Custom Touches and a Refined Palette Define a Sydney Apartment by Decus Interiors

The view can be a space’s defining characteristic. In revamping an apartment in Sydney, Australia, with windows overlooking the ocean, Decus Interiors wanted to evoke the water. But they didn’t want to compete with the spectacular beach. So the firm, led by founder and managing director Alexandra Donohoe Church, kept the palette muted. They used strong colors judiciously, opting instead for layers of neutral tones. Custom touches add to the pared-down aesthetic, as does a sprinkling of silk and velvet. Decus also designed an oak stair with a curving brass handrail and created an entrance hall by inserting an oak-veneered partition. An aperture in the partition provides a peek into the living area.