Maryam Montague by Richard Powers

Maryam Montague

Pictures Richard Powers

Words Dominic Bradbury

Not available in Italy

American born writer, blogger and human rights activist Maryam Montague has settled in an olive grove, not far from Marrakech, along with her architect husband Chris Redecke and their two children. Here the couple have built a new family home from scratch that makes the most of the olive grove setting and views of the Atlas Mountains.

The house is dominated by a large, double height living room arranged around a large fireplace, with a dining room to one side and a library to the other. A separate, two storey wing holds family and guest bedrooms, while Chris also designed a writing studio for Maryam up on the roof with mesmerizing views across the countryside and to the mountains beyond.

Within these spaces, Maryam has created interiors that mix many treasures sourced on her travels across Africa, Tibet, India and Morocco itself. Hand crafted and often totemic pieces such as furniture, stools, ceramics and jewellery blend with self designed pieces made locally and occasional relics from the Montagues’ early days in the States. Contemporary reinterpretations of traditional Moroccan tiles and patterns add another dimension to this vibrant home.

The Montagues have also just opened two guest pavilions in the grounds to paying guests, forming a small boutique hotel arranged around a shared central swimming pool.