decus
Heritage coastal home by Sydney interior design studio Decus, featuring a sculptural black and polished brass console, curated artwork and traditional wall panelling.

Coastal

An intricately detailed sculptural entrance door creates a dramatic contemporary arrival at this heritage coastal home by Sydney interior design studio Decus.
Heritage detailing meets contemporary furniture, sculptural lighting and curated art in a richly layered living room by Decus, grounded in olive, ochre and dark timber tones.
Sculptural timber armchair and curated artwork sit alongside original leadlight windows and a built-in window seat in this heritage coastal interior by Decus.
Detail of amber ceramic side table.
A bronze, sculptural object sits beneath a richly layered textured abstract artwork, set against dark timber joinery in this moody coastal interior by Decus.
Contemporary kitchen with dark timber cabinetry, a sculptural bronze island, glass pendants and richly patterned rugs, balancing refined materials with warmth and character.
Contemporary kitchen with dark timber cabinetry, a sculptural bronze island, black bar stools and glass pendant lights, opening to a bright garden terrace.
Dark timber joinery frames a moody display niche styled with sculptural objects, highlighting the kitchen's rich material palette.
Light-filled contemporary living room with large neutral sofas, colourful cushions, a suspended black fireplace and steel-framed doors opening to a lush garden and pool.
Patterned and mustard cushions bring warmth and character to a softly textured neutral sofa, reflecting the home's playful mix of colour, pattern and relaxed luxury.
Generous neutral seating layered with richly patterned cushions creates a relaxed, colourful living space, opening through steel-framed doors to the pool and lush garden beyond.
A sculptural swimming pool surrounded by lush landscaping and mature pine trees, connecting the heritage coastal residence with its contemporary extension.
Curved swimming pool with sculptural sun loungers and a blue umbrella, framed by a dense green hedge in the coastal home's landscaped garden.
Curved outdoor swimming pool and circular spa beside a contemporary pool pavilion, surrounded by mature greenery and native coastal planting.
Contemporary dining room with dark timber wall panelling, a colourful abstract triptych, black curved sideboards and a sculptural linear pendant.
A vibrant cobalt vase and sculptural red flowers echo the bold colours of an abstract artwork, contrasting with the dark timber joinery in the contemporary interior.
A sculptural black pendant with frosted glass globes floats above a dark dining table, sharply silhouetted against softly filtered sheer curtains.
Contemporary living room with a suspended black fireplace, richly veined stone surround, sculptural white armchair and tall patterned artworks beside steel-framed windows.
Sculptural powder room with fluted white marble walls, a monolithic marble vanity, oval mirror and symmetrical brass wall sconces.
Detail of fluted white marble walls, oval mirror and warm brass fittings.
Ornate antique gilt mirror above a sculptural white marble fireplace, framed by pale grey panelled walls and contemporary wall sconces.
Sculptural purple alliums bring a vivid note of colour to a refined bedside composition of pale stone, and crisp heritage wall detailing.
Elegant window seat with grey upholstery and rust cushions beneath decorative leadlight windows and white plantation shutters.
A vibrant gold-framed artwork and intricately patterned ceramic urn bring colour and character to a refined interior with crisp white cabinetry and traditional wall panelling.
Close-up of dark timber flooring meeting a finely ribbed white marble border and pale veined stone surface.
Luxurious double vanity with white marble cabinetry, brass fixtures and suspended mirrors framed by decorative windows.
Luxurious walk-in shower clad in white marble with a statement brass rainfall shower head and matching brass fixtures.
Bespoke walk-in wardrobe with dark timber cabinetry, brass drawer handles and a burgundy velvet ottoman.
Arched timber doorway framing a refined hallway with contemporary artwork, sculptural black and brass console and wall sconces.
Elegant contemporary bedroom with a grey upholstered bed, deep green throw, sculptural black wall lights and large statement artwork.

Framed by lush, mature gardens of indigenous flora, this coastal home looks out through stands of native pine to the ocean beyond. A heritage residence with a contemporary extension, it became a study in contrast for Decus: one house, two languages — traditional detailing to honour, and new volumes to make distinctly of today.

The clients, an Australian family with five children, gave us something close to carte blanche, arriving with just four reference images before trusting us to chart the rest. That freedom shaped a house where every room carries its own identity. Children's spaces are optimistic and robust, built for real life; the master suite reads as a quieter retreat, muted and luxe. Throughout the ground floor, a deliberately dark, moody palette creates a conscious departure from the region's more ostentatious coastal register.

Heritage details became a constant reference point: in the master bathroom, stone runs up the wall to skirting height, echoing the timber skirting in the bedroom beyond. A bronze handrail carries that same quiet discipline through the stairwell, winding gently through the heart of the house.

The result is a home with something for everyone - masculine tones meeting soft pink, candy green and blue, each room becoming its own small act of dress-up within one confident whole.


Coastal is built on the traditional lands of the Whadjuk Nyoongar people


Architect Tim Wright Architect
Builder MBC
Photography Anson Smart
Landscape Myles Baldwin Design

Collaborators on this project include CDK Stone Onsite JP Finsbury Atelier Furniture Whitecliffe Imports Candana Tongue & Groove Simple Studio Winnings Viabizzuno Euroluce Eric Schmitt Cult Design Robyn Cosgrove Bisanna Tiles Pivot Stone & Heating Ralph Pucci Vola Holly Hunt Living Edge Liaigre Space Furniture BDDW Domo Milgate dedece Christopher Farr Espasso Lindsey Adelman Ochre Stylecraft Patrick Parish Studio Ondene Stephane Parmentier Jardan Matter Matters Bien Fait Brodware Articolo Studios Mark Tuckey Anchor Ceramics South Pacific Boyac Fabrics Elliott Clarke Textiles Zak + Fox Dulux Porters Paints