July 20, 2026 | DESIGN & INTERIORS
DESIGNING with SUNSET
words Karine Monie
photos Omar Tajmouati
portrait Mehdi Triqui
In Casablanca's leafy Anfa Supérieur neighbourhood, Ali Lahlou Design Studio has transformed a 1970s residence into a home where colour shapes the entire experience. Inspired by the shifting tones of a sunset, the interiors move from warm oranges to soft evening blues, creating spaces that feel distinct yet quietly connected.
Designed for a young couple — a jewellery designer and an entrepreneur with a shared passion for art — the house balances the elegance of Haussmannian Parisian apartments with a fresh, contemporary sensibility. Bespoke furniture, carefully selected materials and a growing art collection give every room its own character.
A HOUSE PAINTED BY LIGHT
Built in 1976, the house offered generous proportions, clean lines and abundant natural light — the ideal canvas for Ali Lahlou's vision.
"Colour was at the very heart of this project," says the designer. "I imagined the house as a journey through a sunset, where the light shifts slowly and each shade blends into the next."
That idea shapes every room. Terracotta gradually softens into muted blues, creating gentle transitions rather than sharp contrasts. Here, colour is treated less as decoration than as an architectural tool, defining atmosphere throughout the house.
The entrance immediately sets the tone. A sculptural Calacatta marble table welcomes visitors with the quiet confidence of a boutique hotel lobby, before the interiors unfold towards a series of lounges, fireplaces, a library-inspired living room and a pergola opening onto the garden.
PARISIAN ELEGANCE, REIMAGINED
The owners wanted the warmth of a Parisian apartment without reproducing one literally. Walnut herringbone floors establish that connection, while a restrained architectural shell allows furniture, artworks and materials to take centre stage.
Soft velvets sit alongside enamelled glass, rainbow onyx meets Calacatta marble, and warm walnut contrasts with cooler mineral surfaces. Bespoke furniture by Ateliers Jouffre is complemented by pieces from Glas Italia, Ligne Roset, Roche Bobois, CC-Tapis and Lladró, while artworks by Moroccan artists including Mahi Binebine, Abderrahim Iqbi and Abou Elouakar Mohamed reinforce the home's strong artistic identity.
Rather than taking inspiration from a single reference, Ali Lahlou designed the house around a feeling. Parisian elegance meets contemporary Moroccan creativity, while colour becomes the thread that ties everything together. More than a beautifully designed residence, it is a home where every room feels touched by the changing light of sunset.
