Inside the Margaret River home offering a coastal lifestyle without the clichés

When Alexandra Donohoe Church, founder and managing director of Decus Interiors, first set foot on the site that gave rise to this mighty residence in Margaret River, there was nothing but a vacant block of bush and sand to be seen.

Aside from the spectacular natural setting, what sealed the deal were the fundamentally aligned values shared by the Sydney-based designer and her client.

“Once we began getting to know one another, we discovered [they] were as family-focused as we are – my son was only 10 months old when he accompanied us on our first site visit,” explains Alexandra.

“They fell in love with our approach, which they said gave them confidence the outcome would be uniquely ‘them’.”

The brief called for a home that could accommodate three generations of family without feeling crowded.

A house that could expand and retract to suit its occupancy, while allowing independence and autonomy for all.

Any typical references of “coastal living” were to be avoided.

“No whitewash, salvaged coral or sailboat motifs in sight,” says Alexandra.

“The clients loved how we worked with the richness of colour and texture, allowing us to inject a little fun.”

Aside from their client’s enthusiasm for colour, robust bushland and coastline setting were the key drivers for Decus’ textural approach to the interiors.

Divided into distinct zones—essentially three separate homes under one roof—materials and finishes vary from one space to another.

“Each zone was reflective of its primary user: the mature couple, the young family, and the young professional couple,” says Alexandra.

“For example, we opted for more robust and playful materials in the spaces occupied by children, and a more sophisticated palette for the adult spaces – differing ideas and personalities dovetailing to achieve the end result.”

The main house addresses the needs of the permanent residents, with centralised communal spaces for everyone to come together, with a quiet main bedroom retreat located on the upper level.

Along the western edge is a private wing with a comfortable apartment-like space for one of the clients’ adult children.

A compact secondary home sits to the east – a playful and family-friendly dwelling for a young family of five.

Sourcing furniture and lighting from local suppliers and artisans was another priority of the project.

Key pieces include the solid bronze front door handle by Melbourne maker Christopher Boots, whose striking Abacus pendant also floats above the dining area.

Numerous Australian-made furniture pieces by Nau, Adam Goodrum, Nathan Day, Made by Morgan, Jardan, plus several custom rugs by Whitecliffe and Spence & Lyda bring warmth and authenticity.

Alexandra further elaborates: “The master en suite pendant – Sempre Mia by Mario Nanni for Viabizzuno – is a personal favourite, as is the ASMR textural wallpaper by Bien Fait in the kids’ room – that’s Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response for the uninitiated.

And let’s not forget the stunning vinyl wallpaper by Elitis Taroko in the rumpus room. Artwork Fleeting 2021 by Tamara Dean in the cinema room is another highlight.”

The list of custom pieces is significant in this project too.

Alongside their upholsterer, Decus produced a snake-like lounge in the cinema room that took a fair bit of testing in Sydney before perfecting the outcome.

Furniture maker Jonathan West, who Alexandra describes as a “true hero”, custom-made more than 15 pieces found throughout the home.

From grandparents to grandchildren, this home addresses varying aesthetic sensibilities and complex functional needs.

Not only delivering democratic access to light, views and landscape, the house also allows the family to connect with ease while giving everyone adequate levels of privacy – the gold standard in multigenerational holidaying.