About
Set atop the cliffs of Sydney’s Dover Heights, Dancing On The Ceiling transforms a ‘kit-home’ dwelling into a playful party house for a vivacious family, enlivened by majestic ocean views.
“The homeowners envisioned a space that felt footloose and fancy-free—a place to eat, drink and be merry in razzle dazzle company,” recalls Alexandra Donohoe Church, Founder and Creative Director of Decus. Given the simplicity of the architecture, Decus sought to weave ‘new clothing’ for the house, bringing legibility to its layout while overlaying much-needed tactility.
Upon entry, a dramatic stone floor sets the tone for the interior, its ‘sprinkled’ format reminiscent of the marble floors of Celine’s Mount Street boutique in London. A straight-run stair was replaced with a rendered elliptical stair — “the project’s principal dancer that makes the double-height space swoon,” says Alexandra.
A new oak and green marble kitchen sleeves around an expressive ‘bas-relief’ island bench—an experimental venture for Decus, lending a gentle, sculpted expression. Beyond, spaces are deftly reworked to accommodate a walk-through pantry, scullery, laundry cum mudroom and home-office.
Upstairs, the home’s private zones were significantly reconfigured to create an adult and children’s wing, separated by the elliptical stair and double-height void. A generous primary suite offers a feeling of respite combining a bespoke ruched leather bedhead with integrated side tables and directional brass lights, addressing sunrise views across the ocean and bordering headlands reserve.
The result is a home that dances between structure and spontaneity, refinement and revelry. By reimagining the interiors with bold gestures, unexpected material pairings, and a deep sensitivity to function and atmosphere, Decus has crafted a home that is as animated as the family who inhabits it.
Dancing On The Ceiling is built on the traditional lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation.
Services
Interior Design
Interior Decoration
Collaborators
