Ever since I visited Marrakech, I’ve aspired to have my very own Moroccan rug. These beautiful, handmade rugs are synonymous with the region, created by the indigenous Amazigh people of North Africa. It’s taken a few years, but with the help of Casa Amar, my living room is finally home to a high-quality, high-pile, Moroccan rug. Here’s my review of the sourcing process with Casa Amar – and why I’d highly encourage you to work with them if you’re looking for the same.
Why Choose A Moroccan Rug?
We live in a cottage built in 1850, a tiny, two-up-two-down with stone floors and single-glazed windows. It’s a cold but cosy home. We love living here, and warm blankets and furnishings are a year-round necessity. Inspired by our 2019 trip to Marrakech, we started furnishing our home with North African and West Asian touches, knowing that the centrepiece would be a natural wool rug.
Moroccan rugs are a beautiful addition to any home. Traditional Moroccan rugs are handmade, using natural fibres like sheep’s wool, or recycled fabrics, with no glue or synthetic fibres. Each is unique. Many are dyed using natural dyes, and are woven so intricately they last for decades.
You may have heard of ‘Berber rugs’, however the people of this region prefer to be known as the Amazigh people, and there are actually many different types of Moroccan rugs! You can tell different styles apart by their design, provenance and materials, including:
- Azilal: Rugs with colourful and abstract designs, usually on a on a white or cream base.
- Beni Ourain: Thick, plush white or cream rugs with geometric diamond patterns.
- Beni Mrirt: Dense, heavy rugs with more refined, tighter knots than Beni Ourain.
- Boujaad: Lighter, rustic short-pile rugs hailing from the city of Boujaad.
- Hassira: A lesser-known rug originating in Khmisset, made of doum palm straw.
- Taznakht: Durable rugs made from prized Siroua sheep wool, typically naturally dyed.
Our home is pretty minimalist; we have splashes of colour from books on the bookcase, candles, and mementos from our travels. We knew a rug would be the perfect addition, but we also knew we needed guidance on how to source a true, traditional Moroccan rug, and one that would suit our tastes.
Sourcing A Moroccan Rug with Casa Amar
Enter, Jihane and Matteo from Casa Amar. We originally connected online, where I learned they were based between Morocco and Italy, and that they had a sustainable approach to sourcing their rugs. They like to find and restore traditional and vintage Moroccan rugs, championing provenance and artisanal craft, while working with producers to create custom-made Moroccan rugs. Their website showcases unique finds, as well as capsule collections, wall hangings, and accessories. I was really taken by their approach, and even more so when they said they wanted to work with my partner and I to discover our perfect colour palette.
Taking The Colour Theory Test
No two homes are the same, and what really sets our homes apart are the personalities we bring to them. Casa Amar recognises this, and the team offers a complementary colour theory test ahead of purchasing home furnishings with them.
I really enjoyed the process of discovering the most suited colours for our home. My partner and I took individual, 15-minute tests that relied on instinct and feeling, going from word associations through to colour wheels. Together, our inputs developed both individual colour palettes, and a shared colour palette that would bring peace and union in our home.
I was pleasantly surprised with the results from the tests: my personal palette featured pastels and deep reds, while his were more muted tones. Together, our shared colours were revealed: cornflower blue, mocha brown, pink beige, pastel pink, lime green, and sand. In fact, many colours already present in our home.
From the test, Jihane identified six natural wool rugs from the Casa Amar archive that best matched our shared palette. It took us a little while to decide, but we landed on a gorgeous Azilal rug, and agreed a timeframe for delivery. In a few weeks, our rug arrived…
The Azilal Rug of Our Dreams
Our rug arrived well wrapped, in a surprisingly small parcel. Inside was a small bag of dried rose petal potpourri. It was a nice touch, although I don’t think I could have been more excited to unfurl the rug at this point. Visualising it in our living room just didn’t compare to the real thing!
Once unfurled, it instantly became the centrepiece of the room. The watermelon-pink diamonds linked so well with our framed watermelon print. The soft plushness of the rug added a new layer of warmth and comfort, and made my second-hand sheepskin throw feel more at home too.
Our living room already has a few Moroccan touches. The straw hat we hung on the wall came home with us from Morocco. Our potted dragon tree – native to Morocco – had been rescued when a neighbour moved away. The rug tied them all together.
Since its arrival, our Casa Amar rug has made our living room feel more complete. It’s more cosy, and given the plush nature of the rug, I sometimes prefer to sit or lay on it. As it is made from natural fibres, it is super soft and warm, and smells faintly of wool. Plus, the colours and shapes make the room more fun. To me, they’re a reminder that this rug was handmade, and handpicked, with love!
My Rating: 10/10
We had a really brilliant experience sourcing a handmade Moroccan rug through Casa Amar. Their knowledge of the designs, provenance, and craftsmanship of traditional rugs from Morocco helped guide us to find the perfect Azilal rug for our home. We enjoyed the colour theory test, and being provided with a hand-picked selection of rugs to suit our tastes. The rug itself is beautiful – it is such high quality, made of natural wool fibres, and adds a splash of personality that has brought our living room together.
A special thanks to Jihane and Matteo – they helped to guide us to a unique rug that will be loved for decades to come.
Thinking about a Moroccan rug of your own? Be sure to check out Casa Amar!
