SARASOTA

My Unforgettable Trip to Morocco

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LISA GILMORE INTERIOR DESIGNER TRIP TO MOROCCO

Travel hasn’t always been a part of my life.

My family didn’t travel much. We visited family in different states, but we never “destination traveled.”

I loved our trips to see family, but I didn’t know what destination travel was until I was in the third or fourth grade.

We drove to visit family in Pennsylvania and I met a cousin who is about 15 years older than me. She had just gotten out of college, and she showed me her photo albums. She had admired the brilliant green landscape of Ireland, stood in front of the pyramids in Egypt, and floated in the Dead Sea.

I was amazed. That trip literally opened the world to me.

photo Lisa Gilmore in Morocco

 

So, when I got older and became an adult myself, I never forgot that the world is a grand and beautiful place that I want to experience.

As a young interior designer, I would travel to markets, conferences, or tradeshows in different U.S. cities and stay a couple of extra days to explore a new place. And for a long time, that seemed like enough.

Then after my first marriage ended, I spent some time evaluating my life, and I realized that I hadn’t visited any of the places that I had dreamed of as a little girl.

So, I got my passport and decided that traveling was going to be part of my new life.

PARIS FLEA MARKET INTERIOR DESIGNER LISA GILMORE

My New Well-Traveled Life

In the first two years after the divorce was finalized, I went to Canada, then to Paris for a large tradeshow, then to South Africa, and back to Paris again. Then Covid happened.

But I had learned so much about myself in that short time. I discovered that if I’m in a rut or feeling stagnant or have had multiple bad days, getting away– even if it’s just to a beach three hours away– helps me reset. It rejuvenates me and is my internal medicine.

photo Lisa Gilmore in Paris 2020

 

As a business owner, we carry our work with us 24/7. It’s at home. It’s at the office. It’s in conversations. When you go out to dinner with friends, people want to know what you’re up to, which is great. I love that friends are interested in what I do, but whenever I travel, I go to places where people don’t know me. It’s a way to truly turn it off and leave that whole identity behind and just be a person who soaks in a new culture, gets inspired, and then returns even better as Lisa Gilmore the designer.

TRIP TO MOROCCO

Why a trip to Morocco?

I have known of Morocco for a long time. Diana Vreeland was the editor of Vogue in the 1960s and she would do photo shoots all over the world. There were a couple of locations that always stood out to me, and Morocco was one of them. I watched a documentary that talked about the majesty of Morocco, and then I saw model Ashley Graham post on Instagram when she visited Morocco. And I’ve always had this fascination with Moroccan rugs– the texture and vibrancy that they’re known for.

Morocco has been in the back of my mind but I hadn’t given a lot of thought to planning a trip there right now.

photo Royal Mansuer, Marrakech Lisa Gilmore

 

Then, one of my designer friends sent a group email asking if any of us would be interested in going to Morocco. She said, “There’s this retreat that I discovered from goop, and I’ve been dying to go. It’s super limited, they only take about nine people at a time, and they just opened one up for the end of the year.” 

Without hesitation, I told her to count me in.

The agenda was very elusive and top secret. But we knew we’d be shopping, seeing their beautiful rugs, and learning about the history and culture of Morocco, so it sounded like the perfect retreat to me.

I was so right.

Highlights of the Trip

Boutique Hotel

We stayed at Peacock Pavillions a boutique hotel, located in an olive orchard, that was designed by an American couple. Chris is an architect, and his wife, Maryam, is a human rights activist and designer who’s been featured in Elle Decor and dozens of other publications and has written a book called Marrakesh by Design.

They planned everything for us from transportation to every meal. I’m usually not a person who likes planned vacations or guided tours, but this was a great experience. It was such a brain break and it allowed inspiration to come in and me to relax and just enjoy my friends. It completely refilled my cup.

 
Colorful Marocan tiles and handmade rug

Moroccan Design

The design in general and the architecture in Morocco were something I’d never seen before, and I pride myself on creating unique and beautiful designs. I thought I had seen beautiful tile work before, but Morocco was over the top. It was real craftsmanship– every little piece was hand cut and hand placed– everything had such intention and purpose which I thought was lovely.

 
Yves Saint Laurent Museum Lush Gardens

Yves Saint Laurent Museum

Going to the YSL Museum and Memorial Gardens was wonderful. I’m so inspired by iconic people from the past and the stories of their lives– how they became successful and how they built their careers. Saint Laurent started his career as a fashion designer in Paris but later in his career, he fell in love with Marrakesh and moved there. The museum has an amazing curated collection of his fashion on display, but my favorite part was his sketches and seeing how his brain worked. 

 
MOROCCAN SOUK LIFESTYLE PHOTO

Moroccan Culture

I loved learning about the culture of Morocco and the people– how they think and the interesting magic they have. Some people believe in ghosts here, but the Moroccans believe in genies and they don’t want genies in their homes. They believe that keyhole arches are barriers between them and the other world of genies and that keyhole arches protect them. So that is a prominent feature in their architecture.

There is extreme wealth and extreme poverty in Morocco. However, they’re not a culture that is flashy or showy. So you don’t see wealthy people driving a Mercedes wagon, walking around with expensive bags, or huge houses. In fact, the windows of houses are very small so people can’t see the wealth inside. I thought that was really interesting because here in the States it’s so opposite of that.

 
Marrakesh home with pink walls keyhole window light blue door and greenery

Intentional Beauty

I liked how intentional they are about beauty. Everything there is desert– so bland and boring– but they bring beauty in other ways. Even their tools are beautiful and hand-carved and have such pride and intention. To me that says a lot about them as humans and how they carry themselves and present themselves. 

That is something I want to incorporate more into my life– intentional beauty– and I think I’m very conscious of that already. But this trip just brought it to the forefront even more. I’m not a designer who fills people’s homes with things just for the sake of them being filled. I like them to have stories. I like to reuse their antiques or restore something that just needs a little love– to give them a new life. It validated that I am doing a good job of preserving people’s stories.

 
Project Soar - Maryam Montage

Project Soar

I mentioned that Maryam, the owner of the hotel, is also a human rights activist. She has a nonprofit for underprivileged teen girls in Morocco, Syria, and Uganda called Project Soar. 

While Morocco is very beautiful, there are some horrible things within the culture and how they treat women– specifically young girls. Childhood marriage is a real thing there. I wasn’t aware of how prevalent it is there. There is also a lot of shame around menstruation. A lot of the girls hide it when they come of age because then they can be married off shortly after. 

Project Soar teaches these girls different skillsets than what they are taught at home or school like how to negotiate or speak up for themselves and how to be more empowered. In fact, 99% of their girls are able to negotiate themselves out of childhood marriage, which I think is absolutely amazing. 

project soar workshop Marrakesh

When we toured the site and met the girls, I was so emotional. Being pregnant with my own daughter now, I see things from a different perspective. How lucky we are that we don’t have to worry about those things. But it also makes me sad, because though we’re ahead, there are so many girls that deal with bullying, eating disorders, and mental illness. There is still work to be done here and in countries like Morocco.

A portion of the proceeds from our trip went to Project Soar, and it’s an organization that I plan to support for years to come. Even though it’s not in our own country, it’s important to spread hope and education and help girls around the world. They aren’t as privileged as we are but with our help, they could be.

 
Morocco Interior Design Travel Diary

Design Takeaways

There was so much beautiful color in Morocco. Though building exteriors are in desert colors, the interiors are the exact opposite of bland or beige. It inspired me to be more unapologetic with color and think a little bit more about the legacy I am creating. There’s an opportunity to design a home in such a way that 50 years from now someone could say, “Oh my gosh, this is an insane tile installation. We have to preserve this,” rather than “This is dated. Let’s rip it out.”

We recently did a mid-century renovation that we completely gutted because it was dated and there were some pretty horrible renovations in between. But we let the architecture and legacy of the home guide our collection to create something current that flows well and isn’t jarring to the house.

Where to Next?

We have a baby coming in the spring, so I don’t honestly know where I will go next. I’m excited to create a lifestyle of travel for my daughter that I didn’t have. I want to be one of those families walking around Paris with their four-year-old eating a croissant or in Venice strolling down the Grand Canal. 

When I was in Morocco, I bought her a beautiful camel sculpture with encrusted tiles on the back of it to remind her that she rode a camel with me. 

I’m inspired to think of different ways to travel with a family. I don’t know where that will be. Right now, everything feels open-handed because I know this next chapter will be something I can’t comprehend. Which is a little challenging for my brain. I’m just in the process of letting it go and letting things come to me– navigating being a business owner and a new mom and wondering how that will look.

But visiting Morocco reminded me why travel will always be a part of my life and my family’s life.

I hope the same is true for you.

 
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To get more tips, see our projects, and find ideas for adding liveable glamour to your home, follow me on Instagram or sign up for our newsletter.

Lisa Gilmore Design is a full-service interior designer based in St. Petersburg, Florida that provides custom design services to busy professionals. We create exclusive spaces through the use of artisan-crafted pieces, antique elements, and custom designs. Lisa Gilmore Design serves homeowners in Clearwater, Tampa Bay, Naples, Srasota and worldwide.

Fast Furniture Can't Compete with a Custom Approach in Interior Design

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Fast Furniture Interior Design

Fast Furniture Shouldn’t Be a Part of Luxury Interior Design

First, there was fast food. Then, there was fast fashion. And, now there's fast furniture.

What do they have in common? They're all inexpensive, easy to find, and have environmental consequences.

Though fast furniture is the newest addition to the group, its environmental impact is substantial.

photo Custom Furniture Lisa Gilmore Design

The Consequences of Convenience

Furniture sales increased dramatically during the pandemic. Sales of desks, chairs, and patio equipment alone increased by more than $4 billion from 2019 to 2021. Many of these pieces, purchased from mass-production companies, aren't made to last.

The EPA says that each year, Americans throw out more than 12 million tons of furniture, an increase of 450 percent since 1960. Often, fast furniture pieces are made from materials that are hard to recycle or repair.

An Interior Design Perspective on Fast Furniture

Fast furniture also makes a less-than-ideal impression when used in a home.

Mass-produced furniture is sub-par from a design perspective – lesser quality and easily replicated, which is why we do not use it at Lisa Gilmore Design.

That's why we source our furnishings in three ways:

  • Placing Custom Orders: We collaborate with independent craftsmen and artisans to create unique pieces.

  • Custom Upholstery: We order custom upholstery from carefully selected partners, as made-to-order pieces create less waste.

  • Restyling Antiques: We revitalize carefully selected antiques and vintage pieces to give them new life.

Lisa Gilmore Design Furniture Selection

When we are shopping or custom-ordering a piece, we ask ourselves these questions:

  • Where was this item made?

  • What material is this item made of?

  • Does this item have a history?

  • Is this a piece that will still be relevant in 20 years?

Here are a few examples of our process in action.

Vintage Dining Chairs Tampa Florida

Teal Repainted and Reupholstered Dining Chairs

We painted and reupholstered our client’s existing vintage dining chairs to give them a completely new look.

photo Original Look Lisa Gilmore Design

Teal Repainted and Reupholstered Dining Chairs

The Finished Look

When we needed additional chairs to fill the space, we looked on Chairish for chairs similar in style. To make the chairs look cohesive and intentional, we painted them the same color and used the same fabric on all of them.

photo Finished Look Lisa Gilmore Design

Custom TV Cabinet Tampa Florida

Custom TV Cabinet in St. Pete

This custom TV cabinet was made by a local carpenter, and all the upholstery featured in this room was made in North Carolina.

photo Lisa Gilmore Design

upcycled reupholstred vintage sofa in mid-century home

Reupholstered Sofa and Custom-Designed Ottomans

This vintage sofa was reimagined after being reupholstered, and the ottomans were designed by Lisa. Both were created by local partners.

photo Lisa Gilmore Design

Vintage upcycled furniture idea side chairs with gold and animal print

Vintage Furniture Gets a Fresh Look

This space features antique finds mixed with newer pieces. We chose an antique rug and revitalized vintage furniture with new, custom upholstery fabricated in North Carolina.

photo Lisa Gilmore Design

Mid-century Upcycled Vintage Yellow Dining Chairs

Restyled Dining Room

This dining area features mid-century dining chairs that were restyled and repainted locally for a pop of color. Most of the upholstery in this photo was made to order by a partner in North Carolina and the rug is made of natural textiles.

photo Lisa Gilmore Design 

FAQs: Fast Furniture and Interior Design

1. What is considered fast furniture?

Fast furniture refers to mass-produced, inexpensive pieces you can easily find in big stores. They're quick fixes for your home, but they come with a price.

2. What are the issues with fast furniture?

Well, fast furniture may be cheap, but it's not eco-friendly. It ends up in landfills, and it's not built to last. Plus, it's kinda like having the same outfit as everyone else at the party—no fun!

3. How long does fast furniture last?

Don't count on it for the long haul. Fast furniture tends to wear out quickly. It's like buying a car and expecting it to last forever. It won't.

The Lisa Gilmore Design Difference

The spaces Lisa Gilmore Design creates include locally sourced and custom elements. While some fast furniture pieces are beautiful, they are still cheap reproductions in comparison to the one-of-a-kind pieces we include in our clients' homes.

We've all come across a "man-cave" at one point or another. This is our take on a sports-enthusiasts den that replaces kitschy with effortlessly cool 🖤 For this boys' bedroom, we wanted to elevate the way sports memorabilia is traditiona
The homeowners for this project sent us three paintings from their art collection for inspiration and gave us complete freedom to design their space. That gave us some insight into their personalities, and we took it as a green light to push the boun
Picture this: a retired couple dreaming of a beach escape, but the condo they bought didn’t match their coastal dreams. They craved an elevated space with blues that didn’t scream "seashells". Enter... team #LGD ✨ When it came
Would you believe me if I told you that this dining room used to be wrapped in nothing but greige sadness?! 😱 Our clients for this project had purchased a home that didn't exactly fit their style. Think wall-to-wall carpet, dark wood paneling, pop
One of my favorite unique touches about this office are it's striking walls and ceiling, which were brought to life *not* with wallpaper, but by a local artisan who specializes in mineral plasters and bespoke finishes ❤️ 📸 :: @penlightmedia

To get more tips, see our projects, and find ideas for adding liveable glamour to your home, follow me on Instagram or sign up for our newsletter.

Lisa Gilmore Design is a full-service interior design firm based in St. Petersburg, Florida that provides luxury design services to busy professionals. We create hand-curated, exclusive spaces through the use of artisan-crafted pieces, antique elements, and custom designs. Lisa Gilmore Design serves homeowners in Clearwater, Tampa Bay, Hyde Park, South Tampa and worldwide.