Art Deco Interior Design Sydney — Apartments Built to Last

• Stepped and fluted motifs in wardrobe doors, vanities and media units (refined, not busy).

• Rounded corners on islands and consoles to soften tight circulation.

• Shadow lines to keep elements floating and light.

• Hardware : small‑scale, weighty pieces in unlacquered brass or bronze—jewellery, not costume.

Metals are the ‘liner notes’ of Art Deco interior design Sydney :

• Satin brass and blackened bronze for warmth and depth.

• Opaline glass and ribbed shades for soft diffusion.

• Picture lights and low‑level glows (toe‑kicks, shelf washes) to model form without glare.

• Internal glazed doors with fine bars (2×2 or 3×2 grids) move daylight through the plan and nod to Deco without pastiche.

• Use reeding or acid‑etched glass where privacy is needed; keep stiles and rails slim so the composition stays elegant.

• For solid doors, a single stepped profile and a low plinth line reference the era while staying crisp.

• Layer a Roman blind with full‑height curtains to control daylight and echo lobby drapery from the period—practical and quietly glamorous.

• Underlay and generous rugs soften acoustics in hard‑surfaced rooms; borders on rugs subtly reinforce geometry.

• Plan three lighting modes per space: ambient (pendants, coves), task (directional spots), and accent (picture lights, toe‑kicks). Dimming is non‑negotiable.

• Keep the Deco calm by concealing power, chargers and modems within joinery; specify grommets and lip‑edge trays for cable discipline.

• Motorised blinds and smart dimmers add comfort without visual clutter.

• If a television is needed in a formal room, panel it into the joinery behind pocket doors or a hinged artwork.

When we talk Art Deco interior design Sydney , our sketchbooks fill quickly after a short loop through Potts Point and Elizabeth Bay: stepped parapets, metal balconies, deep reveals, and portals that celebrate thresholds. Macleay Regis remains a favourite reference for planning—wide corridors, generous foyers, and light handled with intent. We translate those lessons indoors: stronger entries, better storage, more gracious movement, and a refined material palette that feels unequivocally urban.

Look closely at the neighbourhood and you’ll also notice brickwork modulation that creates rhythm without heavy ornament; shadow lines at cornices that make ceilings feel taller; and balustrade geometries that are graphic but never loud. These are the cues we borrow: a border here, a reveal there, a stepped profile that catches light. The point isn’t imitation—it’s absorbing the logic so a contemporary renovation feels like it belongs.

We also pay attention to thresholds . Many interwar buildings celebrate arrival—vestibules, archways, framed portals. Inside an apartment or terrace, we echo that with a defined entry (storage, mirror, a single statement light) and clearer transitions between public and private zones. This is what makes a compact floor plan feel resolved rather than compromised.

Finally, material honesty . Outdoors you’ll see brick, stone and metal ageing gracefully. Indoors we follow suit: timber underfoot, stone where it earns its keep, metals that patinate, and painted profiles that give depth to otherwise plain walls. The effect is calm, urban and enduring.

Entry

• Reinstated cornice and a stepped skirting to frame the space.

• Built‑in console with fluted detail, mirror and concealed shoe drawers.

• Opaline pendant and a single picture light create layered glow.

Living

• Herringbone oak with a subtle border.

• Curved coffee table and rounded sofa corners to aid circulation.

• Picture lights that graze artwork—no overhead glare.

Kitchen

• Door profiles with a single step; no heavy routing.

• Viola marble splashback paired with unlacquered brass taps.

• Glazed internal doors with fine, geometric bars for natural light transfer.

Bathroom

• Checkerboard floor scaled to the room (not too small).

• Reeded glass for privacy; arched mirror in a fine brass frame.

• Warm limestone walls to soften the graphic floor.

Bedrooms

• Wardrobe doors in a stepped profile; low plinth to keep it airy.

• Fabric shades for bedside lighting; soft switches at the entry.

These moves deliver Art Deco interior design that feels effortless day‑to‑day while honouring its architectural roots.

• Define the entry. Built‑in console, mirror, concealed shoe drawers; set the lighting tone here.

• Align an axis. Frame a view to the brightest window or a favourite artwork from the front door.

• Reintroduce profiles. A stepped cornice and skirting bring scale back without fuss.

• Checkerboard, scaled right. 300–450mm modules in small rooms; add a border to finish edges cleanly.

• Herringbone with a border. Classic underfoot; keeps furniture layouts tidy.

• A glazed door between rooms. Light sharing without losing definition—use fine glazing bars.

• Fluted vanity or wardrobe. One disciplined gesture adds texture and shadow play.

• Picture lights over art and joinery. Warm, directional accent beats flat down lights.

• Round the corners. Islands, consoles and coffee tables with rounded edges improve flow.

• One statement stone. A single expressive slab (Viola, Nero, limestone) anchors the palette.

• Theme‑park Deco. Too many motifs at once dilutes the architecture. Choose one or two and repeat with restraint.

• Wrong‑scale patterns. Tiny checks feel busy; oversize checks overwhelm. Right‑size to the room.

• Over‑polished metals. Mirror‑bright brass everywhere can feel harsh; prefer satin or aged finishes.

• Fussy door routing. Deep profiles collect dust and date quickly; keep steps shallow and crisp.

• Ignoring lighting. A grid of downlights flattens everything—layer task, ambient and accent instead.

• Compromising on hardware quality. Handles are the handshake of the home; weight matters.

• Phase 1: Entry + lighting. Quick wins that set tone and functionality without major disruption.

• Phase 2: Floors + profiles. Lay new timber or refinish; add cornices and skirtings before paint.

• Phase 3: Key joinery. Wardrobes, media and a single hero vanity or kitchen island.

• Phase 4: Wet areas. Bathrooms and kitchen upgrades once the language is set.

• Procurement tip: Lock hardware, lighting and stone early—lead times can shape the schedule.

• Retain and repair where possible: original doors, timber floors and quality hardware.

• Specify durable materials that wear in, not out.

• Insulate discreetly and seal gaps at windows and doors; comfort is part of longevity.

Our process is clear and collaborative. We begin with a consultation to understand how you live and what the architecture offers. From there, we develop a concept grounded in proportion and materials, advance it through design documentation , and coordinate procurement and installation so the finished home reads as one, coherent story. The aim is simple: a home that feels calm, layered and built to last.

Ready to bring this lens to your own home?
 Enquire about an Art Deco Design Review  — a focused session to test your floor plan, material palette and joinery details through an Art Deco lens. We’ll give you clear next steps and the confidence to move forward.

How do I avoid a themed look?
Let architecture lead. Use proportion, profiles and materials first; save pattern for rugs or a single stone gesture.

Can Deco work in small apartments?
Yes—clarity of planning is the point. Curved corners, shallow profiles and reflective surfaces keep compact spaces graceful.

Which metals pair best?
Satin brass or blackened bronze. Both age well and echo historic hardware without feeling costume.

Do I need original features?
Nice if you have them, not essential. We re‑introduce clues—a cornice, a border, a glazed door—to rebuild character.

What’s a sensible first step?
Start at the entry. Define arrival, edit storage, set the lighting tone—then let that language move through the home.

Art Deco interior design Sydney endures because it balances planning discipline with gentle glamour. At Gray & Co., we translate local building cues—proportion, geometry, honest materials—into apartments and houses that are calm, enduring and richly detailed. The result is not a replica; it’s a modern home with the kind of character you feel every day.

Graham Simmonds, Principal Designer, Gray & Co.
Graham leads each project with an architectural lens—clarifying planning, refining materials, and layering character. Based in Sydney, Gray & Co. delivers end‑to‑end residential design and considered retail curation.