Of all the 2011 shelter trends, this one is near and dear to my heart. There’s something about riads, Marrakech, and Morocco that make me swoon (you can likely blame Casa Blanca). I have long been obsessed with the Kingdom of Morocco. Watching the vivid patterns and geometric shapes of Moroccan culture infiltrate interiors and design is pure bliss.

Here’s an example of a riad (a traditional Moroccan house with an interior garden) in Medina that will have you swooning for Moroccan details, too.

The space is exotic and elegant, combining tradition with minimalism. The delicate details and sensual doorways can come live at my house any day. And don’t even get me started on the bed. I want that bed.

Here are five gorgeous products to bring a hint of Marrakech into your own space.

1. Moroccan Hanging Lamp – Viva Terra, $149
2. Kasbah End Table – Anthropologie, $598
3. Facet Glass – Tine K Home, £8
4. Antique Trays – John Derian, Call for pricing
5. Moroccan Leather Pouffe – Graham & Green, £129

Moroccan influence is only the first part of the global eclectic trend I think will take over interiors. The second component is Bohemian style, complete with gypsy ephemera. The vivid colors and patterns of the Bohemian style have graced the pages of EcoSalon several times before. Get inspired by bold colors in Arild or eclectic details in Stockholm – both previous EcoSalon Home Tours from Sweden.

Don’t forget to read about the rest of our 2011 shelter trends.

(Photographs by Paola Miozza for Marie Claire Italy. This riad was spotted at Desire to Inspire.)

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What happens when one style meets another? Is it catastrophe waiting to happen or is there hope for harmony?

That’s why we created Style Clash. Some design styles are more flexible; others force us to stretch outside our comfort zone. Each week we will offer tips for mixing competing styles successfully.

What do we mean by “successful”, you ask? If nothing seems strange, jarring or just plain ugly, then I’m all for it regardless of time period, colorway or material. I call it a successful Style Clash.

For our seventh and final installment in the Series we will mix Vintage with Ethnic and see where we land.

Over the years we’ve watched Vintage (image above and below) run the gamut of trendy, from fashion to architecture to cars to movies and music. Shopping at second-hand stores quickly went from a sometime and secret event to hot, hip and cool.

In the interior design department, Vintage has a secure spot in design history simply by virtue of its eclectic and versatile nature. Vintage inspires a warm and fuzzy feeling, whether through nostalgia of times past or comfort in the worn and unpretentious.

Furniture and accessories are often hand-made or pre-owned but always solid and of good quality. This style reminds me of my grandfather who always liked to say, “such a shame…things just aren’t made the way they used to be.”

Interiors designed with Vintage in mind are packed with this and that; knick-knacks of all types from flower vases, pottery, tea cups and saucers, to framed mirrors and family photos.

Materials are mixed, styles switched and there are always plenty of comfy cushions, blankets and throws. The Vintage style (image above) isn’t strict so almost anything goes, as long as it’s old and eclectic.

Around the world we go for a look at another interior style called Global or Ethnic (image above and below). Lots of layers, intricate patterns and colorful combinations create the Ethnic space. Bold pieces of furniture and lots of carved wood and metal accessories add to this richly decorated design style.

Inspired by any and all foreign landscapes and cultures, Ethnic design (image above and below) means to all something completely unique and unusual. But the common thread throughout is exotic and natural elements full of deep, rich colors. The kind of color you can bite into, it’s so thick and rich.

Combining these styles may seem impossible to imagine, but that’s why we are here. Style Clash turns this unlikely duo into a design marriage made in heaven.

The bold, colorful textures of the Ethnic in the “clash” interiors (image at very top, image above and below) speak loudly but don’t drown out the nostalgic, flea market bohemian. Notice how the simple and stoic second-hand furniture combines comfortably with the exotic patterns, textures and layers of the rugs, pillows, throws and wall coverings.

There’s a mixture of lighting fixtures – an intricate chandelier and bold pendant – as well as a plethora of detailed accessories, each telling a significant story. The spaces communicate eccentric, rich and worldly while remaining simple and nostalgic. Truly balanced and brave at its finest!

If I had to define this “clash”, I’d call it something like mix and match bohemian with a spoonful of around the world eccentricity.

I’m sorry to report that this is the last of our Style Clash combinations, but please feel free to peruse the entire Series for further inspiration and eye candy.

Images via sköna hem, flickr, design is mine, Lonny, interior divine, NY Times.

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Brace yourself. Your eyes are seconds away from falling on an interior simultaneously wearing composed white walls and a chaotic chromatic rush – radiant pockets of vivid hues embellishing a blank shell. This bold serving of design is the London flat of Liza Giles. Ms. Giles has borrowed brilliant color and feminine details from her profession as a senior designer and stylist for Designers Guild.

Ms. Giles has arranged isolated tufts of seemingly unrelated elements that coalesce for a sense of overwhelming cohesion. Each vignette is a gathering of shiny new objects and flea market charms (which, by the way, has me yearning to locate her blissful flea market resources). Once again, James Merrell‘s photography has flawlessly captured endless design details with his talented lens.

This flat literally sings to me; gushing and admiring comes easily when the space is this perfect. I still remember the first time I set eyes upon this interior. Love at first sight. Every time I devour these images I find a new detail that makes it even more endearing (like the unassuming charcoal lace quietly dangling over the living room window). I would move in immediately, forsaking all personal possessions and arriving with only one suitcase and one husband. I have adored this space on my personal (humble, little) blog more than once. I still love it.

I am smitten with the sense of unintentional variety laced with deliberate eclecticism. The subtle whispers of color (through muted artwork) adjacent to the not-so-subtle shouts of color (reflected through gleaming metallic teal wallpaper) form a palatable, delicious tension. All this contrast is balanced into tranquility by the overwhelming silence of stark white walls, floors, and ceilings.

Still craving more? Gain a little more insight (or at least an additional opinion) with these features on {this is glamorous} and decor8.

(Photography by James Merrell via decor8.)

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Eco-fashion has come a long way. There are more styles and fabrics to choose from than even this fashionista has time to covet. But The Battalion‘s ultra cool and super sexy eco-conscious couture caught me by the bootstraps and hasn’t let go.

Maybe it’s their sophisticated and stylish silhouettes or their use of sustainable and versatile bamboo, organic cotton blends that make The Battalion so irresistible. No matter, their clothes drape and cling in just the right places. They’re form fitted for today’s smart, modern and active woman.

Designers (and sisters) Chrys and Linda Wong are The Battalion. They grew up making clothes out of found fabrics and vintage pieces. When they started designing their own collection, it was meant to be “a modern, edgy, comfort driven line created for the woman who is never satisfied being mainstream, a true bohemian with an eternal quest for personal style”.

And their Spring 2009 line has achieved that and more. It’s made up of jersey and knit dresses and tops with a romantic yet edgy flair (aka bohemian). I love the one-shoulder tomato red dress as well as the Lucia Blouse, available in black or lilac.

From last season, there’s the Eldorado corsett vest, the Mikail Ballerina Dress (below) and these sassy striped Jaclyn legging-pants.

I crave the clothes, but it’s also comforting to know The Battalion is as committed to having sustainable, low carbon footprint business practices as it is to dressing today’s woman in sexy eco fashion. Top priority is placed on recycle and conserve in everything from manufacturing, packaging to shipping.

Get ready to garner all sorts of attention when you wear The Battalion.

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