lamps tend to be quite whimsical with their vibrant colors and exiting shapes. “Zouak” or hand-painted style pieces also bring in whimsy to a space as they are typically full of vibrant warm colors and their motifs are intricate, elaborate and lively. Zouak pieces range from tables to chairs and from chests, armoires to room dividers.

For a more traditional or rustic feel, consider using hand-carved wooden and inlaid camel bone pieces; Moroccan artisans are very skilled in these areas, working with all types of wood and utilizing camel bone to its full potential. Cedar is extremely prevalent in artisan work and will definitely create a more rustic mood; whereas thuya wood has a more sophisticated and refined feel.

Please feel free to post your comments!!