Into Africa for a new dream home

After their Yorkshire castle won the title of Britain's Best Home from TV's Channel Five, Michael Rothwell and Terry George turned their attention to another property challenge.

The couple bought a holiday home in Morocco that was filled with happy memories but was in need of major makeover.

Leeds-based interior designer Ben Huckerby, who designed the dcor for award-winning Carr Hall Castle, near Halifax, was brought in to transform the tired seaside house in Tangier.

It had belonged to Michael and Terry's friend and best man at their wedding Dennis Dewsnap.

"They had holidayed there for over 20 years, so when Dennis said he was thinking of selling it to spend more time at his home in Thailand, they decided to buy it," says Ben. "It is in a fantastic location looking out to sea and they couldn't bear to think of it going to anyone else. They have had a lot of happy times there."

Michael and Terry started by reconfiguring the space inside and substituted the large, old pool for something smaller to create more outdoor space. This meant working with Moroccan builders, which was quite a challenge. "We moved a lot of walls around inside, created new rooms and made the pool smaller so you could easily walk around it. It was big job and there were a lot of stumbling blocks mainly because a lot of what we said to the builders was lost in translation," says Ben.

"One day we told them we were thinking about knocking down a wall that stood behind the swimming pool. We popped out and when we got back, the wall was in the pool.

"They'd knocked it down. We'd only said we were thinking about it.

"The other issue was getting into their way of working. There was no such thing as health and safety. They worked in flip flops carrying breeze blocks up what I hesitate to call scaffolding. It was a few swaying planks of wood loosely nailed together. Plus everything seemed to take much longer than over here. Everything was: 'tomorrow', but fortunately we got there in the end and the workmanship was very good." The property isn't traditionally Moroccan and was built relatively recently, so the dcor doesn't lend itself to the full "Marrakesh", according to Ben. "It had very traditional English furniture and was very country house in style but Michael wanted a Moroccan influence in there too."

Michael and Terry bought some Moroccan antiques, beds and useful and decorative accessories including lanterns, metal trays and a beautiful carved wooden door frame. Ben bought fabrics made in Agadir and commissioned local craftsmen to create a number of pieces including a coffee table he designed.

"That was another story. Michael and I went in the shop at 8pm and were still there at 11.30pm trying to explain exactly what we wanted. But when it was delivered it was pretty much what we'd asked for, thank goodness."

Ben worked with another designer in Morocco to source other pieces of furniture and soft furnishings, but says: "If I were doing it all again I would have bought a lot of things here and had them shipped out. It would have been quicker, easier and cheaper."

Despite setbacks and language difficulties, the property is now a stunning fusion of Moroccan and opulent English styles.

Terry and Michael are thrilled. They run a string a businesses including bars and clubs in Leeds, a telecoms company, a gay magazine and a property portfolio, as well as charitable and social enterprises including the online memorial website www.gonetoosoon.org

"They love to relax here. It is a wonderful place to get away from it all. Although you hear a lot about Marrakesh being fashionable, Tangier is up and coming. It now has a marina and it's half an hour from Marbella. It's a great place."

Ben Huckerby Design, Leeds.

Tel: 0113 244 5446, www.benhuckerbydesign.co.uk

Moroccan style

This part of North Africa took hold of the public imagination when Rick told Sam to "play it" in Casablanca and as time goes by there's no sign of its attraction diminishing. Those who have visited Morocco will know that it's an assault on the senses, a cacophony of colour, pattern, sound and smells.

It's a fantastic hunting ground for interior products, especially leather pouffes, metalwork lanterns and trays, ceramics and fabrics, though you need to be adept at haggling.

If you're not then there are a number of British shops and online stores that have Moroccan and Moroccan inspired goods. Graham and Green have some fabulous leather pouffes in an array of colours ranging from bright pink and turquoise to metallics.

They cost from 90, but the quality is better than cheaper versions.

At the bargain end, Dunelm Mill has some Moroccan-style lanterns that cost 4.99.

Anthropolgie, the cool, New York lifestyle store that recently opened on London's Regent Street has some patterned ceramic bowls for 10 and fantastic bright bedding and cushions that are reminiscent of a souk. For a good selection of Moroccan tiles try Fired Earth and finally for more of the real deal look at specialist shops Marrakesh Trading and Momo Interiors.

Both do tagines and a great range of authentic lights, lamps and mirrors.

Useful Contacts:

Graham and Green www.grahamandgreen.co.uk or tel: 0845 130 6622

Anthropologie, Regent Street, London, www.anthropologie.eu

Marrakesh Trading www.marrakeshonline.co.uk

Dunelm Mill www.dunelm-mill.com

Momo Interiors www.momo-interiors.com

Fired Earth in Harrogate and Leeds or visit www.firedearth.com

YP MAG 24/7/10