Jeffrey Alan Marks: The Meaning of Home

Breezy, tailored, steady, brave and at ease are the chapter titles in this book around which designer Jeffrey Alan Marks organizes his work for us to see. When you view a room that was designed by Jeffrey Alan Marks, you can't always identify that he was the designer. But you can see the original and thoughtful consideration behind the choices. The goal of his design is to reflect his clients' personal style he says. This book illustrates he is successful in doing just that as evidenced in the variety of stylish rooms Marks has designed. He seems comfortable working in a variety of styles and mixes them adroitly. The book opens with Marks' own Santa Monica hillside, ocean-view home which he shares with his partner Ross. Even if you have seen photos of it before, it looks even better in this book. Although Marks claims the house itself had no style, charm or sophistication when they bought it, you see how you can take a home lacking those qualities and turn it into a dream home. Marks says his goal in the home wasn't to meld their tastes, but to accent and harmonize the different features of their individual style. The couple use their home as a design lab for ideas. Marks says an architect friend told him once that is why it is called a design "practice". You are always practicing and experimenting. One obvious experiment in this home which turned out well is his sea turtle rug. Yes, there are sea turtles in blue and green crawling all over the rug in the living room. One of the most original rooms in his home is the bath. Instead of lining a cabinet with sinks along the wall, the bathroom seems like a real room with a a bureau-vanity in the middle of the room. The vanity has a two-sided mirror, made in France, and sinks on both sides of the mirror and vanity. There's a terry cloth high-backed sofa and linen chaise in the room for relaxing in after the bath, all of which is surrounded by grass cloth walls. Other homes in this book which Marks has decorated stretch from Malibu, to San Fran, to Austin, to Nantucket to London. Marks lived in London initially where he modeled to support his beginning design career. There is a bit of English influence in some of his rooms. He marries it with that casual California sensibility which prizes comfort above all. He wants you to live in all of your rooms every day he says. When you study his rooms, there is usually at least one unexpected design choice in each of them which keeps them fresh. Marks tell us that when clients have two homes, they usually favor their vacation home. This tantalizing insight suggests we should perhaps consider designing our primary home as if we were on vacation. An example of this is a fetching Nantucket home which was also featured on his design show. In another stunning bath in this book, Marks again skipped the tile and marble. He describes, "Another vanity, another place for me to rebel. Rather than the traditional marble and tile, I covered this entire room in a dark-stained walnut - including the cabinets, the floors, the chair, an antique floor mirror, and a collection of brass-trimmed boxes. White Carrara marble counters match the shower, and the domed ceiling painted a chalky white bounce light into the room." Although you may have seen many of Marks' rooms in magazines, on his design show, and on pinterest, they look even better in this book with Douglas Friedman's luminous and rich photography. If you enjoy Marks' design sensibility, it is great to have the collection of his rooms in one volume to peruse for ideas. Marks narrates his thought process of how he designed each room in his own words. If you relish breezy, tailored, intriguing and comfortably engaging rooms, you will want to add this lovely design book to your design library.

A refreshing look at modern decoration. So many follow the current fashion-the results of which, in my opinion, are disastrous! Everyone seems to love the idea "Breaking the Rules" which doesn't equal good design. Marks' classical English training keeps his rooms grounded yet new . . . even whimsical at times, but always successful because of a structure able to support his ideas. A beautiful book for your collection.

I have been a huge fan of Jeffrey Alan Marks for awhile now, living in Santa Monica I have seen his work (hungry cat restaurant) as well as watched him on Million dollar decorators. The cover seemed almost too subtle and wondered how good it would be but was thrilled when it arrived. It is a fave! Lots of great photos and inspiration.

I was disappointed and it is very mediocre with the writing and images. I would love if the interior designer would help more out with his design thinking and process to teach the person who can't afford an interior designer.

Ugh, this man is so attractive and so talented - he truly has it all! This book is pretty wonderful & a great addition to my library.

LOVE this book. Great photos and interesting text. A wonderful resource - inspiring. If you have seen Jeffery Alan Marks on Million Dollar Decorator, you can appreciate his creative, California style.

If you are a fan of JAM then you will love looking at these photos and reading this book. You may recognize some of the houses from his show, Million Dollar Decorator. I love his style and I am so happy to spend time looking at this book over and over.

Wonderful book! JAM has great style - very inspiring.

Full of gorgeously decorated rooms with color Lovely settings and a very good read too!