Four days staying in the world renowned El Fenn in Marrakech in the company of myself and Kate Watson-Smyth – plus access to our pick of the best eating and shopping addresses in town. Need we say more…?

 

Whether you’re maximalist or a minimalist, this interior design retreat is all about learning how to mix colour and pattern, eclectic design styles and global references in a new and authentic way, all inspired by this most incredible artistic and creative city.

My area of expertise is  colour and pattern, while Kate will focus on furniture and design for a trip that will be bursting with inspiring information. As well as using El Fenn as a source of inspiration, we will be on hand throughout to help deconstruct the designs at all the places you visit and understand how to incorporate your newfound inspiration into your own home.

We’ll also offer an insight into how to source furniture and furnishings – from our encyclopaedic knowledge of UK suppliers to our little black book of the best places to source authentic Moroccan pieces.

Each day, there’ll be a group workshop as well as time for a one on one chat over cocktails every evening. There’ll also be excursions plus downtime for you to explore Marrakech further or simply make the most of El Fenn before meeting up again for dinner.

Our aim is for you to leave Marrakech energised, focused and inspired to create your own unique interiors mix. There’ll also be a lot of laughing along the way!

Here’s an idea of what to expect:

SUNDAY 2^nd FEB
Arrive at El Fenn and settle into your room from 3pm. Then sip a mint tea, have a massage or just relax on the roof terrace until we meet each other over a cocktail before dinner in El Fenn’s stunning winter restaurant. (NB: it’s part restaurant, part shop, so the retail opportunities start early!)

MONDAY 3^rd FEB
Soak up the sunshine and a view of the Atlas Mountains over breakfast on El Fenn’s beautiful roof terrace before we sit down for our first workshop. Over the course of the retreat, Sophie and Kate will look at how to discover your unique style, integrate global elements into your own home, blend different furniture styles, textiles and accessories together, build your colour palette and mix vintage and modern furniture.

We’ll then head to +61 for lunch – a restaurant co-owned and designed by Cassandra Karinsky, whose elegant use of traditional Moroccan materials and techniques in a minimalist space has attracted her restaurant a lot of attention.

In the afternoon, we’ll introduce you to two of our best interiors addresses: an Aladdin’s cave of everything from ceramics to furniture and one of the best carpet dealers in town – who’ll talk you through the different styles of Moroccan rugs and how to distinguish quality.

You’ll then have a couple of hours of leisure to either explore the medina, visit our spa or simply relax before sitting down for cocktails with us. This is the time when Sophie and Kate can chat with you individually before we leave for dinner in Jasper Conran’s beautiful boutique hotel – think Morocco meet English country.

TUESDAY 4^th FEB
After breakfast, we’ll do a tour of El Fenn with our managing director and interiors maestro Willem Smit. Completely self-taught, his private homes have been featured in Harper’s Bazaar and The Times, while his refurbishment of El Fenn has earned it coverage everywhere from Vogue to Architectural Design. He’ll talk you through his golden rules of how to blend – while still maintaining a harmonious style.

We’ll then we do our second workshop before going for lunch in the countryside at the beautiful Berber Lodge whose ‘beldi’ – or country – style has earned it a place on Conde Nast Traveller’s Hot List. On the way back, we’ll stop at the Beldi Country Club and tour their shopping ‘village’ where glassware, carpets and linens, pottery, soft furnishings and kitchen accessories are sold.

Then it’s back to El Fenn for a couple of hours of downtime. Have a traditional hammam or ask us to organise you a visit to the city’s famous Majorelle Gardens – or a guide for more shopping in the medina!

Meet us for cocktails and a chat through your design questions before another delicious dinner.

WEDNESDAY 5^th FEB
All good things must come to an end so after breakfast and check out, you’ll sit down together for our final workshop. Over the past few days, Sophie and Kate will have guided you on how you can create your own unique interiors blend. But what conclusions will you have come to? It’s time to take stock and map out your own golden rules for the future of your home.

YOUR HOSTS

KATE WATSON-SMYTH
She’s one half of The Great Indoors podcast team and a former journalist turned award-winning blogger, interiors author and social media influencer who loves a home with something old, something new, something black, something gold – but always in moderation. If Chanel advised us to ‘take one thing off’ before we leave the house to avoid ruining a look by going over the top, Kate thinks this mantra can equally be applied inside the home.

SOPHIE ROBINSON
I on the other hand would take Chanel’s advice and chuck it. In fact, I’d add another colour or pattern into the mix because in my opinion you can never have too much of a good thing!

 

YOU’LL LIKE THIS RETREAT IF:

• You want to learn from two of the UK’s leading interiors experts on how to master the art of blending textures, colours, designs and styles.
• You’re looking for inspiration in a hotel and city that provide it in bucket loads.
• You’re an adventurous traveller who’s equally comfortable in a street buzzing with scooters and donkey carts as you are in a boutique hotel.
• You want to meet like-minded travellers and connect with them to share ideas and inspirations.
• You like structured time with a group but also a couple of hours each day to do your own thing – and are prepared to venture out into a bustling, hectic medina.
• You’re fit enough to climb lots of stairs and like walking – El Fenn is a large building set over three levels and there are no cars in the medina so we’ll be on foot some of the time.
• You like a bit of dust and grime with your glitz and glamour. Just like this retreat, Marrakech is all about the mix.
• You like relaxed hotels without butlers on standby or televisions in the bedrooms.
• You have passion for interior design – regardless of your experience. Beginners  will get the chance to have their questions answered and nail their style direction, while there’ll be fresh inspiration and insights for practicing designers.

WHAT’S INCLUDED
Three nights accommodation at El Fenn plus all your meals at the hotel, with a cocktail before and a couple of glasses of wine with dinner at each night, lunch at +61 and Berber Lodge, plus dinner at l’Hotel, morning coffee and afternoon tea, transfers from Marrakech airport, excursions and excursion transport.

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
Your flights to Marrakech, any trips, taxis or guides you might want to book during your individual downtime each day, spa treatments, any extra cocktails or drinks in addition to what is provided at dinner or extra drinks or snacks outside of meal times.

PRICING
There are four different room categories available to book for this retreat. The number of rooms in each category is limited so book early to avoid disappointment. El Fenn’s annex is a two-minute walk down the street from the main building.

All pricing below is for single occupancy.

We have a limited number of twin bedded rooms. If you’d like to share your room there is a £1500 supplement in addition to the single occupancy prices below.

Annex small rooms	£1895
Annex medium room + main building medium rooms	£2150
Large main building rooms	£2375
Extra large main building rooms	£2625

 

TERMS & CONDITIONS
Places on this event are limited and we’re unable to offer any refunds in any circumstances.

We therefore strongly advise that you have adequate travel insurance in place in order to cover the cost of the retreat either because of unforeseen events in your life such as illness. Alternatively we might be forced to cancel due to unforeseen circumstances beyond our control such acts of war, acts of God, threats or acts or terrorism, civil unrest or unforeseen personal circumstances.

Either way, please do ensure that you have travel insurance to cover the cost in the event of cancellation.

PAYMENT TERMS
50% non-refundable deposit payment + 50% non-refundable balance payment by January 7^th 2020.

 

THIS RETREAT IS SOLD OUT