The Design House, Essaouira, Morocco - Explore & Book

"When they renovated this 4-storey home in the medina, owners Emma and Graham deliberately avoided dusty, moody Moorish overtones, instead hanging on to their expertise in retro interior design. The Design House is filled with groovy 60s finds like mushroom lamps, a wall of skulls and a rattan hanging chair. Clean white lines and sunny terraces (there are 2) provide the perfect backdrop for photo shoots and lazy afternoons. Beyond the house walls, laid-back Essaouira is an antidote to the frenetic pace of life at home. Whether you want to eat well, shop till you drop, or experience the relaxation of a hammam, ex-Londoner Emma can introduce you to all the right people. While away your time exploring the medina, walk along the beach for a drink at Café Vagabond, book some quad biking or head out on a camel. Back at the house, cook up a storm in your sleek kitchen or ask Emma to arrange a delicious home-cooked Moroccan meal delivery. This is a fabulously cool hideaway in a wonderfully friendly town. Highs The ultra-cool feel of the house with its genuine pieces from 60s and 70s designer legendsSet in the heart of Essaouira's medina, just 10 minutes' walk from the long sandy beach and 2 minutes from the harbourPerfect for a girls' weekend away - a whole house with a daily maid, roof terraces in the sun and meals on requestWhether for a family or a group, Emma can provide you with a tour of the medina and give you the low-down on activities and days out - her experience is invaluableThis is a house rental, so you get the whole place to yourself - and there are reduced rates for a smaller group Lows A 7-night minimum stay, and during Peak Season a minimum of 6 guests must stayUsual no-car problem for a house in Essaouira’s medina, but there is a parking area 1 minute awayLight sleepers should bring earplugs to avoid being woken by the call to prayer (the medina has 50 mosques)Heating is fireplace and plug-in radiators only so it can be chilly in winter, though temperatures in Essaouira are rarely lowAll 4 beds are doubles" - Glenda Richards