Fritz Hansen Series 7 chair from Cult (cultdesign.co.nz)

An exercise in restraint offers a new view on luxury living in this spectacular home

Perched near the peak of prestigious Bellevue Hill, overlooking Sydney’s magnificent harbour, this imposing home offered a significant challenge to interiors expert Alexandra Donohoe Church of Decus Interiors. Architect Luigi Rosselli had artfully capitalised on the cheque book-busting views, heightening the serious stakes in creating impactful interior design.

Space Copenhagen The Mater High Stool from Cult and the Indi pendants from Articolo Lighting

Turning her back on the harbour’s glittering water, Church focussed on upscale basics to accommodate the needs of the family of six who were looking for a ‘forever’ house. Rather than filling the space with distracting objects, pieces were carefully edited with a focus on making materials top quality.


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Oluce Atollo table lamp from ECC, CTO Lighting Heron floor lamp from ECC, Moroso Redondo armchair from Matisse and B&B Italia Ray sofa from Matisse
Tom Dixon Tank Decanter from ECC
Minotti Prince armchair from ECC, Minotti Jacob coffee table from ECC, Painting: Philip Wolfhagen’s landscape ‘Third Proposition: Triptych’ and walls in Resene Quarter Fossil
Minotti Lawrence sofa from ECC and Minotti Prince armchair from ECC, Walter Knoll Oki table from Matisse and walls in Resene Quarter Fossil
Branching bubble chandelier by Lindsey Adelman and walls in Resene Quarter Fossil

Balancing the building’s classic feel with contemporary demands, travertine slab walls and doors were used at the entry, with woven bronze mesh offering a slightly more obvious glint of luxury. Then dark oak flooring solidly anchored the floor, with Church mixing things up by delivering a lighter stain in the living areas, warmer tones in the study and dining area before offering a deeper experience in the expansive walk-in wardrobe.

Paola Lenti Kaba armchairs from ECC, Roda Harp armchairs from ECC and Roda Teka Dining table from ECC
Gallotti e Radici pendants from ECC, Knoll Saarinen Executive chair from Studio Italia and Rina Menardi Lagoon bowls from ECC
Painting: ‘The Envoy’ by Alexander McKenzie

It was in the areas where the view takes a backseat, such as the dining area where you should do your best to look at loved ones and in the powder room, where mirror inspections are mandatory, that extra details could be added. Above the accommodating Christopher Delcourt dining table, two Gallotti e Radici pendants light the space, dangling like daring earrings. While in the powder room the basin is encased in stone that features colours swirling like a Japanese ink print.

Victoria + Albert bath from Robertson Bathware

In other areas, such as the bedrooms, the palette is restrained to blues and greens with dashes of grey and playful shots of mustard and pink.

The result is one that matches the ‘forever’ brief, offering a happily ever after for the owners.

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