Sunset

Sunset Textured glass vase with dried berry branches and a small bronze bowl on a dark veined marble table, set against a chunky woven charcoal rug

Sunset Living room with a black leather chrome-framed lounge chair, beige sectional sofa, and a colourful abstract figurative artwork on a textured stone wall, with a round marble coffee table on a chunky woven rug

Sunset Sunlit living room with a curved beige sectional sofa, black leather ottoman, mushroom-shaped table lamp, and floor-to-ceiling glass doors opening onto a terrace with treetop views

Sunset Whitewashed brick wall with striped shadow patterns cast by a wooden slatted screen or door, in warm afternoon light

Sunset Open-plan dining and kitchen space with a round wood table, black leather dining chairs, a large ceramic vase with flowering branches, a dramatic marble kitchen island, a landscape painting, black leather lounge chairs, and a dog seated on the rug

Sunset Ribbed ceramic vase with pale yellow-green flowering branches, set against a dramatic grey-veined marble backdrop

Sunset Sculptural bronze and stone object displayed on a concrete plinth atop a book-matched marble kitchen island, with a small textured vase and marble backsplash against walnut cabinetry.

Decus._Sunset_Walk In Wardrobe_View To Ensuite

Sunset Close-up of dark oak cabinetry doors with sculptural, geometric metal handles, bronze-toned, above a curved wood detail below

Sunset Bedroom with a curved, ribbed wood bedhead structure and integrated side units, an upholstered headboard, patterned throw pillows, and a circular skylight above wardrobe cabinetry beyond

Sunset Close-up of a curved, ribbed wooden bedside unit with an open drawer revealing bracelets, beside a purple upholstered headboard and neutral bedding

Sunset Small dark ceramic vase with berry-laden branches on a marble ledge, beside a wood-framed mirror and an oval brushed-metal wall sconce against textured stone walls

Sunset Bathroom vanity in dramatic swirling marble beneath a tri-panel wood-framed mirror, flanked by oval brushed-metal sconces, with a small vase of yellow blossoms and a sculptural stone stool in front

Sunset Study and bar area with a dark oval table on sculptural legs, a curved leather and wood lounge chair, a built-in wet bar with marble backsplash, and open wood shelving displaying glassware, set on a mottled charcoal rug

Sunset Round glass bud vase with a delicate flowering branch, set against a dramatic grey-green and white veined marble backdrop

Sunset Glass-enclosed wine cellar with black steel framing and floor-to-ceiling wooden wine racks, viewed from a dining area with a dark oval table and woven-back chairs

Sunset Sage green room with a moody abstract painting glowing beneath a spotlight, a cane-back dining chair, a dark oval table, and a colourful figurative artwork on the adjacent wall

Sunset Sculptural terracotta vase with white wildflowers on a green plinth beside a bold abstract painting, with a doorway revealing a pink-hued bedroom with an olive bedspread beyond.

Sunset Soft pink-walled bedroom with an olive green bed, curved upholstered headboard, floral throw pillows, a brass reading light, a black wire-frame accent chair, and a black-and-white framed artwork

Sunset Large figurative artwork with muted blues and pastels in a dusty pink-framed nook, beside an open doorway revealing a blue bathroom vanity, with a veined marble staircase edge in the foreground

Sunset Playful blue-and-white bathroom with a curved stone vanity, blue drawer fronts with round knobs, a green wall sconce, a small blue vase, and a louvred window beside a freestanding tub

Light blue bedroom interior by Decus, featuring tonal blue walls and carpet.

Sunset House_Contemporary blue bedroom with tonal walls and carpet, patterned bedhead, navy bedding, sculptural shelving, playful contemporary art and turquoise accent chair.

Set on Sydney’s lower north shore, Sunset House draws inspiration from the homeowners’ significant art collection and shared passion for design, shaping a curated and deeply personal canvas for living.

While the clients were drawn to the three-storey property for its impressive scale, abundant light, and sweeping views, its boxy, late-90s project build distinctly lacked character. From the outset, the clients placed full trust in Decus, granting carte blanche to reimagine the home from the inside out. This freedom offered fertile ground for the studio to layer its signature texture, colour, and personality, shaped by the family’s collective identities. “The homeowners are lawyers – with one secretly harbouring the instinct of an architect,” laughs Alexandra Donohoe Church, Creative Director and Founder of Decus. “They each brought strong ideas to the process, were detail-focused, very trusting, and willing to experiment.”

On arrival, a double-height entry passage - enhanced by Decus’ thoughtful upper-level planning - creates a striking sense of scale. Milky Krause bricks ascend along the main axis, complemented by a timber-lined stair with stone accents that establish a warm, approachable vernacular. Flanking the central volume, sleeping spaces and a rumpus room form a dedicated ‘kids’ zone’ - full of personality - while also supporting privacy and independence as the children grow.

Upstairs, Decus thoughtfully reworked the home’s generic, open-plan layout to foster meaningful separation between the main living areas and the principal bedroom suite, each capturing northward views across Castlecrag – a layered vista of bush, water, and cityscape. The home’s considered aspect allows the sunset to flood the interiors with a golden glow, enriching the atmosphere and highlighting the material palette at day’s end. Rich material pairings walnut timber veneer, figured green marble, and textured render accents replace the kitchen’s original standardised finishes, imbuing depth and tactility in the client’s daily rituals, with grounded furniture settings lending distinction between zones.

Throughout, Decus introduced a nuanced palette in the home’s public space, while embracing exuberant accents of colour and texture in its private zones. The family’s three children were heavily involved in the process, guiding the brief for their rooms and reviewing material selections – from purple drapery to fish-themed upholstery. “Their investment in the project resulted in spaces that are personality-driven and unique in tone,” reflects Charlene.

These ‘special moments’ resound in Decus’ meticulously detailed joinery, such as the fluted marble vanity in the powder room, the luxurious walnut curved walk-in-robe and the timber library shelving that conceals access to a covered drying courtyard. These bespoke elements sit alongside a curated mix of international and Australian furniture, lighting, and objects, including a commissioned totem light by Melbourne maker Ben Mazey, Bruce Alto by Volker Haug Studio, custom rugs by Man of Parts and hardware by Bankston in collaboration with Edition Office – and Alexandra’s latest obsession, the ‘So Good’ armchair by Studio Pepe for Baxter.

With gallery-inspired lighting from Viabizzuno and the capacity to rotate archived works throughout, Sunset House becomes an ever-changing backdrop for family life: textural, playful, and enduring. Shaping the home into a series of distinct atmospheres and destinations, Decus has imbued all corners with meaning and purpose, reinforcing the studio’s commitment to highly considered design outcomes that celebrate craft, individuality, and the evolving rhythms of contemporary living.

Sunset House is built on the lands of the Cammeraygal People of the Eora Nation.

Photography Anson Smart
Styling Jack Milenkovic
Build Cumberland Building
Landscaping Myles Baldwin Design

Collaborators on this project include Atelier Furniture Simple Studio Onsite Supply + Design Worldstone Jonathan West 7 - 3 Design & Joinery Winnings Made By Storey Resene Dulux Porters Paints Whitecliffe Imports Candana Great Dane Cult Design Krause Robinsons Architectural Nasha Gallery Viabizzuno Space Furniture Moebel Nomi M Contemporary Craft Victoria Ondene 506070 Shop Jan Murphy Gallery Arthouse Gallery Phillip Bacon Galleries District Hugo Mitchell Gallery Secondi Mama Casa Surface Gallery Lo & Co Living Edge Bisanna Tiles Criteria Collection Elliott Clarke Textiles Milgate Volker Haug Studio Domus Textiles South Pacific Fabrics