It List 2008
Marrakesh, Morocco
Design Hotel. Great Value Riads are popping up in the Marrakesh medina at a rapid clip (they are now said to number more than 1,000), so it takes a really special property to make a splash in this North African style capital. Created by New York–based decorator, photographer, and art collector Thomas Hays, the five-room Meriem manages to be delightfully original without going over the top. Everything here is understated—from the soothing Costes-like palette of muted mauves, pale grays, and dark creams to the well-edited mix of art and objets like framed fabrics from Africa and Asia, original paintings by Moroccan and European artists, and photos from Hays’s own extensive world travels. We especially loved the lighting: sconces, lamps, and lanterns, many pierced with tiny pinholes, and all placed in just the right spots, creating speckled patterns that make the riad magical after dark.
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