Design Story – Room 6

El Fenn is known for its drama and scale. This suite has all that – and more. In fact, it was an entire standalone apartment before it became one of the six rooms we opened with in 2004. 

Our original partners Howell James and Vanessa Branson actually wanted a holiday home in Marrakech when they started looking at houses. At the end of a long day, the close friends walked into what was then a near derelict riad. By the time they left an hour later, they were on the way to owning not just one Marrakech home – but several. Because unknown to them, the ‘house’ they’d seen was also being sold with a string of smaller properties – some with only one or two rooms. This room – which runs off the entrance corridor – was one of them. 

We decided to create a dramatic suite in it, complete with New York style open staircase and a private roof terrace with its own plunge pool. The bedroom and shower room are on the mezzanine level – as well as a huge freestanding bath – and downstairs there’s a beautiful sitting room.

Perfectly secluded, we’ve painted this suite many colours over the years. First white, then deep midnight blue and finally ochre. But in 2020, we decided to clad the walls in burned orange tadelakt and the colour is here to stay. Sometimes spaces need to ‘find’ what works for them. And the deep orange makes the suite cosy in winter, cool in summer. With the open fire, sofa and desk area, it could be the perfect spot for working on your next project when you’re in Marrakech?

What we’ve always loved about this room is its space and drama. You’re not checking into a generic hotel room. This is like your very own home from home.

If you would like to look at more rooms in the extra large category – please follow the link here.