A decade after the publication of Living in Sri Lanka, James Fennell revisits the ‘Paradise Isle’ to discover exactly what it is that makes a great Sri Lankan home.

Travelling with Tom Sykes, he has visited numerous houses and taken hundreds of photographs, as well as interviewing owners, interior decorators, architects, stylists and designers. From the colonial grandeur of actress Gillian Anderson’s secluded retreat and the sumptuous Wallawwa hotel to works by the celebrated architects Geoffrey Bawa and Anjalendran, the buildings in this book have one thing in common: they embrace the unpredictable natural environment, seamlessly blending indoor and outdoor living. Collectively, the 26 properties showcased in this book – the very best examples – capture the spirit of stylish Sri Lankan living.