Worlds Away

Ancient Moorish Motifs and Vintage North African Textiles Get a Cool Island Refresh in This Anguilla Beach House.

- Caroline McKenzie

Manhattan-based designer Lien Luu does her homework. Case in point: When her client wanted his Anguilla beach home to feel like a Moorish-style oasis, she went straight to the source, embarking on a two-week research and buying trip in the Moroccan city of Marrakesh. “It’s nearly impossible not to be inspired by the whitewashed, centuries-old aesthetic,” says Luu, who returned with heaps of hand-carved antiques and embroidered textiles. “The native style can be a little ornate and heavy, so my formula for making the Moroccan goods work in an island setting is to go as light as possible with the palette and really focus on a feeling of serenity.” This meant leaning heavily on romantic pastels and organic materials, such as natural woods and metals, and balancing the elaborate patterns with large swaths of white. The result is a retreat that feels both remote and beautifully refined. Here’s more of Luu’s advice for bringing global flourish and a faraway spirit to your beach house without disrupting its easygoing island style.

SIMPLIFY THE OUTDOORS

Against a killer ocean view, outdoor living spaces don’t need a heavy decorating hand. Luu furnished the outdoor dining room with synthetic wicker chairs and a mahogany table. With the smoky taupe tile flooring, the shades of camel warm the poolside pavilion.

SKIP THE CHANDELIERS