Come With Me To The Casbah! - Answering Service Resources

Home
>
Landscaping & Gardening
>
Come With Me To The Casbah!

Come With Me To The Casbah!

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 the inside of your house. They can be incorporated into a beautiful outdoor theme by using the rich and exotic influences of Morocco.

In countries such as Morocco, which line the 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 the 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 the look by edging pieces of plain lattice (the closer the weave, the better) with old carved porch posts. Paint roughly with turquoise or azure and then further distress the finish with sandpaper. Alternatively, you can install a carved wooden room screen.
Wood furniture will give you the 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 the 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 the cushion cover and make sure it's a bright orange or red color!
You can improvise a table from a hollow core or solid core door set on cement blocks or stacks of bricks. Cover it with layers of rich cloths in your chosen colors. You'll find this table sits low to the ground and you'll be able to eat in the traditional Moroccan way: sitting on pillows and rugs. Cover the cushions with co-ordinating or contrasting fabrics in rich finishes. Use azure, persimmon and lots and lots of gold fabric.
Tiles are an absolute must in Moroccan style. If you cannot incorporate them in the floor of your space, by painting a tiled pattern on a wooden deck, laying tiles on a patio, or edging your pool-side cabana, be sure to pick them up in a tabletop, a plant pot, a wall-hanging or a large tray. Mix bright turquoise or azure blue and goldy-orange tile pieces in intricate patterns to capture the Moorish look.
Moroccan-style lanterns usually have some sort of filigree work, whether wicker, metal or some other material. They are often pointed at both ends, necessitating hanging. Most often, they will enclose a flame, either of candles or small oil torches. You can also use white or ivory pillar candles instead of, or in addition to, hanging lanterns.
Use accent pieces of dark wood or brass. Pile a brass tray high with exotic fruit such as persimmons, tangerines and glossy pomegranates.
For greenery, use succulents such as banana trees and mother-in-law's tongue, and tropicals like palms and ficus. You can also add more color to your space with lush pots of bright geraniums.

Use the rich color and sensual textures of Morocco in your outdoor space and this summer you'll be escaping to the casbah!

About The Author

Debbie Rodgers owns and operates Paradise Porch, and is dedicated to helping people create outdoor living spaces that nurture and enrich them. Visit her on the web at www.paradiseporch.com and get a free report on "Eight easy ways to create privacy in your outdoor space". Mail to debbie@paradiseporch.com

In The News:

Tampabay.com
Garden calendar of events
Tampabay.com, FL - 9 hours ago
Master Gardeners provide answers to gardening, landscaping, insect questions. Or call 9 am-5 pm Mon.-Fri. for advice. Free. (352) 754-4433. ...

House & Garden Briefs
Ithaca Journal, NY - 14 hours ago
The Garden Hotline will be open from 10 am to noon Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to provide advice on a variety of landscaping, gardening, and lawn care ...

Garden Calendar
Seattle Post Intelligencer - Oct 8, 2008
Oct. 18, 9 am2 pm -- Landscape and Garden Design Consultations: Miki Wade, experienced garden designer from Olympic Landscape and Irrigation Co. will help ...

Dallas Morning News
Dallas area restaurants cultivate a love for kitchen gardens
Dallas Morning News, TX - Oct 8, 2008
He channels all of his gardening energy into the 2000 square feet of landscape beds he commandeered on the downtown hotel's pool level. ...

Restaurateur turns to landscaping
Vancouver Sun, Canada - Oct 9, 2008
Not in the stock-pot, but in the low-maintenance domestic yards his Balance Design landscaping firm creates around the west side. ...

With Cooler Weather Here, It's Time To Plan Landscape
Tyler Morning Telegraph, TX - Oct 9, 2008
Traditionally, springtime has been the season when folks get bit by the gardening bug, inspired to do a landscape project and head to nurseries and garden ...

Carol K. Lamont Inducted into Cambridge Who's Who Executive ...
24-7PressRelease.com (press release) - Oct 9, 2008
With over 30 years of experience in the landscaping industry, Ms. Lamont is an expert in signature gardening. As owner, she is responsible for overseeing ...

Gardening: Think in terms of winter
Marco Eagle, FL - Oct 9, 2008
Eileen Ward and her husband, Peter, own and operate Greensward of Marco Inc., a lawn maintenance and landscaping company. Besides completing horticultural ...

Landscaping business blooms from Bulacan roots
Philippine Star, Philippines - Oct 2, 2008
When asked why he continued the business of gardening and landscaping instead of starting another business, Nestor simply answered, “We cannot turn our ...

iAfrica.com
A water wise garden pays
iAfrica.com, South Africa - Oct 8, 2008
By holistically planning all aspects of the garden, the design can fit into your plans for future landscaping projects. With little effort established ...

landscaping gardening - Google News

Answering Service ResourceAnswering Service Resource