Desa Bell is a home shaped by story, materiality and a sense of togetherness. Located on the Gold Coast, the residence reflects interior designer Madison Bell’s belief that homes should feel like extensions of the people who live within them - layered, welcoming and deeply personal.

Designed as both a home and creative studio, the residence brings together natural materials, textured surfaces and carefully considered details. It is calm yet expressive, grounded in intention rather than trend.

The name Desa, meaning “village” in Indonesian, speaks to Bell’s deep connection to Bali, a place woven through both her personal life and creative practice.

It is where a love story began, where a wedding was held, and a destination that continues to inspire through its warmth, texture and sense of community.

That spirit of togetherness carries through the home, shaping spaces designed for gathering, conversation and ease.

The guiding brief for the redesign was simple: to create a home that feels like a holiday. Bell translated this idea through atmosphere - a sense of softness, tactility and emotional warmth informed by her travels across Asia, Central America and the Mediterranean.

Materiality was central to making the home feel alive and lived-in and Bell leant towards a warm, hand-crafted aesthetic. Throughout the home, lime plaster walls meet rich timber flooring, linen drapery and textured surfaces. Objects and furnishings are a mix of bespoke and vintage, creating a layered collection that feels meaningful and timeless.

“I think both the materiality and the furniture curation reflect my desire to create interiors that are functional and poetic – where craftsmanship, light and sculptural forms elevate the every day.”

- Madison Bell

Natural stone plays a defining role in the home. Fleur Studios Co-Founder, Wesley, worked closely with Madison to personally source the marble and onyx for the home - used across the bathroom, kitchen and more. A service we don’t typically offer here at FS, but one that felt important given the significance of this project and the longstanding friendship with Madison.

 “We were so fortunate that Wesley’s knowledge and expertise were available to us because of our friendship. He assisted us in procuring our curated selection of marbles and onyx, enabling us to achieve the calibre of luxury materials we envisioned for our home.”

Fleur Studios furniture designs feature throughout the residence, selected to complement the architecture and material palette. The Elio Dining Chair, Cleo Stool, Beau Bench Seat and Marni Vase are some of the designs selected to accompany the home.

Throughout Desa Bell Residence, design is approached as something to be felt
rather than noticed.

“I want spaces to quietly support the way people live — where function, light and materiality work together without drawing attention to themselves.”

The result is a home with a strong sense of self — shaped by memory, collaboration and a deep understanding of how interiors can hold meaning.

A residence designed not to impress, but to welcome.

Designer: Desa Bell

Builder: Carl Bradshaw Construction

Photography: Kristian Van Der Beek

As seen in: The Local Project