Marks believes that a home should reflect the lifestyle of its inhabitants, their unique perspective, and how they approach their lives. Educated in England, Marks has long held a deep and meaningful architectural attraction to British vernacular architecture, which creates a pleasing interaction with his roots in Southern California. The homes explored in the book include his 1925 coastal cottage in Montecito, a striking Bahamian compound open to the blue oceans with design drama, color, and romance in every corner, a working equestrian farm in Los Angeles, and his new family home in Greenwich, Connecticut. Additionally, Marks shares significant advice for creating the desired aesthetics. Comfort and naturalness are key, with high-performance fabrics and cotton and natural fiber rugs, while colors inspired by the outdoors are incorporated alongside a sense of theatricality, achieved with antiques and dramatic lighting. The results are homes that feel intricate and dramatic, yet always comfortable and ready for living.

Pages: 256