A ripe persimmon is a thing of beauty – sweet, succulent and an amazing shade of orange-red. Orange and red continue to be popular colors in decorating this year but 2004’s shades are softer and more vibrant, like ripe persimmons and pomegranates. Don’t limit these jewel-tones to
inside of your house. They can be incorporated into a beautiful outdoor theme by using rich and exotic influences of Morocco.
•In countries such as Morocco, which line balmy Mediterranean, curtains are often used in place of doors to allow breezes to circulate freely. Use gauzy fabric such as mosquito netting or scrim, a light, sheer, loosely woven cotton or linen cloth used for upholstery lining. Since it’s inexpensive, you can install luxuriously full draperies without going broke.
•If you’d rather not have curtains, consider using same fabric as a tent over a table or a chaise. Some nettings come with a center hanging unit, or you can easily make one of a 2’ square piece of plywood and some rope.
•Intricate latticework is another element often seen in Morocco. You can emulate look by edging pieces of plain lattice (the closer weave, better) with old carved porch posts. Paint roughly with turquoise or azure and then further distress finish with sandpaper. Alternatively, you can install a carved wooden room screen.
•Wood furniture will give you most authentic Moroccan look. Don’t have wood furnishings? Try constructing a simple low-slung chaise from a used solid core door with six fence post tops screwed into bottom. Paint or stain it to look like rich wood and top with a thick cushion (use an 8” foam mattress cut to measure). Use a heavy-weight fabric for cushion cover and make sure it’s a bright orange or red color!
