Tour Ziggy Marley’s Elegant Yet Family-Friendly California Home

The impetus for Ziggy and Orly Marley’s house hunt was one with which many young parents are familiar: They were running out of space. Their previous home, a beautiful Mediterranean in Beverly Hills, may have been an ideal bolthole for just the two of them, but “they had beautiful child after beautiful child, and the house was quickly too small,” says Reza Farahan, a close friend of the couple who not only helped them find their new home but took charge of its interior design as well.

Farahan ultimately led them to a 10,000-square-foot Spanish Colonial in L.A.’s Toluca Lake neighborhood, a house with a footprint about twice as large as their previous abode, and ideal for the couple’s four young children. For Marley, however, what ultimately sold him was not the home’s appearance but more of an ineffable feeling that it would be a welcoming space in which to bring up his children. “It’s not about how it looks or how many bedrooms; it’s about how it feels,” says Marley, whose new album, More Family Time, was just released. “I liked the vibe and the spirit of the home.” But, Farahan notes, Marley wanted to make sure the climate was also to his liking. “He asked me about the weather, because he’d never lived in the San Fernando Valley,” Farahan says. “He wanted to make sure the breezes were just as nice as they were on the other side of the hill, and I assured him that they were.”

<div class="caption"> The family area off the kitchen is a favorite place for the children to play. Here, Isaiah (left) and Abraham hang out on the oversized Restoration Hardware couch. The ceiling panels were installed by the previous owners and were hand-painted by local artisans. </div>

The family area off the kitchen is a favorite place for the children to play. Here, Isaiah (left) and Abraham hang out on the oversized Restoration Hardware couch. The ceiling panels were installed by the previous owners and were hand-painted by local artisans.

Once the family decided to move forward with the property, Farahan and his team oversaw seven months of renovations that touched every room of the six-bedroom, seven-bathroom house. One of the first features the couple knew they wanted to install was something they had loved about their previous home: hand-scraped reclaimed-oak wood flooring. “When you’re doing a 10,000-square-foot house, just redoing the floors alone is a Herculean task, especially when they’re being scraped by hand to give them that authentic Mediterranean vibe,” Farahan says. But the effort was certainly worth the result: The honey-hued, textured planks lend the home a lived-in yet elegant feel.

In terms of the renovation, the largest project was refashioning the open-plan kitchen, dining room, and family area to be a relaxed space that was conducive to cooking, eating, and, for the youngest members, playing. Mealtime here brings everyone together: The family grows cucumbers, beans, tomatoes, and other vegetables in the patio garden, and the children often help make meals. “I cook every day,” Marley says. “I’m Jamaican, so sometimes I introduce the kids to Jamaican dishes like steamed fish.” And though the previous owners had an oversized wine cellar near the kitchen, Farahan smartly converted the space into a large pantry. “Usually, it’s the other way around, but when you have four kids, the pantry becomes a lot more important than the wine refrigeration room,” Farahan says, laughing. 

<div class="caption"> The kitchen area was expanded to accommodate a large family that loves to cook. Farahan used quartz in a Calacatta book-matched pattern for the countertops, and custom-made the breakfast table chairs and bar stools. The pendant light is from <a href="https://www.rhmodern.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:RH Modern" class="link rapid-noclick-resp">RH Modern</a>. </div>
The kitchen area was expanded to accommodate a large family that loves to cook. Farahan used quartz in a Calacatta book-matched pattern for the countertops, and custom-made the breakfast table chairs and bar stools. The pendant light is from RH Modern.

When it came to deciding on decor for the home, accessibility for the children was a major factor, but Marley also wanted it to embody his twin design philosophies. “My style is simple but royal,” he says. “For me, royal means things like high ceilings; I like space and I don’t want to feel cramped.” While the home’s generous square footage is certainly regal, Farahan also had no problem interpreting Marley’s desire for simplicity. “[At first], they sound like two things that are so complex and complicated and have nothing to do with one another,” Farahan says. But since the designer knows the couple so intimately, he had an innate sense of what would appeal to them. “Ziggy is very natural, organic, and simple. The house had to make sense; it didn’t need to be overdone and complex.” Farahan achieved this vision with touches like oversized couches upholstered with fabrics like tufted velvet, full slabs of marble quartz in the bathroom, and elegant chandeliers to complement the high ceilings.

While Marley describes his family as active—there’s even a basketball court in the backyard—his favorite space is the main bedroom. Farahan decorated it in crisp whites, which contrast with the dark-wood Postabello four-poster bed and the exposed wood beams in the ceiling. “It has a balcony that I really like to use to start or finish off the day,” Marley says of the serene retreat. “I’m a vibe person.”

Tour Ziggy Marley’s Elegant Yet Family-Friendly California Home

<div class="caption"> Musician Ziggy Marley in his home recording studio in L.A.’s Toluca Lake neighborhood with son Isaiah and dog Romeo. The room was originally a movie screening room for the previous owners. </div>

Musician Ziggy Marley in his home recording studio in L.A.’s Toluca Lake neighborhood with son Isaiah and dog Romeo. The room was originally a movie screening room for the previous owners.

<div class="caption"> The foyer looks into the three-story stairwell, which features walls of framed photos from the life of the Marley family. On the top floor is a serene massage room and balcony. </div>

The foyer looks into the three-story stairwell, which features walls of framed photos from the life of the Marley family. On the top floor is a serene massage room and balcony.

<div class="caption"> The library features a cozy nook with leather club chairs from Acquisitions by Henredon, custom-made cherry cabinets, and a hand-carved travertine fireplace. The art is <em>The Sovereign People</em> by Tony Ramos. </div>

The library features a cozy nook with leather club chairs from Acquisitions by Henredon, custom-made cherry cabinets, and a hand-carved travertine fireplace. The art is The Sovereign People by Tony Ramos.

<div class="caption"> Designer Reza Farahan utilized the living room’s substantial height by positioning a grid of nine vintage <a href="https://www.hermes.com/us/en/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Hermès" class="link rapid-noclick-resp">Hermès</a> scarves above the <a href="https://rh.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:RH" class="link rapid-noclick-resp">RH</a> couch. The coffee table is a vintage Karl Springer made out of brass and smoked glass. Farahan custom-designed the rock crystal chandelier and sconces. </div>
Designer Reza Farahan utilized the living room’s substantial height by positioning a grid of nine vintage Hermès scarves above the RH couch. The coffee table is a vintage Karl Springer made out of brass and smoked glass. Farahan custom-designed the rock crystal chandelier and sconces.
<div class="caption"> A second view of the living room displays the bar, which was also custom-designed by Farahan. The fireplace is hand-carved and made of travertine; in front of it are two wingback chairs from <a href="https://rh.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:RH" class="link rapid-noclick-resp">RH</a>. </div>
A second view of the living room displays the bar, which was also custom-designed by Farahan. The fireplace is hand-carved and made of travertine; in front of it are two wingback chairs from RH.
<div class="caption"> The kitchen area was expanded to accommodate a large family that loves to cook. Farahan used quartz in a Calacatta book-matched pattern for the countertops and custom-made the breakfast table chairs and bar stools. The pendant light is from <a href="https://www.rhmodern.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:RH Modern" class="link rapid-noclick-resp">RH Modern</a>. </div>
The kitchen area was expanded to accommodate a large family that loves to cook. Farahan used quartz in a Calacatta book-matched pattern for the countertops and custom-made the breakfast table chairs and bar stools. The pendant light is from RH Modern.
<div class="caption"> The dining room receives a pop of whimsy from the <a href="https://www.kellywearstler.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Kelly Wearstler" class="link rapid-noclick-resp">Kelly Wearstler</a> wallpaper. The dining room table is from <a href="https://dosgallos.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Dos Gallos" class="link rapid-noclick-resp">Dos Gallos</a> with chairs from <a href="https://www.ebanista.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Ebanista" class="link rapid-noclick-resp">Ebanista</a>. The chandelier is another custom piece from Farahan. </div>
The dining room receives a pop of whimsy from the Kelly Wearstler wallpaper. The dining room table is from Dos Gallos with chairs from Ebanista. The chandelier is another custom piece from Farahan.
<div class="caption"> The main bedroom’s most striking feature is the four-poster bed and bench by <a href="https://www.postobello.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Postobello" class="link rapid-noclick-resp">Postobello</a>, with linens from <a href="https://prettylinge.com/index.php?" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Pretty Linge Marrakech" class="link rapid-noclick-resp">Pretty Linge Marrakech</a>. Above the bed hangs the couple’s wedding ketubah. </div>
The main bedroom’s most striking feature is the four-poster bed and bench by Postobello, with linens from Pretty Linge Marrakech. Above the bed hangs the couple’s wedding ketubah.
<div class="caption"> The main bedroom features a cozy reading area with its own fireplace. The couch, wingback chair, and armoire are from <a href="https://rh.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:RH" class="link rapid-noclick-resp">RH</a>, with a pouf custom-designed by Farahan. </div>
The main bedroom features a cozy reading area with its own fireplace. The couch, wingback chair, and armoire are from RH, with a pouf custom-designed by Farahan.
<div class="caption"> The home’s main bathroom is Farahan’s favorite space. “It’s so luxe and it’s got a little bit of me all over it. I’m really proud of it,” he says. The walls are clad in Calacatta quartz with a free-standing Hydro soaking tub and fixtures from <a href="https://www.hansgrohe-usa.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Hansgrohe" class="link rapid-noclick-resp">Hansgrohe</a>. </div>
The home’s main bathroom is Farahan’s favorite space. “It’s so luxe and it’s got a little bit of me all over it. I’m really proud of it,” he says. The walls are clad in Calacatta quartz with a free-standing Hydro soaking tub and fixtures from Hansgrohe.
<div class="caption"> An outdoor dining room with a table and chairs from Restoration Hardware overlooks the pool. </div>

An outdoor dining room with a table and chairs from Restoration Hardware overlooks the pool.

<div class="caption"> The Marley family describes itself as very active and often uses this basketball court designed by <a href="https://www.sportcourtofsoutherncalifornia.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Sport Court LA" class="link rapid-noclick-resp">Sport Court LA</a>. </div>
The Marley family describes itself as very active and often uses this basketball court designed by Sport Court LA.
<div class="caption"> One of the outdoor patios has an imported Thai Buddha statue and raised beds filled with vegetables. </div>

One of the outdoor patios has an imported Thai Buddha statue and raised beds filled with vegetables.

<div class="caption"> The Spanish Colonial home is 10,000 square feet and boasts six bedrooms and seven bathrooms. The backyard is home to an army of fruit trees, including lemon, pomegranate, orange, and avocado. Landscaping was done by Jonathan Pedersen of <a href="https://www.monrovia.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Monrovia Nursery Company" class="link rapid-noclick-resp">Monrovia Nursery Company</a>. </div>
The Spanish Colonial home is 10,000 square feet and boasts six bedrooms and seven bathrooms. The backyard is home to an army of fruit trees, including lemon, pomegranate, orange, and avocado. Landscaping was done by Jonathan Pedersen of Monrovia Nursery Company.

Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest