Moroccan Wedding Blankets

Good morning, friends!  :-)  And Happy Friday to you!

I hope you all are gearing up for a fabulous kick-off to the weekend.  My husband and I are spending the weekend at his parents' house so that we can dog-sit.  I am looking forward to cooking up a meal or two in that gorgeous kitchen, and getting some things crossed off my to-do list (things are piling up, and I hate that!).  I will be blogging all weekend, so you'll hear lots from me!

I first came across Moroccan Wedding Blankets while reading Design*Sponge at Home by Grace Bonney.  These blankets are so beautiful, and I just knew that I had to share some inspiring decorated spaces using these lovelies.

These shaggy, sequined blankets, known as handira, have important symbolic value to Berbers, an indigenous people of North Africa, who create them as part of their wedding ceremonies.  The bride-to-be and her family spend weeks weaving the sheep's wool blankets and hand-stitching thousands of flat-sequined "mirrors" onto them.  When finished, handiras are believed to have talismanic powers, bringing good luck to a marriage and offering protection.
        -Grace Bonney, Design*Sponge at Home


Just a little bit of history for ya.  ;-)

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I love this blanket, sitting atop a bed, amidst a room full of girly frilliness.  That wallpaper is gorgeous, right?

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Just look at the beautiful sequins!

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This Wedding Blanket actually acts as a bath mat in a luxurious and elegant bathroom.

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This Blanket serves its purpose as a rug underneath a dining room table in a room decorated with lovely modern glamour.

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A shabby chic bedroom gets a touch of sparkle with the addition of the beautiful Blanket on the bed.

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Twin beds obtain a touch of difference with the varying patterns on these Wedding Blankets.  Adorned with matching pillows, these spreads look perfect together without total similarity.

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Sweet and sophisticated.

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I love the differing patterns of the Moroccan Wedding Blanket and the animal-print bench at the foot of the bed.  So interesting.

What do you think of these Blankets?  Would you use them in your home?

love, maria

Layering Love: The Beauty of Patterns

Hey, there!  :-)

Happy Sunday!  Don't you just love Sundays?  There's something so calm about them -- I adore it.  And on this particular Sunday, it truly feels like Spring has arrived!  We had one very chilly day last week, but other than that, it has been all about warmer weather and lots of allergies.  Definitely my least favorite part of Spring, but I'll take it if it means nicer temperatures!

One of my favorite processes of decorating is layering fabrics and patterns.

This is a small bench that I recovered a couple of weekends ago.  I took the blue-jean-like color of the ikat print and found two pillows that had a beautiful robins-egg blue color with stripes of blue-jean-hues.  The pillows were HomeGoods steals -- the back ones were $4.99 each, and the front was $12.99.

Layering patterns can really add so much depth and texture to a room.  I have always loved throw pillows, but it was only very recently that I started to try my hand at mix-and-matching -- really getting bold with my choices and finding a way to add richness into my home.

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This photo is a great example of using texture to add complexity to a room.  All of the bedding is based on a white color scheme, but there are lace-y accents, buttons, and striped finishes that really make this bed look luxurious and grand.

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One of the most foolproof ways to intermix patterns is to have each pillow or textile use a color (even a very small spot of color) from the one it is closest to.  In this photo, it moves down a line, from left to right -- the bolster pillow is cream, and the orange pillow has cream in it.  The red pillow next to the orange plays off of the bits of red in the orange pillow.  The next orange pillow plays off of the red bits in the predominantly red pillow.  And the cream echoes both the ivory pillow at the far end of the sofa, but also the white bits in the orange pillow next to it.  Symmetry, but interesting symmetry.

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I really like how this bedroom's fabric colors are playing off of the wallpaper.  There are different hues of pinks and greens, and even a little bit of yellow thrown in there as an accent.  I also appreciate how the pillows are arranged to look like a colorful headboard of sorts -- it adds even more of a pop against that delightful wallpaper.

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Black and white is reflected in this room, but in different patterns.  The black and white pillow on the chair and the black and white cover on the bed unify and ground this space and allow for the other colors to take center stage without the room feeling outlandish or too mismatched.

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I love how in this room, colors are reverberated everywhere!  The stripe-y bedspread looks perfect with the polka-dot pillow.  The sky-blue color of the front throw pillow matches a book on the night stand; and the busily patterned pillow in the back looks picture perfect with the little stripes on the table lamp and the light blue of the throw blanket.  All of these colors tie perfectly together with the headboard and the night stand.  A very well-thought-out space.

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This is an absolutely lovely, punchy little space -- perfect for a little girl.  The greens are happy and subtle, the yellows are sunny and bright, and the pinks are sweet but just the right amount of grown up.  The color of the walls is neutral enough that these colors are the focal point of the room, not so much the wall behind them.

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I absolutely love this space.  The upholstered headboard mixes fabulously with all of the echoing colors, and the patterns are a lovely combination of stripes, florals, and solids.  With the bed up against an exposed-paneling wall, it really makes the colors pop and makes a statement.

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Moving from left to right again, each pillow takes a color from its "friend."  This mixed with the adorable window treatments and the accent color of the turquoise upholstery on the seat-bench makes the most charming little window seat I ever did see.

Have you mastered the art of mixing patterns?

What is your favorite color palette to work with when blending different designs?

love, maria

Trend: Paisley!

Hello, there!

Wow, I have posted a lot today!  ;-)  My hubby has gone on to Tucson this evening, and I am home, sick with the flu.  Yes, the disgusting stomach-body-head ailment that makes for all-around discomfort.  I.hate.it.  Hopefully tomorrow I will feel better, but in the meantime, I thought that adding a little paisley into my night would make me smile.  I'm a sucker for all things paisley.


Paisley is Indian in origin, and holds a lot of history -- whether it be on rugs or other textiles, it seems that this pattern just can't help but peak in its popularity from time to time.  "In-style" or not, I am a consistent fan of paisley and enjoy the ornate nature in its designs and the luxurious existence of its patterns.  I am drawn in by it, and to me, a room with a touch of paisley instantly feels that much warmer, that much more delicious.

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What is your favorite way to use paisley pattern?  Home decor?  Fashion?

If you have at least one item in your home that is paisley, I want to know about it!  Share!  :-)

Love, Maria