About
Meet Deborah Townsendthe designer behind SAGE.
For more than two decades, Deborah has helped homeowners across South East Queensland shape interiors that feel calm, considered and unmistakably theirs — design that is personal, thoughtful and centred around the way people live.
Deborah in the SAGE studio, Brisbane.
Meet Deborah
A considered approachto home design & decor.
SAGE INTERIOR DESIGN & DECOR was founded on a simple belief: that a well-designed home should support the way you live — not just look beautiful in photographs. Deborah Townsend has spent her career working alongside homeowners and renovators across South East Queensland, helping them shape spaces that feel calm, considered and deeply personal.
“Every home tells a story. My role is to listen carefully, then translate it into spaces that feel inevitable.”
Her approach blends quiet listening with experienced design direction. She works closely with each client to understand the rhythm of their daily life, the way they like to gather, the way light moves through their rooms, and the materials that bring them comfort. Every selection — from a paint colour to a sofa to the weight of a curtain — is made with intention.
Deborah came to interior design through a long-held fascination with the connection between our environment and our wellbeing. She believes a home should be a place to soften, to be cared for, and to live well — and she designs every project through that lens.
“Good design isn’t about a signature look. It’s about a space that feels unmistakably right for the people who live in it.”
Today, SAGE works with homeowners, renovators, downsizers and boutique commercial clients across Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast, offering everything from a single Design Direction Consultation through to complete end-to-end interior design.
I believe a home should feel as good to live in
as it looks.
Deborah Townsend — Founder, SAGE INTERIOR DESIGN & DECOR
Our Philosophy
It's not just about how a space looks Design is about how it feels to live in.
Five principles guide every project we take on — each one a quiet commitment to the people whose home we’re shaping.
- 01
Design should support everyday life
Function comes first — interiors must work for how you actually live.
- 02
Beauty and function, together
Neither is enough on its own; we resolve both at once.
- 03
Homes that reflect the people in them
Your home should feel like you, refined — not a designer’s portfolio piece.
- 04
Timeless over trendy
We design for a decade ahead, not a season.
- 05
Thoughtful over fashionable
Every decision earns its place. Nothing is filler.
Our Process
The SAGE Blueprint a clear path forward.
Four considered stages, designed to remove guesswork and replace it with clarity, momentum and confidence.
- 01
Design Consultation
Clarify the project vision, needs, priorities, and next steps.
- 02
Brief Interpretation & Design Concept
Translate the brief into a clear creative direction and point of view.
- 03
Design Development & Selections
Develop the scheme and resolve key materials, finishes, and selections.
- 04
Procurement, Placement & Guidance
Support sourcing, ordering, and final placement with oversight.
Who We Work With
Clients who value considered, personal design.
- 01
Homeowners
Refining a home you intend to love for years to come.
- 02
Renovators
Guiding selections, layouts and finishes through every stage.
- 03
Downsizers
Crafting a smaller home that feels rich, calm and complete.
- 04
Empty Nesters
Reimagining your home for this next chapter of life.
- 05
New Home Builders
Curating interiors that elevate a brand-new build.
- 06
Apartment Owners
Making compact, considered spaces feel generous.
- 07
Boutique Commercial
Hospitality and retail interiors with a residential warmth.
Why Clients Choose SAGE
The reasons people stay, refer and come back to us.
Personal guidance from Deborah
Every project is led personally by Deborah — you’re never handed to a junior or a templated process.
A structured design process
The SAGE Blueprint gives you clarity at every stage, from first conversation to final styling.
Thoughtful recommendations
Selections that suit how you live — not what’s trending — chosen with intention and restraint.
Access to trusted suppliers
A considered network of makers, trades and brands developed over years of practice.
Clarity and confidence
We replace the overwhelm of choice with a clear, beautifully resolved direction.
Enduring, timeless outcomes
Interiors designed to feel right today and continue to feel right ten years from now.
Client Voices
Words from the people we’ve had the privilege of designing for.
Working with Deborah took the overwhelm out of our renovation. She listened, guided us, and the result feels like us — only better.
Lucy & James
New Farm renovation
Deborah’s calm expertise gave us so much confidence. Every detail feels considered, and our home finally feels finished.
Anna M.
Sunshine Coast home
She has a rare gift for understanding how a family actually lives. The home is beautiful, but more importantly it works.
The Henderson Family
Ascot residence
Begin the journey
Ready to create a home that feels right for you?
Start with a complimentary 15-minute introductory call, or book your Design Direction Consultation today.