Suzanis | Slim Paley

Slim Paley Photo

The short, but ever so sweet & sultry dose of heat we enjoyed here in Santa Barbara a week or so ago has fired up my passion for exotic locales…

and searching for images of Carmen Miranda for the previous post only helped seal the deal!

So,

I’ve secreted away all my cashmere, stored my winter coats, bid a hearty “a bientot” to heavy boots until September &

I’m celebrating the arrival of warmer weather by sharing a recent little Moroccan Soiree at “Le Souk Slim’s”

(What? You’ve never seen a white-washed shingled Souk before? Sheik, Baby- you need to get out more!)

I’m even going to spoil you for choice by offering two different selections of music to accompany;

.‘Tu As Ma Vie’

“Rock The Casbah”

.The Amanjena hotel, an Aman Resort, Morocco

We could all just buy these and pretend we’re there

Pottery Barn Lanterns

I never think of Morocco without thinking of Yves Saint Laurent and the beautiful, beloved home he shared there with his long time partner Pierre Berge.

(and the amazing YSL silk caftan floor length coat I found in a vintage shop once that I bought even though it was ten times too big for me-

and you know when a caftan is too big- that’s big) oops- I digress…

St. Laurent’s ashes were scattered in Marrakech in the Majorelle Garden, a place he often visited to find inspiration and refuge.

Now I can’t wait for the new documentary “L’Amour Fou” (Click here to watch the trailer- it looks fantastique!!)

“…one day I will join you under the Moroccan palms…” Pierre Berge at St. Laurent’s funeral.

. v

via Decorative maps.com

Meanwhile, back in Montecito, I served this deeelicious old stand-by from Food & Wine Magazine,

accompanied by cous cous and miniature Caesar salads on endive spears (The Romans were friendly with North Africans weren’t they?!)

Slim Paley photo (taken from Food & Wine Magazine, August 2008)

Amanjeni

Paging Paul Bowles for inspiration;

Definitely a book to be reread

Paul Bowles spent over 55 years of his life in Morocco

The Amanjeni

”~~Bucket~~ Tagine List”?

....Slim Paley Photo

For the table, I chose my favourite Suzani, which is absolutely gigantic, and folded it in on itself a couple of times.

All the flowers, lavender and mint are from my garden.

Our ridiculously orange roses I’ve renamed “Are Those Real??” popped just in time…

.Slim Paley Photo

Le Recipe;.

As you can see, I add golden raisins and slivered toasted almonds to the couscous.

If you find your couscous a little on the dry side, you can add a cup or so of Lychee syrup- yum!

.Slim Paley photo

Nuts, olives, honey with lavender, and lots of citrus and roses help to set the mood…oh ya, and fruity champagne drinks!

Slim Paley Photo

You’ll probably recall this lavender pudding from just a few posts back but don’t be a hater, it belonged here

…and don’t forget sweet mint tea for dessert.

Marrakesh/Marrakech… either way, I want to go!

If your schedule doesn’t gel with a trip to North Africa, or even a Moroccan inspired evening soon, you may always grab a quick dose of Casbah here;

The Morocco based ; My Marrakesh

OK, I better go tend to my Sheik now…

couscous!

Slim Paley photo

If absolutely forced to choose a favourite colour combination I would have to go with what I’ve compiled for this post. Rich dark brown, or even black, combined with linen beige, dusty rose, and just a touch of rusty claret or burnt sienna thrown in for good measure (you weren’t expecting just two colours, were you?!) I’ve begun with photos of perhaps my favourite room in our home, the master bath. The mahogany cabinetry and floor are softened by the linen colour of the walls and wardrobe curtains, as well as the dusty rose fabric on the chaise and window seat. What happened to my window seat throw pillows? I’m wondering the same thing myself as I look at this photo (note to self- look for missing pillows)

In summer, creamy linen slipcovers can be thrown over the upholstery to achieve an even lighter feel. A narrow band of ebony around the edge of the floor is my touch of black. The towels are hung on a most unusual antique I found many years ago in Chicago. It’s made of rich dark wood and I would have thought it was used to hang bed linens or table clothes over, but it has hooks running along the lowest rung and a heavy pewter lined base, as if to hold wet boots or umbrellas. In any case, it now makes one fabulous towel rack! The large pedestal sinks are original to the house (c.1895) although not to this room. I raised them to a more comfortable height by adding the ‘globes’ to the legs (the globes are wood and refinished in enamel) and tilted the mirror over the mantle just slightly for more of an old-fashioned look. The fireplace is also original.

Slim Paley photo