Stunning Moroccan-Inspired Desert Home Tour Packed with Styling Ideas.
Welcome to the INTERIOR STYLE HOST BLOG
Hi, I’m Sandra,
If you're in awe of stunning interiors and crazy about home decor, you’re in the right place. As an interior writer with a background in styling and photography for leading magazines around the globe, as well as an avid home renovator, I am here to help you style and decorate your home with ease and confidence, like a pro.
On this blog, I’ll be sharing inspiring tours of beautifully styled spaces along with insightful articles packed with advice, tips, and ideas for home styling and decoration. Having styled countless different homes, I am able to introduce you to a wide variety of interior styles and aesthetics, rather than focusing on a single look or trend. In today’s post, I am taking you on a tour of a stunning desert abode in Joshua Tree.
HOME TOURS:
A MOROCCAN-INSPIRED SANCTUARY IN THE DESERT
Photographs by Stephanie Wiley© & Marco Badalian© and courtesy of Natalie Saunders at Desert Wild
Today I am taking you on a tour of Desert Wild in Joshua Tree, which combines clever design with the raw beauty of the desert. With its earthy tones, plaster finishes, hand-crafted textiles, and home decor from across the globe, Desert Wild is, in my opinion, one of the most beautifully designed and styled vacation homes. Not surprisingly, it was featured in Condé Nast Traveller as one of the best Airbnbs in the desert. Joshua Tree, which is close to LA, has become a popular destination to unwind and connect with nature. With both design features and accents from Morocco and the Mediterranean, it was designed and built from the ground up by designer Natalie, her husband Louis and, as described by the couple, an amazing local contractor.
Natalie had many ideas before even starting the project. Taking years of research and inspiration from her extensive travels, the design is a global aesthetic rich with textures, such as plaster techniques like tadelakt, from Morocco. Drawing on many journeys to Morocco, Greece, and beyond, Natalie blends natural materials, handcrafted details, and a warm, earthy palette to create spaces that feel both grounded and inspiring.
The living room pictured here centres around a striking Georgia O’Keeffe–inspired adobe fireplace with custom seating, set against sand-hued plaster floors. Throughout the house, the palette is warm and earthy with handpicked Moroccan rugs and pottery from local artisans, together with native plants dotted around to bring the outside in.
As well as stealing ideas for my home with their use of earthy colours in my living room, what I love about Desert Wild is that it's really connected to the desert with an indoor-outdoor flow. Every window frames a view or a cactus, surrounding you in some way with the landscape. I have been inspired, not only by the earthy hues, but a bathroom rethink! Read on to find out more.
STYLISH OUTDOOR DINING
With views of the rugged desert landscape, this covered alfresco dining area was designed for long summer evenings. What really sets this outdoor area apart is the unique detailing she chose for the ceiling, which is made of hand-stapled saguaro ribs, ethically sourced from fallen cacti. Built-in plaster seating and rustic timber furniture bring the interior scheme outdoors, while Natalie has completed the look with a woven straw pendant and textural cushions in black and white prints and terracotta tones. Pots, cushions and pendants, if you have a covered outdoor seating area, are all styling ideas to make your own outdoor space an extension of your interior.
LIVING ROOM WITH INDOOR/OUTDOOR CONNECTION
A Georgia O’Keeffe–inspired adobe fireplace anchors the living space, its smooth plaster curves complemented by simple styling and earthy accents. Through the picture window, desert views and a potted cactus blur the boundary between indoors and out. On the plaster bench there’s a folded artisan throw and a Desert Wild embossed sun hat, while above the fireplace are two vintage wooden spindles. Try styling with pieces that are vintage or from your travels to tell your own personal story through your interiors.
STYLISH LIVING ROOM DETAILS
Moroccan rugs add pattern in earthy tones, while pottery from local artisans and woven accents bring in texture. A record collection and player encourage guests to chill on the sofa and have that unplugged feeling, while taking in the stunning views of the mountains, trees, and fireplace out of the windows. Take note of how the artisan textiles, like the rug and throws, and artefacts, together with records and books, all thoughtfully styled, bring a personal, layered touch to the space.
CAREFULLY CURATED KITCHEN
This gorgeous kitchen really encapsulates Natalie’s signature style, with its plaster countertops, wood cabinetry made from American white oat, and a large timber dining table handcrafted by local artisans. The woven pendant and other pieces of home decor in the kitchen were sourced on the couple’s travels to carry the global aesthetic throughout the house. To echo Natalie’s kitchen styling in your own home, mix raw materials with plants, pottery and pieces you’ve found on your travels for a globally-inspired look.
STUNNING BEDROOM
I particularly like the choice of colours in this bedroom, with the bed linen in a light turmeric and terracotta tone, continuing the earthy vibe. But what I find rather special is the large plaster arch behind the bed, which creates a striking headboard. There are also woven storage baskets, brass wall sconces, and even Desert Wild custom-made sun hats. Styling ideas from this bedroom could include the woven baskets hanging on the wall, which are a clever and attractive way to display plants and bring greenery into a bedroom where you often don’t have much surface space.
STYLISH ENSUITE
In the master ensuite, a 100-year-old Turkish stone hammam basin sits on plaster shelves above handmade Moroccan terracotta tiles. The design is super stylish with a brass mirror, wall sconces, and taps. A large picture window opens the space to desert views, bringing nature into the room. Styling ideas to steal from the bathroom are to add hammam towels, a wicker basket, potted plant and unusual vintage-style wall light.
CLOUD-LIKE BED
The second bedroom also has a plaster feature, but this time it's a custom poured-plaster bed frame with side tables, all as one piece and, according to Natalie, designed to feel cloud-like. Keeping the look cohesive with the home’s Moroccan-inspired aesthetic, you’ll also find gorgeous woven pendants and natural oatmeal-toned linens adding texture in this bedroom. This is such a simple, yet elegant way to have the table, headboard and bed frame all combined. Natalie has kept the styling to a minimum with a magazine and vase of dried flowers so the woven pendant light takes centre stage.
BEAUTIFUL BATHROOM WITH A VISTA
Brass fixtures and sheer curtains frame this Moroccan-inspired bathroom. It’s stunning, with its unusual deep soaking tub sitting below a plaster arch. But what really impresses me is the view out of the window, looking out at a cactus. I hope this gives you ideas for your own bathroom, such as brass tap fittings, linen curtains or a rustic piece of wood across your bath. For my bathroom, I am inspired to swap my frosted glass for clear, and plant something in a pot outside the window to extend the view of the bathroom, so I have a vista like the bathroom here.
MEET NATALIE
Designer Natalie Saunders brings a host of global influences to Desert Wild, pictured here in her beautifully designed and styled kitchen. Australian-born and passionate about travel, she studied design in Sydney before settling with her husband, Louis, in Joshua Tree.
LET’S SUM UP
I hope like me, you have been inspired by Desert Wild and gleaned ideas to replicate in your own home. To find out more, or book a stay, check out www.desertwildjoshuatree.com desertwild_jt
