Morocco Meets Texas at a Family Townhouse

This Texas townhouse was bedecked in French country style for decades and needed a fresh look. The design inspiration: that the souks of Morocco and that nation’s love of cobalt blue, elaborate handmade rugs and patterned tiles covering expanses of walls, flooring and fountains.

Interior designer Laura Umansky responded with a new design inspired from your family’s extensive travels around the world and their love of Morocco in particular, including carved cupboard doors and cabinets, handmade Moroccan-style tiles, bold colors, forged metal figurines, textured cloths, rugs and more.

Switch off all portable electronic devices and buckle up; we are taking off for a location where Marrakech matches Houston.

in a Glance
Location: Southampton area (adjacent to Rice University) of Houston
Size: 2,965 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 31/2 bathrooms

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“The heavy cobalt colour was the jumping-off point with the home’s color palette — I totally love this color,” says Umansky, of Laura U. “It’s a color seen frequently in Moroccan homes and is throughout the famed Majorelle Garden at Marrakech.”

Umansky and her staff worked with some architectural components from the original French country decor, such as these beautiful iron doors, which include a rich bronze finish, and the checkerboard travertine flooring.

Laura U, Inc..

“While there were no specific Moroccan interiors we referenced, we did incorporate Moroccan motifs, textiles and materials during,” Umansky says. She bought some special pieces through importers, while her clients supplied some of their own furniture and accessories.

Lamp: Arteriors

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The house’s existing checkerboard travertine flooring tiles have been laid out in 45-degree angles and operate nicely with the Moroccan design.

Laura U, Inc..

This formerly dark study off the foyer is presently a light and colorful area that inspires among the owners, who spends her days writing.

Lights: Four Hands

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Umansky and crew designed built-ins with woodwork that includes exotic curves and laser-cut panel inserts. Perforated hammered-tin lanterns hang.

Panel inserts: Custom Mouldings

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A local artist painted this mural in the nursery, which adds vibrant graphics for the clients’ newborn daughter.

Laura U, Inc..

A variety of fabrics transformed the owners’ existing white slipcovered sofa. “It’s the combination of different textures and patterns which makes this space feel comfy and warm,” Umansky says.

The doorways throughout the house are painted high-gloss cobalt blue. “This was a tiny scary decision, but once we watched them, we were thrilled,” she says.

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“Our customer requested a blue sofa — it was in the very top of her list,” Umansky says. “It made it very simple for us to inject color into the home. She had no dread of vibrant hues whatsoever!”

Laura U, Inc..

The customer found this complicated mirror at an importer’s warehouse at Los Angeles and knew it belonged to the home. Umansky had an armoire fabricated to allow the mirror function as its center doorway.

Dining table: Oly Studio; Moroccan dining area lanterns: Curry and Company, accessible via Laura U

Laura U, Inc..

Umansky utilized quite a few textured tiles at a monochromatic palette to create architectural details about the dining area’s columns. “We were able to enrich the inside without using color anyplace,” she clarifies.

Laura U, Inc..

The vibrant zigzag tile surrounding the fireplace draws the eye to the center of the far end of this space. More custom built-ins surround it but fade into the background, allowing the tiles require the spotlight.

Laura U, Inc..

The kitchen was closed off from the remainder of the living space. Taking away the wall between the living room and the living area was the first design movement. “We utilized a graceful curve to create a bit of separation in the ceiling,” Umansky says.

Dimensions: Walker-Zanger; pub stools: Abacus, Noir Furniture

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Cobalt blue appears again at the master bedroom on the mattress and the doorways.

The blue-green timber flooring that worked with the house’s former French country style translated nicely to the new Moroccan style. “We loved them and thought they brought a bit of rustic ambiance,” Umansky says.

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Both client and designer agreed that window chairs create spaces in which people really like to spend time, and they found areas to nestle them through the home. This one provides a reading nook just outside the master suite.

Laura U, Inc..

The main bath needed a complete remodel, such as taller-than-average dressing for the tall homeowners.

Patterned-tile walls are common sights in Morocco. Umansky picked a lively pattern at a subdued palette to fit the Texas home.

Laura U, Inc..

A chair-rail-high band of teal paint supporting tall upholstered headboards plays with scale and complementary colors in the guest area.

Laura U, Inc..

Bold cloths, curved walls and elaborate lanterns continue onto the loggia. “This home has a fantastic outdoor area that people diagnosed with outside drapery,” Umansky says. “The drapery is made using 100 percent solution-dyed acrylic fabric, which is excellent for outdoor use and a breeze to maintain,” she says. “You can clean it with a bleach-water solution.”

Laura U, Inc..

A bonus room over the garage functions as a small getaway spot and is a complete departure from the rest of the house — with the exception of this bit of cobalt blue. Everything else is black and white. “It’s an unexpected color combo which we had a ton of fun with!” Umansky says.

Refrigerator: Smeg

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