Moorish style of home decoration. Moorish style in the home interior is oriental exoticism. What is the difference between Moorish style and Moroccan style?

It is difficult to confuse the Moorish style in the interior with any other, since in itself it is very original and extremely closed. This destination is definitely not for everyone. Only connoisseurs of Islamic culture can understand it. Room design in in this case looks more like a tent; photo examples are replete with ornaments, columns, and vaults.

In the seventh century, Islamic countries united into a powerful empire. A massive synthesis of cultural traditions led to the formation of a separate bright design. Contemporaries nicknamed it “Saracen style.” The Moorish style, as we know it, gained popularity during the time of Bonaparte and bears a significant Egyptian imprint. Brought by Napoleon to France, it took root in the prevailing Empire style at that time, and from there it spread throughout Europe and, admittedly, was well received.

When using a rare style in the design of your home, you should consider its main character traits to preserve the authenticity of the painting. The photographs are full of different colors, domes and arches.

Moorish design is characterized by the abundant use of floral patterns and carvings in wall decoration. This decor flows smoothly into traditional Islamic carpets, creating a holistic composition. Characteristic Moorish finishing elements are columns lined with ceramic tiles, pointed arches and the ubiquitous arrangement of niches.

Floral patterns are also appropriate when selecting bedspreads, pillows and curtains. When choosing textiles, remember that in the Muslim tradition, depictions of people and animals are strictly prohibited. To better convey the spirit of that time, it is better to focus on geometric patterns and script imitating Arabic writing.

As for the Moorish color scheme for the style, thanks to eclecticism, you can safely experiment with the main color. Influence different nations made the use of both rich colors, such as red and blue, and pastel shades, such as pink and yellow, relevant.

Chests will add credibility to the interior. This beautiful and functional item long years successfully replaced customary cabinets in Muslim homes. Forged elements of chests, repeated in decoration modern furniture, will harmoniously fit into the interior.

Elements of Muslim architecture can be seen in the interior of the kitchen. Vaults and arches will also be relevant here. Ceramic tiles with intricate designs oriental patterns can be laid out both on the floor and on the walls of the kitchen. The ornament can be transferred to the facades kitchen set using a design from a photo.

When further selecting furniture, you should choose an ottoman over a sofa that is more familiar to us. Chairs should be replaced with large pillows and ottomans. Moorish design involves low tables in hexagonal or octagonal shapes. Tables can be covered with hammered copper sheet or decorated with mother-of-pearl to recreate the complete authenticity of the style.

This style is not suitable for every room in your home, as it encourages relaxation and self-immersion. If you still decide to add a Moorish flavor to the interior of your home, then you should focus on decorating the bedrooms and living room. It is only recommended to introduce some elements into the work premises that will delicately continue the overall theme, but will not disturb the working atmosphere.

Characteristic details of the Moorish style in architecture are wall carvings, columns lined with ceramic tiles, complex ornaments in decoration and sharp domes. In addition, the Moorish style can be identified by oriental patterns in the decor, mosaics, friezes and arches.

Moorish architecture is based on Arab architectural traditions dating back to the period of the first Umayyad caliphate in the Levant (ca. 660 BC) with the capital Damascus, where an example of Arab-Islamic design is well preserved: a typical Damascus house with a fountain in the courtyard, which was central element Houses. (“Saracens style”, “Moresque style”) arose in the Arab Caliphate. It reached its peak in the 13th – 14th centuries in Spain and India. However, a distinctly Moorish style appeared in architecture, interior design and furniture only in the second half of the 19th century. This style included elements of Byzantine, Egyptian, Persian and Roman art.

Characteristic elements are horseshoe-shaped (Moorish) and bulbous (ogival) arches, rich ornamentation with geometric and floral motifs (arabesques, moorsques). Islam prohibits the depiction of people and animals, so art created a specific ornamentation - arabesques, of endless variety and complex structure, which arose on the basis of the Arabic font, replete with curlicues. Arabesques are made using mosaics or paintings on plastered walls or vaulted ceilings.

Decorating the walls with panels made of various types of wood, expensive fabrics (brocade, moiré, silk, velvet, organza) or carpets from natural wool.

There are tiled mosaics and bright carpets on the floor.

Furniture played a minor role in the life of Muslims. Wall niches with stacked doors served as cabinets. Often the decoration used chasing, inlay of wood, bone or mother-of-pearl, hand painting, mosaic of small tiles, gilding or enamel, unusual mosaic of thin wooden sticks fixed on wooden plates, decorated with tiles or mother-of-pearl and varnished.

The tables were low and small, richly carved, round, quadrangular, hexagonal and octagonal in shape, and the tops were made of inlaid wood or hammered copper.

The furnishings of the dwellings include chests of drawers, dressing tables, hanging cupboards, screens, shelves and the usual chests with forged metal plates. Kordofan leather, embossed and often gilded, was used to upholster chairs and chests.

Textiles played a leading role in eastern interiors: according to eastern custom, Muslims sat on carpets and pillows, and used ottomans covered with carpets and silk fabrics for sleeping. Fabric draperies served as canopies or bed canopies.

For lighting, a variety of lamps were used, forged from iron, copper alloy, brass or decorated with henna-colored leather, made in the shape of a star, a chased candlestick, reminiscent of lanterns with edges made of colored glass. The chandelier was also forged, suspended from the ceiling using chains.

The interior decoration can be various hookahs, copper, clay, glass and wooden utensils, weapons, incense burners, tea sets, mirrors in exquisite frames. Large vases, vats and jugs are placed on the floor, and hammered metal, carved wood or painted clay dishes look good on the walls.

Luxurious palaces, embroidered clothes, tablecloths, curtains and carpets made and still make a strong impression on people. Centuries later in the 19th century, in the mansions of European bourgeoisie, smoking and coffee rooms were decorated in a neo-Moorish style, which was very fashionable at that time.

It is distinguished by a mixture of Islamic and Western traditions, refined oriental luxury, specific solutions, and a wealth of colors and materials. This style is used in interiors all over the world, but it is based on the traditions of Islam, customs and principles of the way of life of Arab countries.

Peculiarities

MOORISTAN STYLE - this is the name of architecture. a style that developed originally among the Spanish and Sicilian. Arabs in the 7th - 8th centuries;

excellent strong development of details, especially arches of the most varied variety. forms; all facades are ordinary. dotted with ornaments, especially geometric, but sometimes also floral;

in general m.s. represents a peculiar modification of Byzantine architecture - nothing more.

The best monuments of m.s. - a mosque in Cordoba, the Alhambra Palace in Grenada, the Alcazar in Seville.

The name itself is derived from the ancient Roman name of the region in North-West Africa. However, this should not be confused architectural style, which appeared in Europe in the second half of the 19th century, with some types of art from the Moors. Birth Moorish architecture associated with the period of national romanticism, which prevailed in Europe at that time. After Napoleonic wars of conquest, the country was seized by a passion for exoticism. Thus, in this style one can find notes of Egyptian art and Arab-Muslim culture.

Moorish style in landscape design

This style was very eclectic, it incorporated motifs from various cultures that were exotic for Europeans. You can even trace elements of Persian, Indian and even Chinese culture in it.

Characteristic details Moorish style in architecture(Dutch style of architecture) are wall carvings, columns lined with ceramic tiles, complex ornaments in decoration and sharp domes. In addition, the Moorish style can be identified by oriental patterns in the decor, mosaics, friezes and arches.

In mansions and palaces, it was fashionable during this period to decorate coffee and smoking rooms in this style.

However, even today the eclecticism of the Moorish style finds its response in many architectural solutions.

Main features of architectural styles

Colonial

Colonial is everything that was built during the Spanish colonization of the island. Every stone laid from Velázquez's conquest of the island in 1511 until independence in 1898 is considered to be from the colonial era.

Early architecture

The Spaniards needed to protect the new colony from pirates. This left its mark on early 16th-century Cuban architecture, most clearly evident in the fortifications built in Havana and Santiago. The Castillo de la Real Fuerza in Havana is believed to be the oldest stone fortification in the Americas. The fortress has thick, sloping limestone walls, huge five-meter ramparts at the corners, a moat and a drawbridge. However, this was considered insufficient to protect the city and the fortress was turned into the residence of the governor. A new fortification was the Castillo de los Tres Reyes del Morro, built on a rock (Castillo de los Tres Reyes del Morro, 1589-1610), which was considered indestructible until it was captured 150 years later by the British during the Seven Years' War. The best preserved fortress in the Caribbean is the fortress of San Pedro de la Roca (1633-1693) in Santiago. This defensive structure of the Spaniards was built in the 17th century. The main resources were aimed at protecting the young colony. Therefore, only improvised materials were left for private houses. As a rule, the result was the construction of simple wooden buildings, which have long since sunk into oblivion.

Mudejar style

The residence of Diego Velázquez in Santiago (Casa de Diego Velázquez), built between 1516 and 1530. and preserved to this day, an example of the Mudejar style, bearing the imprint of Moorish influence. This style is characterized by plaster ornaments and colored tiles, inlaid wooden ceilings, intricate designs on the windows and spacious courtyards. The Velazquez House is one of the oldest buildings in Cuba. Today it houses the Museum of Cuban History (Museo de Ambiente Histórico Cubano). The earliest aristocratic colonial houses were designed in the style of Spanish churches using Mudejar techniques. "Mudejar" is a Moorish style of architecture, popular in southern Spain in the 12th-16th centuries, which combines elements of Spanish, Christian and Arabic influences. Cuban colonial style

Colonial style of European architecture of the 17th-18th centuries. with its thick walls, shutters, high doors and windows, courtyards, vaulted galleries, window bars (rejas) and shutters for additional light and air (postigo), terraces, upper galleries, double arcades and balconies was adapted to the tropical climate of Cuba and acquired characteristic Cuban features.

This lush decorative style was finally formed in the 18th century. The emphasis was on external finishing, rather than the structure, as evidenced by cornices with fine moldings, spirals, balustrades, molded shells, and fan-shaped stained glass windows (called mediopunto) to protect houses from sunlight. In Old Havana and Trinidad you can find many striking examples of the Baroque style. The Cathedral of Saint Christopher in Havana is considered one of the best examples of the Cuban variety of this style.

Neoclassical style

By the mid-19th century, neoclassicism, emphasizing symmetry and columns, became a graceful counterbalance to the decorative extravagance of the Baroque. As examples neoclassical style These include the Terry Tomás Theater in Cienfuegos, the Sauto Theater in Matanzas and the Palacio de Aldama in Havana.

Eclecticism, art nouveau, art deco, modernism

With the advent of the 20th century, the era of architectural eclecticism began, combining elements of neo-Gothic, Baroque and Moorish styles. The result was such notable buildings as the former presidential palace (now the Museum of the Revolution) in Havana or the Palacio de Valle in Cienfuegos.

Cuban Art Nouveau (originally known as Art Nouveau), which took on a Spanish-Catalan influence, bears the imprint of the famous architect Antonio Gaudí. Enrique Capablanca of the Cuban National Center for Conservation, Restoration and Museology defines Cuban Art Nouveau as the use of sculptural representations of animal and human forms, as well as plant motifs, to depict the island's unique mythology. Velasco Palace (1912, Havana) is shining example Cuban art nouveau style.

By the 20s of the 20th century, the influence of the Art Deco style with its characteristic elegance, eclecticism and relevance was already felt in Cuba. In modern Havana there are several excellent examples of architectural buildings in this style. In particular, the award-winning Bacardi Building (1930) is an excellent example of symbolic imagery, repeating patterns and ziggurat forms.

The clear vertical and horizontal lines and simplified form of modernism found expression in Cuba in the 50s. These are represented in buildings such as the Hotel Havana Libre (1958) and the Fosca building (with Corbusier-style elements), which still offers wonderful views of the city.

What does the Moorish style suggest?

Mauritania, as the northern region in Africa was called, gave direction to a new style in architecture and design that arose in last years XIX century. At the same time, you don’t need to think that the style was created by the inhabitants of Mauritania. It was invented by Europeans, who were influenced by the culture of those peoples.

Most likely, the Moorish style belongs to the neo-style, in which much is collected from other cultures, in particular Syria, Egypt, and India. The Moorish style has many subtle oriental patterns that do not depict living creatures, which indicates the oriental origin of many elements in the Moorish style.0112

The Moorish style significantly influenced the architecture of the second half of the 19th century. It is still used for landscaping and the production of original furniture today.

There was a place for wall carvings, cladding of columns with ceramic tiles, as well as the use of complex ornaments. The fact that the Moorish style was heterogeneous can be seen in many of its elements: mosaics, arches, friezes of architectural works, etc. Although the Moorish style peaked in fashion in the second half of the last century, today it is still in demand by both modern designers and architects. The most striking example of the use of the Moorish style today is in the famous Moorish gardens: their image and elements are still used in the creation of design projects and in the design of landscapes.

For example, the main difference between the Moorish style and others when creating is in the brightness of the colors, the richness of the greenery and the splendor of the colors. In other words, the dreams of nomads who crossed the desert for long days and dreamed of abundance of moisture, green gardens and other earthly blessings were embodied and became reality.

Elements of the Moorish style, with its sophistication, sophistication and originality, have become widely used today by modern designers and architects.

This style acquired particular polarity in many areas of southern Spain, and in other areas adjacent to it. Architectural structures and landscapes made in the Moorish style strengthen the belief that Eastern culture had a significant influence on European culture.

One should not think that only countries in Western Europe came under the influence of this style. For example, in Moscow, on Vozdvizhenka, the Morozov mansion was built, which fully fits the definition of a clear evidence of the Moorish style of that time.

The large house erected by Prince Muruzi in St. Petersburg and used as a revenue house during the owner's lifetime also serves as an example of Mauritanian style architecture. How can one not recall the interior design in the royal palaces in Livadia or Alupka on the southern coast of Crimea? And they were also undoubtedly influenced by the Moorish style.

The Moorish style in architecture, as a rule, is accompanied by columns, arcades, pointed arches, and vault shapes made in the form of stalactites. Design projects for apartments made in this style most often include turned elements, lattices with complex configurations, as well as all sorts of intricate patterns.

And these days there is increasingly a place for interior designs that incorporate elements of the Moorish style, as well as landscaped gardens in the same spirit.

I would like to believe that the Moorish style will always remain in demand, since it has the ability not only to excite the imagination, but also to delight the eye. In the Moorish style there was room for the dreams of an entire army, both travelers and sages, romantics, and conquerors. With its help you will be able to embody the true style of the South.

Dutch style in architecture, Moorish architecture, Moorish style in landscape design

Moorish interior is called modern designer style, based on the decorative traditions of Muslims who lived in the Middle Ages in Spain, Portugal and North Africa. Very often it is combined with the Moroccan style, so that over time these two decors have practically merged into one.

Spicy colors of an earthy palette combined with bright hues, repeating patterns, decorative elements wrought iron, pointed arches and luxurious fabrics with intricate prints create a luxurious, exotic, welcoming interior in Moorish style.
Content

    Color palette

    Walls and floor

  • Accessories

Colors are one of the most important aspects decoration style. For a Moorish interior, use rich colors precious stones , such as emerald, sapphire, ruby, amethyst and topaz, earth tones such as russet, brown and dark red, and spice colors, including paprika and saffron.

The pure blue of the Mediterranean also often found in Moorish and Moroccan decor. Combine all of these colors to create a striking visual effect, or choose just one of them. Jewel tones give the interior a luxurious, decadent ambiance. Earthy and spice tones provide an understated, natural decor. The combination of blue and white looks fresh and invigorating, reminiscent of the Mediterranean coast.

Walls and floor

The walls should be decorated with a rough textured finish, which can be easily achieved using textured paint or plaster, as well as techniques decorative painting, for example, sponging or crackle.

A room with fabric-covered walls instead of wallpaper will look luxurious. And if you drape the walls with transparent fabrics softly falling from the ceiling, you will get the exotic atmosphere of a Bedouin tent.

Often in Moorish houses the floors and walls were finished with ceramic tiles with a traditional “zellige” pattern. Floor tiles are either painted and glazed or with a natural finish. Terracotta floor tiles fits well into Moorish design if the direction of discreet elegance is chosen.

Furniture

Wardrobes and massive chests of drawers should be decorated with elaborate carvings and decorative details or hand-painted and lacquered finishes. All furniture is low, and the seating area often consists of large floor cushions.

Bring decorative wrought iron into your Moorish-inspired home in the form of a small accent table. Table tops are often inlaid with mosaics.

Fabrics

Whatever room you decorate, there is always a place for luxurious fabrics. Floor-to-ceiling Persian rugs, tasseled and fringed pillows and throws, intricate window treatments, and bedding in luxurious fabrics such as silk combine to create a textured and colorful Moorish-style interior.

Accessories

Complete the Moorish style by adding matching accessories: a Moroccan lamp, tea light holders, mosaic candle holders and a chandelier with a wrought iron base.

Ceramic and clay products such as decanters, jugs, pots and incense bottles should be made in the Moroccan style. Pair them with copper and silverware and decorative pieces. To further emphasize the authentic oriental atmosphere, place a hookah and hang a mirror or picture frames in the shape of an eight-pointed star on the wall.

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Moorish style in interior design can be very multifaceted and interesting, but always extremely proportional. The chaotic nature of the similar Moroccan style in this option no design. And the colorfulness in the Moorish interior arises from Arabic decor and ornaments on authentic textiles, while the design is based on European ones: symmetry, furniture and principles of organizing living space.

The Moorish style is primarily historically interesting. It shows what is born at the intersection of two cultures - Arab and European - and how it is possible to harmoniously combine all traditions, while creating something new, representing an improved version of both ways of life.

Moorish style in interior design is ideal for decorating a country house, country house, cottage, large apartment of 80-100 square meters of area. He really needs space - large areas, high ceilings, large windows, corridors and halls to feel comfortable and look authentic.

In addition, the Moorish style cannot be implemented in a house where there are no arched vaults or their imitations, special glazing, decorative windows and columns for terraces and balconies.

History of the Moorish style in interior design

Contrary to popular belief that the Moorish style is a product of the culture of the peoples of Mauritania, in fact it is one of the European colonial styles. That is, it was created by the Europeans (the French and the British) with their colonies in North Africa, using local decor, dishes and textiles, bringing furniture from Europe or ordering it from local craftsmen.

At the same time, the Moorish style is implemented on the basis - with a courtyard and a fountain or a small pool, with arched vaults and windows, walk-through living rooms (and there are usually several of them), large fireplaces and sometimes just huge kitchens. Small apartments in apartment buildings And apartment buildings for Europeans, they were also decorated in this chic style and had common living rooms, dining rooms (usually several) and a kitchen.

Now the Moorish style is popular not only in North Africa and France itself (in the south), but also in the USA, Australia, Canada, Great Britain - where modern people with a love for French aesthetics, they want to have a more colorful ethnic interior.

The history of the Moorish style did not end after the colonies gained independence and Europeans left North Africa. Atmospheric interior design in this style is now popular in hotels in Morocco, Egypt and Algeria, in country villas (which are often also rented out to tourists), in mansions and cottages, and apartments in old houses.

What is the difference between Moorish style and Moroccan style?

Moroccan style is a highly specialized style only for Morocco and the southern coast of Spain and often uses ocher palettes as well as blue and white and silver. Spanish, French and Moroccan culture mixes here.

The Moroccan style can also be called Moorish, but if, for example, motifs are used in such an interior, then it definitely goes beyond the Moroccan style and becomes broader, Moorish - multi-national.

Many are mistaken in believing that these styles (Moroccan and Moorish) are national and widespread in their homeland. In fact, only Europeans who came here with a lot of money could afford such luxury and at the same time the basis of European furniture. In general, the Moorish style is more similar to the European (even!) than the Moroccan one. This can be seen in the soft groups in the living room and other European-style furniture.

Another similar style is bohemian, it differs from Moroccan and Moorish in that, in addition to Arabic and European, it also contains Black Sea, Romanian and Bulgarian features and is an even more mixed style due to the fact that it comes from the gypsy lifestyle and interior design.

Thus, the Moorish style is essentially European, if not French, but with ethnic details, finishing materials, lamps and authentic textiles. That is why this style is more preferable for sale in Russia than Moroccan or, where you will need not only ethnic decor, but also furniture, which is very expensive (original) and is simply not sold en masse in Moscow.

Moorish style decor

The decoration often uses wooden carved boxes with paintings, interesting lamps, usually made of iron, textiles with Arabic and Moorish ornaments, gilding for dishes, figurines, and decorative items. Very often, the basis of the composition on a coffee table and dining group are trays - gilded, silver or carved from wood.

Carved ones are popular here desks And coffee tables, intricate and incredibly luxurious authentic lamps and European crystal chandeliers. Mirrors with carved frames, often gilded or silver plated, small ottomans with carved wooden legs and chaise longues are very popular.

Features of the design of a house and apartment in the Moorish style

Alas, an authentic interior in the Moorish style cannot be created without galleries, arched passages, niches with unique arched vaults complex design(silhouettes of mosques and other large public buildings in Moorish style).

Arabic mosaics and North African designs are used more sparingly in the Moorish style than in the Moroccan style. Usually more restrained palettes are popular here, and much attention is paid to floor design. Moorish style flooring, unlike Moroccan style, always looks luxurious and not rustic.

The Moorish style in the interior appeared in Europe at the end of the 19th century. Then the aristocrats, under the influence of the eclecticism popular at that time, began to furnish smoking and coffee rooms in the Moorish style. Colorful and picturesque, the Moorish design style quickly became popular. The Europeans changed the ethnically Moorish style somewhat, but the basic elements remained intact. This style was influenced by several cultures. The Moorish style reflected the cultures of Egypt, Syria, India, and Persia.


This style takes inspiration from the Islamic East, from the shapes and colors of the desert. He uses bold colors - fuchsia, royal blue, purple, red combined with sand, taupe, beige and white. Texture is important in Moorish design. Rough plastered walls contrast with silk tapestries, ceramic tiles and openwork wooden chests. Doorways and windows have a traditional Islamic design shape - a keyhole. Ceramic and mosaic tiles used as an accent for door and window openings, as a decoration for table tops and mirrors.

Fabrics in rich textures and colors are used to divide rooms and decorate furniture. Many carpets made of silk and wool, various sizes and colors.

The furniture is a combination of finely carved wood pieces, soft fabrics and forged elements. Popular accents include oriental framed mirrors and brass lamps hanging from the ceiling.

How to create an Arabic style in the interior?

Interior in Arabic style It is distinguished by its unusualness, memorable details, specific solutions, richness of color and luxury of materials. Despite the fact that the Arabic style is used in interiors all over the world, it is still based on the traditions of Islam, customs, and principles of the way of life and way of life of Arab countries. Often the Arabic style is also called Moorish, Berber or Moroccan (Marrakech). The main feature of the interior in the Arabic style is the specific ligature of Arabic ornaments (arabesques), which are a set of strict geometric shapes, decorated with plant motifs. Arabesques are made using mosaics or paintings on plastered walls or vaulted ceilings. The walls are finished with panels made of various types of wood, expensive fabrics (brocade, moiré, silk, velvet, organza) or carpets made of natural wool. The floor is covered with tiled mosaics and covered with bright carpets. Doors can have elements of forged grilles, while doorways are best made in the form of pointed arches, decorated with trim with carvings or ornaments.

Fabric draperies are used in large quantities in the interior. It can be used both in decorating windows and walls or beds as canopies or canopies. Sofas, armchairs and ottamans can be covered with colorful bedspreads made of wool or silk brocade with embroidery. The amount of furniture in an Arabic interior is strictly limited. The main piece of furniture is a low and wide sofa, upholstered in silk or satin fabric. The sofa can be replaced by an ottoman, which is a low ottoman covered with a carpet. The cabinets are also quite low, often they are absent altogether and are replaced with niches in the wall, which are covered with inlaid doors.

In the interior, chests of drawers, dressing tables, chests, hanging buffets, and low tables can be used as furniture. The furniture should be made of hardwood and decorated with exquisite carvings and various elements and inlays made of wood, bone or mother-of-pearl. In Arabic traditions, decorate furniture with hammered brass inserts, hand painting, mosaics made of small tiles, gilding or enamel.

The unusual mosaic made from thin wooden sticks looks very original. Some kind of pattern is laid out from them, fixed on wooden plates, decorated with tiles or mother-of-pearl, and then opened with varnish. As lighting fixtures You can use a variety of lamps, for example, forged from iron, copper alloy, brass or decorated with henna-colored leather. The lamp can be made in the shape of a star, a chased candlestick, or resemble lanterns with edges made of colored glass. The chandelier must also be forged; it can be hung from the ceiling using chains.

Items that will decorate the interior in the Arabic style and give it completeness can be various hookahs, weapons, incense burners, mirrors in exquisite frames, copper, clay, glass and wooden dishes. It is better to place large dishes such as large vases, vats and jugs on the floor, and small ones - to place them in niches, cupboards and on open shelves. Carved wood, hammered metal or painted clay dishes will look good on the walls. Arabian interior always looks luxurious and attractive, while creating a warm and cozy atmosphere in the house. Apartment or house with Arabic interior will never get boring and will delight the owners and their guests for a long time.

Appeared in Europe at the end of the 19th century. Then the aristocrats, under the influence of the eclecticism popular at that time, began to furnish smoking and coffee rooms. Colorful and picturesque, the Moorish design style quickly became popular. The Europeans changed the ethnically Moorish style somewhat, but the basic elements remained intact. This style was influenced by several cultures. The Moorish style reflected the cultures of Egypt, Syria, India, and Persia.

The architecture in the Moorish style of interior design is exquisite and distinctive. Columns entirely decorated with ceramic mosaics, carvings on the walls, unique ornaments, and sharp domes of the towers are associated by many with the Moorish style in the interior. The interior decoration of lush Moorish palaces resembles a tent: thin walls, needle-shaped columns, sharp ribs. The walls are either decorated with carvings or painted with complex patterns, with floral and geometric motifs reminiscent of Arabic script. The structure of arabesques is very complex; the finest patterns, intertwining with each other, create a unique pattern, which is quite difficult to repeat. The main details of the interior in the Moorish style are the characteristic Muslim ornament, luxurious handmade Persian carpets covering the floor, stalactite vaults, rounded arches, and an abundance of carvings and embroidery. Furniture in a Moorish home plays a secondary role. They usually sit directly on carpets or silk pillows; for sleeping they use low sofas - ottomans, covered with carpets and silks. The tables are also low, richly decorated with carvings. The tabletop was made of wood, and sometimes covered with metal chasing. Instead of cabinets, wall niches are used, closed with light lattice doors made of wooden slats. Interior design in the Moorish style can be complemented with heavy chests, light screens and whatnots. Such a house will be extremely cozy and warm. The Moorish interior style pleases the eye, gives peace, helps to relax and excites the imagination. Now designers often use this style to design both separate rooms, and entire mansions similar to the palaces of Arab princes. The elegance and sophistication of all the elements that make up the Moorish design style allows you to create an interior in which you will never be bored. This is a sweet dream, the dreams of travelers and romantics. The refined atmosphere of the East will give you an unforgettable experience. The Moorish style is a retrospective trend in the eclectic architecture of the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, which consisted of rethinking and imitating the architectural techniques of Spanish, Portuguese, Moorish and Islamic medieval architecture, especially Mudejar. It is generally accepted that the Moorish style arose in Europe towards the end of the 19th century. Mauritania was the name given to the northern region of Africa, after which this direction is named. But one should not assume that the Moorish style is the art style of the inhabitants of Mauritania itself or the peoples who inhabited it. The architectural movement, which includes the medieval monuments of the Maghreb and Islamic Spain, is heterogeneous. It is based on a synthesis of the artistic traditions of the Visigoths, Berbers and other peoples that were part of the Arab Caliphate. Religious and secular buildings of the Moorish style are characterized by an abundance of pointed, horseshoe-shaped and scalloped arches, domes, friezes, cornices and wall carvings. The columns were covered with tiles and ceramic tiles. Mosaics, colored stained glass and decorations made of colored marble were used, as a rule, ornaments were used. The Moorish style is an invention of Europeans, created under the influence of the culture of North Africa and adopted a lot from the Arabs, Moors and other peoples who lived and wandered in these parts at that time. The Moorish style can rightly be classified as a neo-style. It has collected a lot from different cultures. In the Moorish style you can see a lot from the cultures of India, Syria and even Egypt. Features of the style are columns, arcades, pointed arches, vault shapes in the form of stalactites, wall carvings, facing of columns with ceramic tiles and the use of complex ornaments along with pointed domes. The decorative finish of the Moorish style is full of chiseled elements, lattices of complex configurations and intricate patterns. The presence of oriental ornament in an architectural creation can only strengthen the assertion that it belongs to the Moorish style. The peak of fashion for the Moorish style occurred in the second half of the millennium before last, but even today the Moorish style is in demand by architects and designers.

Moorish style in the interior and its features.

The interiors of lush Arab-Moorish buildings thanks to thin walls, needle columns and sharp ribs look like a giant tent. Islam, which arose in the 7th century, united the underdeveloped Arab tribes and turned them into one of the most powerful nations. At the same time, Muslim culture was greatly influenced by the culture of the conquered peoples and created its own original style, which Christians called “Saracen style.” Image:

Thanks to its thin walls, needle-shaped columns and sharp ribs, it looks like a giant tent). The walls were covered with ornaments, clear patterns using geometric and floral motifs. This decor was born from the famous Arabic script (ligature). As a result, they took on the appearance of luxurious Persian carpets. Wall carvings, facing of columns with ceramic tiles and the use of complex ornaments can be considered characteristic features of the Moorish style. The Moorish style in the interior is a unique, unfamiliar, and at the same time, a closed world of forms. The art of the Middle Ages took him even further away from the classical heritage, enriching the Middle Ages, which already did not suffer from poverty of imagination. various unknown fantastic decorative elements.

The artistic weaving and carpet products of Iran deserve special attention. They became an expression of the most decorative specificity of medieval art of Iran. Carpets have always been of rare beauty of color, with complex patterns. Central Asia was also famous for its fabrics and carpets; Turkmen carpets were especially good. Back in the 13th century. Marco Polo rated them as the most delicate and beautiful in the world. The sophistication, sophistication and uniqueness of the elements of the Moorish style are well known today. Some design studios try to recreate the atmosphere and harmony of the Moorish style, but only some succeed in conveying the atmosphere and grace of the Moorish style.

The Moorish style will always be in demand, as it is capable of delighting and exciting the imagination. Moorish style is the dreams of travelers, romantics, sages and conquerors.

Exotic interior.

Symbolism in the interior

Today, the so-called ethnic art is becoming more and more relevant. Pieces of furniture and various household accessories made in small workshops in exotic countries (and most often imitation of such things) are slowly but surely becoming familiar design attributes of the interior composition of a modern living space.

Uncomplicated objects made from raw materials, similar to those that can be found only in remote villages of Africa and the East, bring into the European interior a feeling of simplicity and clarity that is so scarce in our time, as if connecting apartment residents with an invisible thread with nature.

Characteristic elements of the ornament of ethnic objects - dot, stroke, pattern chessboard, wavy lines, circles and other symbolic signs (for example, a zigzag - a snake, a cross - a bird). Often, the birth of a particular ornament is determined not by a specific design, but by the property of the material or processing technique, which reveals the structure of the object. Thus, structural ornaments are, for example, fingerprints on clay vessels or weaves in the form of lace or rope. The basis of each ornament is rhythm, repetition of identical elements. It should be noted that ethnic style design and its folklore direction are not the same thing. For example, the spontaneous dance of Africans, who dance nature itself, differs from the refined mechanical Irish tap dancing. The peculiarity of ethnic interior design is the simplicity and naivety of the use of its elements, each of which contains a piece of the soul. Objects of folk art are quite picturesque, but lack deep meaning. Safari element

The African theme can be presented in the interior in different ways. If you don’t have sofas made of mustang or crocodile leather, then, say, bedspreads with a leopard or zebra pattern will do just fine. You can sew a fur trim to the blanket, and casually throw pillows on the bed that look like the skins of wild animals. A table with a glass top and a stand in the shape of a predator, made of mahogany, would be perfect for such an interior. The final highlight will be the animal skins placed on the floor, as well as chairs, tables, and lamps painted to resemble a tiger, zebra or leopard. The mirror will look good in a bamboo frame.

The “African” interior is best decorated in the colors of the autumn palette. These are earthy, light-emitting shades and a warm underlying tone. The effect of an abundance of yellow on the walls, creating a mystical feeling of a sandy plain, is created quite simply. Such patterns appear when applying paint to coarse-fiber wallpaper with a roller, the working surface of which is made of leather. You can paint the walls with a sponge using the blurred paint technique - then you get smoother transitions from one tone to another. Pointed touches of the sponge create a bright contrasting pattern.

Decorations may include plum purple, flaming orange and maize yellow. The contrast with the autumn shades of the walls will be the color of light camel hair, in which it is recommended to paint the floor and doors. Fresh notes in the coloring of indoor plants; dark woods; paintings on the walls in warm, muted olive green colors; carved figurines, linen and cotton fabrics with ethnic patterns - here you are in Africa. And don’t forget about the cork, this wonderful “gift” of the hot continent. This one is fashionable today finishing material It has a natural texture and is environmentally friendly. Cork can be used to decorate a variety of rooms in an apartment - kitchen, hallway, bedroom, even bathroom. It is used to decorate the walls and doors of cabinets, window sills, headboards, and frames of wall panels.

East is a delicate matter

Inexhaustible opportunities for improvisation are provided by decorating an apartment in the style of the Arabian Nights fairy tales. Bright, rich colors, a large number of silk and velvet fabrics - such decor awakens sensuality and creates a feeling of exquisite luxury.

In the East bright combination colors symbolize not only material well-being, but also those values ​​that were considered immutable. Thus, yellow color usually personified peace and comfort, orange - cheerfulness and cheerful disposition, red - love and sensuality.

A mixture of Byzantine, Egyptian, Persian and Roman elements underlay the emergence of a distinctive style, which Europeans called the Saracen style. The Muslim faith prohibits the depiction of living creatures. Therefore, the art of Islam created ornaments full of unbridled imagination, with precise, clear designs using geometric and floral motifs, arabesques of endless variety and complex design. Such ornaments arose on the basis of the Arabic script, replete with curlicues.

Another direction of oriental design is the so-called Moorish style. This is purely decorative art. The Moorish style reached its peak in the 12th-14th centuries at the two ends of the vast Islamic empire - India and Spain. Today individual elements This design finds a place in modern European interiors. Walls covered with ornaments, similar to luxurious Persian carpets, horseshoe arches, stalactite vaults, embroidered tablecloths and curtains create the feeling of a giant tent. Furniture in such an interior plays a secondary role. According to Eastern custom, Muslims sit on carpets and pillows, and instead of sleeping standard beds use ottomans covered with carpets and silk fabrics. Instead of cabinets there are wall niches with doors. The tables are low and small, decorated with carvings, round, four-, six- and octagonal in shape. Tabletops are often made of wood with inlay or embossed copper. IN oriental type In interiors, chests, screens, banquettes, and whatnots are widely used. Compositions with candles will become an additional decoration of the apartment, the space of which is designed in an oriental style.

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