Understated luxury and true comfort – “Marshall Watson: Defining Elegance” by Marshall Watson
- mymoderndarcy
- Mar 19
- 3 min read
Dear readers, since we were talking about interior designer and interior design books here, I can’t help myself but need to mention another beautiful interior design book that will be coming out this March. New York-based interior designer, Mr. Marshall Watson, who has designed beautiful homes for prestigious clients in the US, his remarkable interior work has appeared in multiple interior design magazines including Architectural Digest, Veranda and House Beautiful; while knowing about his new book titled “Marshall Watson: Defining Elegance” is going to release soon, as someone so obsessed with interior design and fine books, I was completely thrilled about it and can’t wait to discover what this beautiful new book is about.
Published by Rizzoli, in this second book, it puts together some of the new interior design projects, from a wide range of environments across the US, and reveals how the design principles of the designer adapt to different geographies and climates. Known for his understated elegance and European-inspired style, this beautiful book enables one to take a closer look at the details inside each of the home projects, as well as experience the stylishly furnished atmosphere in a full view, from the light and airy seaside home in Connecticut, or a modern renovation of a barn in Napa Valley, even the elegant and welcoming apartment of the designer’s on Manhattan’s Upper West side, this book explains how Marshall translates each owner’s lifestyle, the history of the house, and the setting into a highly original form of elegance. In addition, towards the end of the book, Marshall also shares his passion for gardening by opening his own landscaped gardens in his East Hampton home, this new book is undoubtedly a great collector copy, especially for those who follow the interior design work by Marshall Watson.
Throughout this book, I was mesmerized by the welcoming, timelessly classic, and quiet elegance of each of the interior projects, as well as his impeccable American classic style when it comes to menswear, which I can see the cohesiveness from his choice of clothing and style to his interior design work. While the designer himself stressed that there’s no specific or single formula for his interior design aesthetic, his sophisticated and tasteful interpretation somehow makes me think of the harmonious and serene southern interior style, one of the great examples such as the project of the residence in Florida’s John’s Island, which one can experience the soothing chic and crispy elegance through the impeccable combination of classic and modern furniture, upholstery and decorative objects, furnished in arrays of blue shades from celestial to greyish blue, and neutral palette, mixing with nostalgic floral pattern and stripes that bring certain historical elements into the space but doesn’t look dated, instead, it elevates the classicism in an understated and artistic way.
Through Marshall’s mind and sensitivity over each interior element, each space shown inside this book is timelessly modern, sophisticated, and most importantly, they are uplifting, welcoming, and livable; while keeping the American classic and elegance, adding a touch of unexpected and artistic elements without being too cliché or overdone, his work truly combined the modern luxury and comfort, that makes one comfortably call the finished space as their home. “…Principles that transform homes into the true definition of elegance: warmth, light, peace, balance, proportion, harmony.” As the designer said.
With this beautiful copy resting on your coffee table, alongside the nicely arranged spring floral bouquet in fresh green, delicate crystalware, and art objects, it’s such a perfect and beautiful spring inspiration, don’t you think?
Image courtesy of Rizzoli USA.
