Architecture — KA Design Studio
Interior Design — Decus
Photography — Anson Smart
After a considered architectural reimagining by KA Design Studio — including the addition of an upper level — this once-modest residence now rises across three storeys, redefined as a multi-generational retreat with sweeping views over Sydney’s Vaucluse and Watson’s Bay.
Stepping across the threshold, the eye is immediately drawn upward. At the home’s heart, a soaring double-height cupola not only invites in an abundance of natural light, but sets the tone for the spatial rhythm throughout — a careful balance of grandeur and restraint. This central gesture floods light into the adjacent library and living spaces, and guides movement up a sweeping staircase to the family’s private quarters above.
This sense of quiet drama is matched by a meticulous commitment to detail. Beyond the atrium, a sculptural 20-seat dining table and bespoke bronze rangehood anchor the home’s convivial kitchen and dining zone — a space equally fit for family meals and lively gatherings. Elevation and nuance are everywhere, from oak-lined cabinetry to tiered custom seating, and a layered materiality that nods to the home’s unapologetically 80s origins, while rewriting them in Decus’ characteristically refined dialect.
Founder and Managing Director Alexandra Donohoe Church leaned into the home’s original spirit with gumption, weaving in global architectural cues, from Brazilian and Mexican screening to richly coloured accents in burgundy, mauve and ink, lending rhythm, depth, and a distinction that makes the home stand out for its uniqueness while not being overly ‘loud’.
This philosophy echoes in more intimate zones, too. An arched, Flemish-glass aperture reveals a snug library lined floor-to-ceiling with books, where a hidden staircase leads to a self-contained lower level housing a games room, wine cellar, gym, sauna, and cinema room — all of which come together to create a spirited, self-contained hub that contrasts the calm composure of the upper floors. Here, the tone is playful and generous, with tactile finishes and bespoke detailing that invite both engagement and retreat.
The top storey (a new addition) is dedicated to the family’s sleeping quarters, including a timber-lined main suite that spills out to a north-facing terrace with views across the bay. The children’s bedrooms, each with ensuites and built-in nooks, create moments of independence within the home’s broader interconnectedness. A shared study and reading space encourages quiet focus, rounding out the upper floor’s thoughtful planning.
Throughout, Decus has embraced contrast; light and shadow, polish and texture, structure and softness. Their bespoke pieces, crafted in collaboration with Atelier Furniture and a constellation of Australian makers, further underscore the home’s identity which, at its core, is unapologetically bold yet supremely considered. Venetian plaster, hand-trowelled accents, and richly veined stone heighten the sensory experience while remaining grounded in the studio’s ethos of elegance, ease, and wit.
At once a sanctuary and a stage, Patchwork House captures the dualities that define its residents in a home that is lively yet inward-looking; sophisticated yet unafraid of fun. It’s both a home for hosting and an introvert’s paradise. And just like its name, it wears its layered influences with confidence in a playful, poetic celebration of family, place, and personality.
Patchwork House is built on the lands of the Gadigal and Birrabirragal people.
