HANDCRAFTING A HOME
Rosemary is a traditional courtyard house believed to have been designed by Belgian architect Quentin Wilbaux. He was famously obsessed with the riads of Marrakech and made a life’s work of sketching, photographing and ultimately restoring nearly 150 of them.
Brimming with original features, the house oozes the kind of atmosphere that can only come from people who loved it in their bones. As such, we felt it only right to keep as many details as possible, while adding a fun, informal mix of beautiful things that reflects our own style. So began a journey in which the riad became a canvas for art, design and craftsmanship.
We were involved in every aspect of the design and execution from the hand-carved, cedar wood front door, to the terrazzo tiles in the courtyard and the wrought iron daybeds on the roof terrace. We scoured the globe for vintage fixtures and furnishings that would complement this vision and then, Laurence set about finessing the details.
From custom-made sideboards, to the hand carved swirls on the pillars by the pool and stained-glass doors with wrought iron handles, no detail was left to chance. In the three-year long process, she also hand-painted the plates on the kitchen wall, carved quirky, giant chairs from sandstone, and created a bespoke line of homewares, resulting in a space that feels timeless and authentic.
“Getting to know Rosemary has been a significant part of my artistic evolution. I had to think through the whole experience from start to finish in order to create an authentically modern, Marrakchi world.”
Laurence Leenaert
