DOUNIA HOME X APHROCHIC
EXQUISITELY CRAFTED LIGHTING INSPIRED BY MARRAKECH
Dounia Home & AphroChic wanted to bring something special to the world, a lighting collection that is a true marriage between form, function and craftsmanship. The Amur collection, inspired, designed and handcrafted in the ancient city of Amur Akush, today known as Marrakech.
For form and craftsmanship, we looked into ancient Moroccan architecture dating back to the 14th century, such as the Ben Youssef Madrasa, the Bahia Palace and the Almoravid Koubba. Where you see elaborate geometric patterns, mashrabiya carvings, stucco, marble and mosaics. These rich elements provided us with an amazing design repertoire to pull from and an exquisite level of craftsmanship that served as the standard for the collection.
In terms of function, we looked into today's modern home and the need for lighting that serves a multitude of spaces. We know that our clients need bright well lite spaces in the morning that can transition into relaxing environments in the evening. With that in mind, we designed a metal surface that is made entirely of small hand pierced holes, these small perforations allow for the full control of the amount of light needed.
The Amur collection consists of a chandelier, a table lamp, a wall sconce and a floor lamp and layering these elements is key in creating a balanced and harmonious space.
“It has always been my dream to share my Moroccan heritage and unique artistic style with people around the world. ”
About Dounia Tamri-Loeper
Dounia Home seeks to capture a slice of Morocco to share with the world. Dounia (Dunyā) means world in the Arabic language. Bringing customers a touch of the Dounia world, its heritage and the craft which inspires it, is the mission. Founder, designer Dounia Tamri-Loeper, was born and raised in Morocco and was influenced from an early age by its rich culture and artistic aesthetic. After moving to the U.S. in 2003 and continuing her education in Art, she earned a B.S. in Design from Drexel University. She was fortunate to join the Michael Graves Architecture and Design firm as a senior designer where she had the honor of working closely with the legendary Michael Graves himself for almost 5 years. In 2015, Dounia decided to pursue her dream and start her own line of products, for the well travelled home under the Dounia Home brand. As a company committed to aesthetic authenticity, Dounia Home focuses on sourcing, developing, and making all its products in the heart of Morocco. The inspiring historical and artistic landscape provides the brand with endless possibilities to connect its customers to the essence of this amazing country.
About AphroChic
AphroChic began in 2007 – the brainchild of husband-and-wife team Jeanine Hays and Bryan Mason. AphroChic became a place for Jeanine, a former policy attorney, and Bryan, a Ph.D. candidate, to escape the stresses of work and share their passion for culture and design. To embody their personal vision of a new kind of design the two coined the phrase, “Modern.Soulful.Style.” – interior design that embraces culture and the unique admixture of the traditional and the contemporary that helps to define us all. AphroChic has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Elle Decor, House Beautiful, and Better Homes and Gardens, among others. Jeanine and Bryan have been featured on Good Morning America and NewsOne Now with Roland Martin. The interior design firm is listed among New York’s top interior design firms by New York Magazine. Jeanine and Bryan are leading experts in home decor, regularly producing content for The Spruce, HGTV, Refinery29, Apartment Therapy and MOYI Magazine. The two also produce activations for global brands, most recently as IKEA Brand Ambassadörs. Jeanine and Bryan are the authors of REMIX: Decorating with Culture, Objects and Soul, published by Penguin Random House. In 2017, they produced HGTV’s Sneak Peek With AphroChic, a house tour series exclusively for HGTV’s Facebook Live channel. The two reside in Brooklyn, New York.
Read Dounia’s Startup Story
Dounia Tamri-Loeper, a Moroccan entrepreneur creating beautiful contemporary lighting inspired by her country's traditional design aesthetic
It's often said that lighting makes a space or a room come alive, and for design entrepreneur Dounia Tamri-Loeper, founder of Dounia Home , lighting is her inspiration. She is creating beautiful, statement lighting pieces that not only celebrate the centuries-old techniques and designs that are uni