Expressive, Textural and Unexpected: Inside the World of Decus
people • DESIGNERS
Alexandra Donohoe Church is the creative force behind Decus, an award-winning studio renowned for its expressive interior design, blending an intuitive approach with a rebellious yet worldly spirit. Founded 15 years ago during the challenging landscape of the GFC, Decus has since established itself as a leader in crafting highly individualised residential projects of all scales. Under Alexandra’s leadership, Decus connects deeply with clients to create tailored homes that are layered with character and enlivened by spatial tensions. The studio’s focus on bespoke furniture, lighting, and joinery highlights its commitment to artisanal craft, a source of humanist energy and identity in every space.
Alexandra’s unique ability to intuitively grasp her clients’ aspirations, even when unspoken, continues to set Decus apart, with the studio’s unbridled creative energy driving outcomes that are both deeply personal and timeless.
Words: designeers
May 2025
WEBSITE: decus.com.au
INSTAGRAM: @decus_interiors
DESIGNEERS
What does the atmosphere of a Decus-designed space feel like?
Decus INTERIORS
I’d say the atmosphere we create is layered, a little unexpected, and deeply personal. We aim for a certain duality: spaces that feel elevated but still lived-in, where you can throw a dinner party one night and curl up in your robe the next. There’s always a bit of tension, softness against structure, richness against restraint.
DESIGNEERS
You’ve said you don’t do minimalism, but you do restraint. How do you strike that balance between richness and refinement?
Decus INTERIORS
It’s about knowing when to pull back. We love a bold moment, but it has to earn its place. For us, restraint isn’t about doing less; it’s about doing things with intention. Richness comes from the layering of materials, references, and emotion, not from excess.
DESIGNEERS
Is there a material, colour, or texture you find yourself obsessively returning to, something that never leaves your palette?
Decus INTERIORS
No, it’s a bit like choosing a favourite child… can’t do it! But if I had to pick three, I’d say textured render or plaster, gouge-textured timber, and a silk-linen blend—each illustrates our fascination with the role of texture in interior design, whether through upholstery, joinery, or flooring.
DESIGNEERS
What’s the Decus approach to sourcing? Who are some of your favourite suppliers you love working with?
Decus INTERIORS
We work with local craftsman Tim Noone, whose expertise in custom woodworking produces exquisite furniture and cabinetry pieces, and Ned Brokkr, whose brutalist-inspired hardware is like jewellery. Joseph Giles is our go-to for door handles. For bathware, we love Waterworks; for lighting, the Italians have nailed the tech/design lovechild in Viabizzuno. We stay faithful to the Danes with Vola tapware, and turn to Loro Piana, Pierre Frey, and Métaphores for fabric. We specify Mardegan for flooring, Tibet Sydney for bespoke rugs, and Ben Mazey for being the rock star that he is – his ceramic installations and artworks bring a looseness and joy that sit beautifully against more refined elements. For us, it’s all about finding that friction between polish and imperfection.
“For us, restraint isn’t about doing less; it’s about doing things with intention. Richness comes from the layering of materials, references, and emotion, not from excess. ”
Decus INTERIORS
DESIGNEERS
What outside the design world influences your aesthetic most deeply- fashion, film, art, or architecture?
Decus INTERIORS
Looking at the concepts we currently have on the books, I’d have to say art first, followed by jewellery and fashion, then music. It’s always surprising how things can transmute when they cross typologies or genres. Right now, I’m referencing a lot of vintage jewellery forms for shape while turning to artists for how they work with opposing colours. And when we’re trying to capture a particular feeling in a space, we’ll often anchor it with a musical reference.
DESIGNEERS
Your interiors feel very of the moment, but not trend-driven. What’s your philosophy on timelessness in design?
Decus INTERIORS
It’s widely understood that trends and fashions are cyclical, and for me, a self-confessed polyamorous lover of many, many styles, I think the skill lies in how you layer those elements to transcend the ‘of-the-nowness’ of a trend. We don’t chase trends, but we’re not afraid of the now. I think timelessness comes from knowing your references and not being afraid to rework them. If something has depth, whether it’s a colour, a silhouette, or a piece of furniture, it’ll outlast a moment.
DESIGNEERS
If you had to distill the Decus signature into three words, what would they be?
Decus INTERIORS
Expressive. Textural. Unexpected.
DESIGNEERS
When working with clients, how do you encourage them to take bold steps while still making the space feel personal and lived in?
Decus INTERIORS
There’s definitely a bit of Jedi mind-trickery involved. Often, what clients say they want isn’t quite what they actually need, so part of the job is reading between the lines. While building trust, we keep it light, add a bit of humour, and make the process feel comfortable. Once they’re with us, we don’t hold back. I’ve been known to ask, “Do you want me to tell you what you want to hear—or what I truly think you should do? Because they’re rarely the same thing.” That’s usually when the real magic starts.
DESIGNEERS
Where are you drawing inspiration from right now — any particular city, gallery, maker, or object you’ve bookmarked recently?
Decus INTERIORS
Aequo Gallery in Mumbai, which I stumbled across at PAD London last October, has a beautifully considered curation. I’ve also been deep diving into the work of Jean Lurçat, the French artist who played a major role in reviving tapestry in the first half of the 20th century. His use of colour and symbolism feels both bold and deeply poetic.
DESIGNEERS
Favourite design hotel in the world?
Decus INTERIORS
Villa La Coste, La Puy Saint-Réparade, France.
Photography Credits: Dave Wheeler, Anson Smart
