Husna Rehman takes you through a Moroccan home - courtyard, fountains, flowers, glazed pottery, Berber rugs, paint and handmade tiles - and offers you tips on décor

Nothing exemplifies the Moroccan spirit more than an old Arabic proverb -the first thing one should own is a home and it is the last thing one should sell; for a home is one's tomb this side of heaven.'

I have always harboured the conviction that certain areas of the earth's surface contain more magic than others - in Morocco, that belief reached fruition. It's a deeply mystical land steeped in a purity that is rooted in the past, which gives it a strong sense of belonging to a civilisation of the ancient world.

Morocco is a magical layering of Arabic, French, North African and tribal, Berber influences. It undoubtedly has the richest architectural heritage in North Africa. One needs only walk through the narrow winding streets of the old city of Fez with their high, unbroken walls, the ancient palaces of the pink city, Marrakech, or wander among the fragrant courtyards of the homes for a visceral response to an 'Arabian Nights' experience.

Culture In Decor

The Moroccan house in the Arab-Islamic style is the most striking expression of a culture where privacy is respected, even protected. The visitor is always amazed at the contrast between the neglected austere aspect from the street and the charm and exuberance within the house. The courtyard is the most significant part of the Moroccan home, as it is of all Arab-Islamic buildings.

Usually, the courtyard is surrounded on all four sides by living rooms. In a typical Moroccan home, there are no doors between rooms. To go from one room to the other, one must cross the courtyard, and enjoy the journey to the next space. Warm days, cool evenings, the scent of night-flowering jasmine, a full moon over the snow-capped Atlas mountains, white-washed terraces overlooking the Mediterranean, courtyards with splashing fountains, shimmering lanterns and the haunting melodies of desert musicians - indeed, the Moroccan home is designed to be as evocative of the outdoors as is possible. The courtyard will have a tile fountain, almost always strewn with rose petals. Pergolas are festooned with purple and white bougainvillea. In recent years, European homeowners have introduced to Morocco the concept of terrace rooftop living.

Pools and lawns, except in hotels, are only recently beginning to be appreciated in homes. The covering of one's body is a cultural necessity and using precious water in any way other than for necessity goes against drought-conscious Islamic tradition.

Colour, Colour Everywhere

The Moroccans' love affair with bold and saturated colours is legendary. This is most evident in their generous application in the decorative arts in the home. One is dazzled by the courageous combinations of tiles, plasterwork and painted surfaces on walls, doors, shutters and ceilings. The 'that which pleases a man cannot be too expensive' philosophy pervades the home in the form of ornate details.

Morocco is almost synonymous with fine leather, but Moroccan pottery dates back thousands of years. Berber rugs are justly famous and there is a rich tradition of fine woodwork. Following the Prophet's command not to depict humans, abstract Islamic designs are rendered by artisans who seek to transport viewers into a state of uplifted thought. Moroccan handmade tiles are among the most coveted on the planet. Local clay is moulded into rectangular slabs that are dried in the sun, coated with coloured glazes and fired. It is, however, in the spirit of the people firing the ovens and painting pottery that the soul of Morocco really lies - the hospitality is as warm and aromatic as the mint tea wafting through the air.

A paradoxical blending of vivid sensuality and intense spirituality, Morocco is a heightened state of mind and being that one should not aspire to limit by definition.