Get The Look: El Fenn Textiles

The El Fenn interiors are known for their colour, maximalism and playfulness. But just how do we create our look? In the first of a new series, we’re breaking down some of our core principles. Starting with textiles. 

The world of El Fenn is in constant motion. And over the years, our interiors have got a bit more polished here, a touch more extra there. But however much we’ve evolved, there are a few key elements to our design. 

The first is a feeling of home. We design to make things feel layered, eclectic and comfortable. El Fenn is a place to relax – not stand on ceremony. And we also strive to consistently sum up our core ethos: luxurious authenticity that channels tradition in a modern way. It’s not about throwing all the key tropes of ‘Moroccan design’ at the wall. But taking its most beautiful elements and reinterpreting them through a new lens.

Designer Madeline Weinrib started visiting El Fenn after it opened in 2004. And in 2017, she became one of our co-owners. 

‘El Fenn resonated with me from the moment I first stepped into it,’ she says. ‘I was in Morocco a lot to buy vintage rugs and falling in love with the artisanal work here. So I felt a really strong connection to the hotel because we were both mixing the traditional Moroccan elements with contemporary looks. It felt like a visual synergy.

‘Then in 2015, the boutique was opened and I was asked to get involved by designing some pieces for the El Fenn range and two years later my husband and I became partners. It felt like a natural progression.  For me, the design of El Fenn is about constant evolution.’

One of the founding principles of our style is our use of textiles. We pattern clash. We layer. We blend everything from colours to textures. And we go big. If Chanel advised taking one thing off when it came to perfecting fashion, we say just add another cushion in terms of textiles.

Why? Because Morocco is home to a rich textile culture and we’ve leaned into that from the start. 

Our look isn’t about chilly minimalism. We believe in abundance, playfulness and colour, colour, colour. And we channel all this in our curtains and upholstery. Think traditionally hand-embroidered textiles layered with modern prints, or free flowing boucherouite rag rugs on graphic checkered tiles. 

The one vital thing is to make sure every element is balanced. A pattern clash of two textiles set against a graphic print is stylish. A random mix of 57 prints not so. Make sure too that you’ve got a core set of three or four cohesive colours so the mix doesn’t get overwhelming. Our roof top terrace is a great example of how prints can be layered but a core colour scheme pulls the whole thing together. 

The one textile design constant at El Fenn is the stripe. From pool towels and ceramics, to umbrellas and sunbeds, we repeat this motif again and again. For us, the stripe is a palette cleanser amid all the colour and texture we use. 

The other thing we love is how easy it is to change up your textiles with the seasons. We swap heavier Boujaad rugs out for lighter Zanafis in spring and summer for instance. Or replace autumnal colours with something more acid for the bright summer months. 

For us, textiles are the place where our creative spirit can let loose. We hope you get inspired.