Villa Majorelle , Marrakesh .

For decades, Yves Saint Laurent sought rest and inspiration at his Marrakesh retreat, Jardin Majorelle.

Now, nearly two years after Saint Laurent’s death, the gift shop in the sprawling gardens has been renovated into a boutique that would make the legendary designer proud.

Bernard Sanz, who designed YSL’s Rive Gauche menswear line in the 1990s before moving on to Balmain and Hermes, coordinated the renovation. The result is an oasis-like boutique carrying luxe embroidered cushions, Liberty-print babouche slippers and handbags, and the house’s own Jardin Majorelle fashion line (think caftans—lots of breezy chiffon kaftans).

“My inspiration comes on the one hand from the spirit and legacy of Yves Saint Laurent, and on the other from traditional Moroccan clothing and craftsmanship. It really is a marriage of the two,” Sanz has said.

The Villa Oasis was Saint Laurent’s second home in Marrakech, acquired in 1980. Originally renovated by legendary decorators Jacques Grange (who also worked on YSL’s French countryside chateau) and Bill Willis, no surface went unconsidered—arches, hand-painted tiles and mountains of cushions all bore the designer’s touch.

Today, the house and the gardens are still drenched in the cobalt blue pigment that has become their trademark. Desert plants like cacti and yuccas thrive alongside jasmine and bougainvillea. A lily pond and plenty of shady corners create spaces for rest and introspection.

It’s easy to see how Saint Laurent’s time in Marrakesh informed his designs. Moroccan influences trickled into his collections starting in the late sixties—a fes with a tailored suit, a djellaba-inspired tunic, and detailed embroidery all became YSL trademarks.

Although Saint Laurent and business partner Pierre Berge shared a number of luxurious homes throughout Europe and North Africa, it was the Jardin Majorelle where Saint Laurent wanted his ashes scattered following his death in 2008.

Images courtesy of Jardin Majorelle