Inner beauty The signature American style of Mark D Sikes

INTERIOR DESIGNER AND AUTHOR MARK D. SIKES IS BACK WITH A TRIBUTE TO CLASSIC ALL-AMERICAN INTERIORS IN HIS INSPIRING NEW TOME MORE BEAUTIFUL

No matter where you look, beauty is everywhere. It manifests itself in the simplest things: A smile. A neatly made bed. Dahlias popping like fireworks in the late summer. Ivory embroidered curtains dancing unfettered in the breeze. I learned that important lesson growing up in the South and the Midwest [of the United States of America], the son of a preacher and a preacher’s wife. Both of my parents appreciate pretty things and fostered that interest in me early on. I remember going to the drugstore with my mother and heading straight for the magazine aisle. It was the start of a lifelong obsession with beauty.

While some people may think that worshipping beauty is superficial, the reality is that it’s anything but; it can fortify our spirits. I often find that feeling in nature; there is something very pure and spiritual about it. What’s prettier than seeing limitless blue skies as a backdrop to lush trees flourishing along a rushing brook? It’s an exquisite sensory overload that doesn’t cost anything, and yet it can restore anyone. The same goes at home. When you celebrate the little things more often and surround yourself with what you truly adore, you’ll find that your whole world becomes infinitely more beautiful.

I firmly believe that beauty can save the world. It may seem silly with all the negativity in the news cycle, but more beauty – and with it, more love – might be what helps us prevail. That’s one reason why making our homes beautiful is so essential. The place you return to for rest and relaxation should be your sanctuary.

And remember, above all, that the definition of beautiful is subjective. It doesn’t matter what style of home you have, or even what you have. Surround yourself with what you’re passionate about and appreciate. True joy comes from following your dreams and finding inspiration around you. If you feel like your home is comfortable and inviting, reflects who you are, and makes you happy, it is beautiful. In fact, because it is yours, it’s more beautiful.

BLUE HORIZONS Panelled walls painted in a deep-sea blue and intricate floor tiles create atmosphere in a sunlit spot (opposite). In the breakfast nook of a California home (below), touches of green inspired by the garden enliven the interiors, while a banquette provides extra storage and maximises seating options. >

COASTAL CHIC Matchstick tortoiseshell blinds, wicker furniture and ample baskets invoke dreams of the shore. Wide blue stripes call to mind poolside cabanas, while sky-high ceilings feel as airy as a beach stroll.

This is an edited extract from More Beautiful: All-American Decoration by Mark D. Sikes, published by Rizzoli, $90.