Houses say a lot about us so it’s no wonder that it’s the first question I get from people when they find out we live abroad. How do you find a place? Do you rent or buy? What do you do about furniture? But what piques their interest most is what it’s like to live in a home that will be temporary. I’ve noticed people have certain ideas about what it must be like to live in a home for a short time or how strange it must be to always be moving around.
So I started this series for a couple reasons. The first is to show people that expat homes don’t always feel transient; that though temporary, they can still feel lived in and intimate. The second is because, straight up, I’m nosy. Don’t pretend you’re not also. I can’t be the only snooper here. I like seeing how other people live and getting inspiration from other people’s design and decor ideas. This series will take a peek into expat homes: their style, their thought process, and their foreign sanctuary. Because a home — albeit a temporary one — is nonetheless, a home, where stuff is collected, photos are hung, and memories are created.
Today we’re looking at Giselle’s modern Moroccan apartment in Casablanca.
If you’re an expat who’d like to share your digs or know of someone who’s place would be a fabulous fit, please connect us or share our post.
Originally from Danbury, Connecticut, Giselle Gruen is an art teacher living in Morocco. She lived in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic before moving to Casablanca, Morocco 6 years ago. Romanticized, thanks to Bogart and Bergman, living in Casablanca can be challenging with noise and pollution but travel opportunities are plentiful.
Here’s a look at Giselle’s Moroccan abode…
L I V I N G R O O M
On traveling: It’s a beautiful country with amazing produce and interesting places to visit on the weekends like Marrakech, Tanger, Essouira, and Ourika Valley. It is also close and affordable to visit Southern Europe especially France and Spain. Actually, Madrid and Paris may be my two favorite things about living in Morocco.
On different rugs used together: My 3 cats were constantly moving the rugs around no matter what I did. I had bought my rugs all over Morocco and decided that putting them all together under the table was the most practical way to make them stay put.
On art pieces: I’m drawn to both figurative and abstract art and open to anything that moves me. The giraffe, for example, I liked and bought at an artisanal market in Altea, Spain. The bananas, on the other hand, were a gift from a teacher who was leaving.
On late mornings: I’m at work during the week but on weekends, I like late mornings in the apartment. The light is great in the apartment and the cats love to take a good sunbath.
What about the Egypt room? I have an Egyptian colleague who shipped a small sofa set all the way from Egypt, but got tired of it after only a couple of years so I bought it from her. It has great storage at the base. I love her style and I often tease her that everything she has will eventually be mine because she is a compulsive redecorator.
E G Y P T R O O M
On bar eating: I have always enjoyed eating at a bar style table rather than a low table; it just feels more sociable, so I designed my own set to be built.
What about the Hand of Fatima collection by your table?: They’re called Khamsa or Hand of Fatima (in Muslim religion) or Hand of Miriam (in Jewish religion) and I’ve collected them from all over: Egypt, Morocco, Israel, Turkey, France, and one from Falafel, a restaurant in the Dominican Republic’s Colonial Zone, that had its own wall of Khamsas.
D I N I N G R O O M
On the process of making a home: Size and location was the main aspect of choosing this apartment; it’s a basic but large space. I went for a modern Moroccan feel and had a lot of fun slowly replacing most of the school provided furniture. I loved both shopping at markets and concept stores. Each medina (old city) in Morocco has its own special character in it’s souks (marketplace or bazaar) so you can find some cool things… but I also adore a good concept store.
B E D R O O M
P.S. Our cozy home in Guadalajara, Mexico and the time our expat home was on House Hunters International
E X P A T R A P I D F I R E Q U E S T I O N S :
Home is … (fill in the blank): My fabulous French Moroccan boyfriend that is always cooking up new recipes. They fill the space with the aroma of French cuisine. And, of course, my 3 adorable cats.
What advice would you give someone settling into this kind of home? I wouldn’t suggest buying a lot of your own things unless you’re planning on staying more than 3 years, in which case, jump in and enjoy!
Setting up a new house: fun or overwhelming? Fun, creative, exciting, motivating.
If you were given the keys to your next home anywhere in the world, where would next be? Buenos Aires
I could not do without…? A maid (Amen, sister 😉)
Drinking the Whole Bottle
I sooooo love peeking in too! Getting a sensor of people and their personalities through how they live. Are you abroad? Would you be interested in a guest post??
Miss Footloose
Love peeking in other expat houses. This one looks very nice and bright and I love the exotic Moroccan flavor. I’ve lived in various foreign countries in all sorts of rented furnished places but having light was always high on my list. I once lived in a house in Moldova with a guest bathroom/WC not connected to a bedroom but containing along with the sink and toilet a bidet and a urinal. This for the comfort of guests who came for dinner or a cup of coffee…