Last Day in Marrakech

2-6: We met the owners of Les Nomades de Marrakech during our tour the first day and promised to come back, but knew we needed to give ourselves time. They have thousands of rugs made from artisans all over Morocco and you know I was in actual heaven. We each went in looking for runners and each came out with a runner and larger rug. It felt very much like finding the a wand at Ollivanders, the perfect rug finds you. We tried to give up a few times, but then someone would think of something, hunt around the massive building, and roll out a carpet that would get us closer until we found what we needed (yes, it was a need). Four hours later, we finalized our orders and can’t wait to show you when they arrive!

8-9: A few moments from our last couple hours. I was constantly blown away by the use of tile everywhere. Huge courtyards covered in handmade zellige. Dream!

1, 10-13: Said goodbye to our beautiful riad and derb. Already missing soaking my feet in the cool pool waters every afternoon. ...

Day 2…

1–5: Could not stop taking photos at Jardin Majorelle. Brought back to life by Yves Saint Laurent, it’s everything you want in an art deco Moroccan fantasy garden. The cacti are massive, everything feels like a natural work of art. Totally worth it but go early — by afternoon it’s packed with people trying to get photos.

6–11: Bacha Coffee is all about aesthetics, located inside a restored palace. They serve over 200 roasts in interiors that feel like French Colonial meets Moroccan royalty, and it doubles as a cultural museum. We waited about 1.5 hours (we were lined up before it opened). Service was first class (we saw a trainee get scolded for forgetting the correct silver coaster under Terry’s glass). The coffee menu was an adventure, the breakfast was solid, but really it’s about the experience.

12–13: Wa Marrakech Spa. I only have a couple iPhone photos from the rooftop lounge after our hammams and massages. This was outside my comfort zone, but hammams are a big part of the culture. The spa isn’t traditional but it’s gorgeous desert chic and considered luxury (would have been 2–3x the price at home). You lie on warm marble while they wash and scrub you until skin literally rolls off. I haven’t been patted dry like that since I was a baby, but they were lovely and professional. The massage after was one of the best I’ve ever had. Glad we got the modesty out of the way first 😂.

14: The day’s haul from the souk.

15–17: We braved the dust storm and traffic chaos to walk to The Royal Mansour. Thirteen acres just outside the Medina, it looks like a fortress until you walk in and find an actual palace. Each “room” is a private riad and I was dying to peek inside one. It’s very fancy but they welcomed us for cocktails in the piano bar, and we decided White Lotus could write itself here.

Ok, Rick Steves signing off 😂 ...

Marrakech Day 1 from my real camera. 🐈‍⬛🚪🧶

2-5: Some peeks at the beautiful riad we rented. Homes inside the walls of the Medina are non-descript until you look inside and realize they have a courtyard with a garden and/or pool. They’re actually magical. Ours was open to the light 3 stories up but had a glass ceiling and gorgeous rooftop. You know I spent hours researching and was so happy with our stay.

1, 6-19: We hired a guide to give us a walking tour of the Medina, the old walled city. We explored The Ben Youssef Madrasa, wandered through the souks and I couldn’t stop photographing doors. When we first arrived I thought there was no way we’d ever figure out how to get anywhere. The streets inside the Medina are narrow, winding and there aren’t many obvious landmarks like we’re used to. But it does start making sense after awhile and it’s beautiful how there are communities within that all care for eachother.

20: The rooftop at El Fenn Hotel. So inspiring to see how they only used a single color and made it so interesting. 💃🏽 ...

A couple weeks ago my design besties took me on a little pre-birthday celebration to one of my bucket-list hotel stays, The Lafayette Hotel in San Diego.

The whole place is inspiration overload and a maximalist’s dream come true. Velvet banquettes dripping with pattern and fringe, checkerboard floors, custom tile and wallpaper, vintage lighting, and layers of detail made every corner feel like a vignette. It was theatrical and bold, yet still warm and inviting.

And then there’s the pool and patio. Striped loungers and fringed umbrellas in a mix of green, white and pink couldn’t be better for cocktails with friends.

What took it over the top was how the branding carried through everything. Letter-pressed stationery with the guest’s name, embroidered banners for wayfinding, brass hands holding room numbers, and even the hair dryer bag was treated with the same care as the interiors. It actually made me miss graphic design for a minute because you know the team had fun with this one. Nothing felt like an afterthought, which made the whole experience feel immersive and intentional.

One heads up: We were there on Friday and Saturday nights and the pool & lobby transform into a full-blown party scene. Great if you’re ready for it, but if you’d rather focus on soaking up the design details, I would stick to a Monday-Thursday stay.

I left buzzing with ideas and feeling the pull once again to design a well-thought out commercial space (hire me!). Thank you @etchandivydesign and @wrenstedinteriors for such a special weekend and being my Emotional Support Designers everyday! ...