The Return of Gold: 24-Carat Gilding Is Shaping a New Era of Australian Luxury Interiors

German-trained Master artisan Krissie Mayne is bringing centuries-old European gold gilding and Verre églomisé techniques into contemporary Australian homes.

NSW, AUSTRALIA, September 29, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- While the design world continues to embrace texture, natural materials and handcrafted finishes, one centuries-old decorative art is quietly making a return to contemporary Australian interiors.

As more homeowners seek homes that feel genuinely personal rather than simply following the latest design trends, architects and interior designers are rediscovering traditional 24-carat gold gilding and Verre églomisé - the centuries-old art of gilding glass - as a way to create bespoke architectural finishes that simply can't be achieved with paint, wallpaper or manufactured surface products.

Leading that revival in Australia is decorative artist Krissie Mayne, a Certified Master of Historical Painting Techniques, Gold Gilding and Heritage Conservation.
After completing a year of Master training in Munich, Germany, Mayne brought these highly specialised European techniques back to Australia, where she collaborates with architects, interior designers and builders on high-end residential, hospitality and commercial projects.

“Clients building bespoke homes are no longer looking for the same finishes they see repeated in every luxury home on Instagram,” says Mayne.

“They want something that reflects their personality, tells the story of their home and embodies the sense of quiet luxury that's shaping today's most considered interiors. Traditional gilding offers exactly that because every finish is handcrafted and created specifically for that space.”

While gold leaf has traditionally been associated with heritage buildings and ornate interiors, Mayne says today's applications are surprisingly contemporary.
“We're not creating elaborate interiors,” she says.

“We're introducing subtle moments of light, texture and craftsmanship that complement modern architecture. It might be a feature ceiling, decorative glass, a fireplace surround or a statement wall. The techniques are centuries old, but the outcome is unmistakably contemporary.”

Growing up surrounded by historic European architecture, including a childhood spent in a 60-room Bavarian castle, Mayne developed an appreciation for decorative craftsmanship long before it became her profession.

Years later, she returned to Germany to undertake Master training in Munich, refining techniques that have adorned palaces, churches and grand residences for centuries.

Unlike paint, wallpaper or manufactured finishes, traditional gilding is created entirely by hand using genuine gold and precious metal leaf, producing bespoke surfaces that interact with changing light and can never be exactly replicated.

As Australians continue investing in bespoke homes, many are looking beyond conventional finishes in search of craftsmanship, individuality and materials with a story behind them.

Natural stone, timber and textured plaster remain fundamental elements of contemporary design, but increasingly homeowners are asking one simple question:

What will make our home different?

“The homes people remember aren't always the biggest or the most expensive,” says Mayne.

“They're the ones with a detail you've never seen before. Decorative finishes are another opportunity to create something that can't simply be specified from a catalogue.”

With relatively few artisans in Australia practising traditional European gilding techniques at a Master level, Mayne believes interest in handcrafted finishes will continue to grow as more homeowners seek authentic craftsmanship over mass-produced alternatives.

As Australians increasingly look for homes that reflect their own story rather than the latest trend, centuries-old gilding techniques are finding a new place in contemporary architecture - not simply as decoration, but as craftsmanship.

Because true luxury isn't about owning what everyone else wants. It's about creating something nobody else has.

Dani Tillett
The Ripe Idea
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