Architect and designer Mark Zeff’s latest project is Blackbarn, a cocktail table book, due out in December, that focuses on the creation of his personal residence on the East End of Long Island, New York. The barn, which Zeff calls his “ultimate sanctuary,” is an archetype of minimalist architecture on the outside; inside it is bursting with a mix of accessories that reflect Zeff’s personal aesthetic. “Blackbarn is the purest expression of my creative worldview,” he says. “It embodies a lifetime of influences, ideas, and experiences. For me, the structure has come to symbolize the slow rhythm and languid calm of an earlier time.”

Not only does the book offer an exclusive look at the home, it’s filled with photographs of the surrounding landscape. Zeff takes readers on a tour of the grounds in all seasons and includes gorgeous imagery of his design process throughout. “While designing the house, we voyaged to Italy and visited places that were new to us. Inspirations from different locals found their way into the design,” he writes. “The blazing crimson of a gondola station we saw compelled us to expand our color sensibility and start a whole new collection of bright red objects.”

Zeff’s collection of antiques and souvenirs from his travels are what give the home appeal: a fuchsia-dyed Indian rug in the living room, a cowry shell necklace that sits atop a dresser, and stacks of vintage National Geographics that line the custom lacquered shelves in the library. “The home is relaxing and highly personal, layered with meaningful objects and details that you discover over time,” writes Zeff. “Every item in the home speaks to the journeys that we’ve taken and simply seduces the eye.”