Article by : Lori Smith, San Diego Interior Decorating Examiner. October 18, 2011.

From the light fixtures to the tilework, Moroccan design is all about the finishing touches. Moroccan style home decorating invites rich colors of Middle Eastern interiors, dynamic contrasts, traditional patterns and uniqueness of Moroccan decorations and decor accessories. Vibrant colors of red and rich orange inspired by amazing African sunsets, green and blue found in the sea of the area, tones of gold, light brown, yellow and silver from the surrounding desert. Create a tropical atmosphere by bringing the outside into the interior through the use of exotic plants, terra cotta tiles and textured walls.

Small tiles and mosaic designs decorate many Moroccan home interiors. Also mosaic designs are used for decorating Moroccan mirrors, coffee table tops and bathroom sinks, creating traditional Moroccan interior design with cheerful and bright color contrasts. Traditional Moroccan interior design style brings crafty Moroccan lamps and skillfully carved wood elements for Moroccan furniture, doors, windows and mirror frames. The aroma of African cuisine and tea with spices stimulates all human senses, adds the final touch, evoking sensual Moroccan home decor.

Moroccan furniture and accessories encompass natural materials of wool, silk, glass, leather, clay and metal, such as Moroccan wool rugs, carved wood furniture and accessories, bright decorative cushions, made of cotton, wool or silk fabrics, Moroccan bedding and floor rugs, soft rich decorative curtains, unique Moroccan lamps made of ceramic, leather, glass or forged metal. Use elegant silk for decorating with curtains; bring in bright rich room paint colors and ethnic patterns, soft luxurious home decorating fabrics, floor rugs and pillows. The quickest way to Moroccan interior design is using bright and colorful wool rugs, kilims or thin large rugs with traditional geometric patterns. Few leather ottomans, or Moroccan poufs, and soft large cushions made of soft decorating fabrics add comfort to Moroccan interior design.

Be inspired, check out the slideshow to the left of 51 Moroccan interior designs that can be incorporated into your design scheme, let us know what you think. Enjoy!

Article source:

http://www.examiner.com/interior-decorating-in-san-diego/51-most-inspiring-moroccan-style-interiors

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Lori Smith is a San Diego based Interior Designer who has received her B.F.A. in Interior Design from the Design Institute of San Diego and is a member of ASID. She also possesses a B.S. in Communications from Arizona State University. She has owned her own interior design business for the past two years in contemporary residential design with an emphasis on sustainable design, feng shui and budget-minded interiors. She is also an avid photographer, specializing in interior spaces and landscape photography which lends inspiration to her design schemes. You may contact her with questions at interiordesigned@gmail.com.

Moroccan Furniture Changes the Trends
Written by Adam Peters
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1483690

Moroccan settings have the ability to transform the look of any place that you inhabit which is the reason that it is in vogue among artistic people like painters and writers. They are extremely colorful and perhaps this is one reason why hippies also veer towards the Moroccan themes for decorative purposes. As they are very attractive to the eyes, people generally prefer these themes to impart a new look to the ambience of the home.

Colors like green, red and blue find a prominent place in Moroccan designs, primarily because these hues are generally seen in the coastal region of Morocco near the seas. Along with this the Moroccans seem to feel that their furniture should be reflective of their nature as well as history and so they draw inspiration from the desert by inculcating colors like yellow, silver and gold into their furniture. As we can see, the Moroccans preference for strong colors is very apparent and this lends a definite personality to their furniture. To add to this, they use a multitude of mosaic and fabrics to the furniture. You would usually not find a piece of their furniture that is devoid of any of these characteristics. On the other hand, a lot of times all these elements are combined in a single piece of furniture.

The intent behind Moroccan furniture is that it is supposed to be an extension of the natural outer world that we see around us. As a result, the furniture is never delicate and fragile but strong, heavy and durable reminding one and all of the vast trees that we see around us. In other words, they radiate an aura of the tropics. A lot of importance is given to the quality of material and Moroccans also like to experiment with various textures, leather being one of the clear favorites. All types of furniture- be it chairs, benches or couches are made with leather which enhances the look of the surroundings. Again, we find that Moroccan style furniture can look very ornate as they dabble with stunning patterns in mosaic, gold plated designs and also strange and beautiful plant designs.

It would not be wrong to state that patterns occupy a central place in Moroccan style furniture. Diamonds, squares and rectangles predominate as pattern choices and Moroccans with their innate artistic elegance take care to break any possible monotony with their furniture pieces by indulging in a mixture of patterns rather than sticking to just one pattern even in a single furniture set. This gives an amazing fluid effect to their furniture and it ends up looking like a wonderful work of art.

Another reason why this happens is that the patterns are printed on beautiful fabrics which highlight the overall look of the furniture. Silk is the material which is used almost ubiquitously in different types of Moroccan furniture as also on tapestries and lamps. The reason behind silk being so popular is that it tones down the bulky look of the furniture. Tapestries are also created with wool, leather and some other materials. Iron, wood and also slate is used to make lamps. A unique feature of Moroccan lamps is that they have the most amazing carvings that are a blend of simplicity and richness.

You can only decide whether you like the Moroccan decorating style or not after you try it out yourself. I simply love it and it transports me to an altogether different and beautiful realm. So, do go and buy some of this furniture and see how it affects you!

Adam Peters writes for http://www.home-decorating-reviews.com A website with tips on interior design bulkheads and Mediterranean style.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Caxton

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1483690

The 1.4 billion-dollar Aladdin Hotel, themed after the story of the same name, in Las Vegas offers a unique environment that is sure to delight the senses…

The resort contains 1,001 Arabian Nights – an exotic main casino themed after the tales of 1,001 Arabian Nights. It offers 100,000 square feet of gaming amidst flying carpets, ebony horses and an ever-blooming “Enchanted Garden” of lights. A unique stacked layout places the hotel lobby, casino and restaurants on separate, easily accessible levels. Aladdin’s innovative design eliminates long walks in public areas. The casino contains 2,800 slot machines, 87 table games, Keno, and Race & Sports Book.

The casino also contains the world’s largest indoor light board which creates a 130 foot “Enchanted Garden” with a constantly changing display of vibrant blooming flowers, as well as a 36 foot magic lamp towering above the casino floor. The talon and nest of a giant Roc Bird, taken from the tales of Sinbad and the Sailor Giant winged horses from the Tale of the Ebony Horse mark the entrance to the Aladdin Race & Sports Book.

Contained in the main casino area is the 35,000 square foot The London Club. This area features an elegant 15,000 square foot main casino offering 30 high-limit table games, including baccarat, roulette and blackjack, 100 high-denomination slot machines, exclusive higher limit gaming facilities, a private lobby and dedicated elevator service, a 120 seat five star restaurant offering a multi-ethnic menu and al fresco dining on the Strip, and a multi-functional lounge and garden club, and private reception room. Smaller gaming rooms are designed to recall the exclusive “salle privees” found in Europe’s most celebrated casinos.

There are more than 135 stores in the Aladdin’s Desert Passage, which is the 500,000 square foot shopping adventure that surrounds the resort.