While his New York eerie was all about the night this Miami, Florida townhouse is bright as a day. Interior designer Michael Dawkins layers marble and linen, patinaed wood and shots of living green. Cool interiors call like sirens while darker retreats pull you further in from the sun.

The master of light and shade, interior designer Michael Dawkins, crafts beautifully layered, sophisticated interiors. This New York apartment is moody, dark and delicious, a chiaroscuro retreat high in a Gotham City tower.

It’s the weekend and you have to work. No need to look so glum if your work place is as amazing as Napoleon Perdis‘ palace to beauty and glamour. On Chapel St in Melbourne’s South Yarra it’s a retail fantasy of cosmetics, fashion, home decor and makeup academy. Installation and emporium. OTT and theatrical. Stagy and sexy. Dirty blonde chandelier anyone? By Studiobird.

Design collaborators Charity Edwards and Harry Evans. Photography Christine Francis.

A historic facade and thoroughly modern out the back. Yes another fabulous old meets new Aussie extension. In the suburb of Medindie in the inner-north of Adelaide, South Australia. By William Burton Leopardi. I think the architects description of how it all came about is great.

“Don’t kill the tree!” A gnarly pepper tree formed the planning challenge of an addition for a young family to their Victorian era home. A pool, small block, desire for light, space and ‘room to grow’ rounded out the brief and reaffirmed the challenge. Space for all, parents and kids, and an enthusiasm to embrace this as the “opportunity of a lifetime” allowed for delightful layering of function, whimsy and contemporary eclectism – oh…..and “don’t want to see the kitchen.”

With a stunning ocean view that could easily overwhelm any interior, Sydney design studio Decus have created a modern home with a luxury beach-meets-city sophistication that more than holds its own. Tamarama House is about drama and retreat, light and dark, private and public, casual and classy… and seriously sexy bathrooms.

Architecture Porebski Architects. Photography Justin Alexander.