October, 2020
DAIMON DOWNEY'S BONDI HOME
WORDS AND STYLING Kerrie-Ann Jones
PHOTOGRAPHY Benito Martin
A vibrant art-deco apartment located in Bondi Beach is the perfect canvas for artist Daimon Downey to embrace his colourful life.
As the flamboyant former frontman to the award-winning band, Sneaky Sound System and previous owner to Sydney hot spot Pelicano, Daimon Downey is well acquainted among the Sydney social scene. These days, Daimon still leads a life full of colour, but it is now expressed on canvas, through his
work as an artist.
Daimon’s home that he shares with his fiancé Georgia and two beloved cats directly overlooks Bondi Beach and is a true reflection of his artistic style. His art and interior style gel seamlessly together with its vibrant colour, eclectic mix of old and new, with a dash of quirk. Daimon describes his interior style as “shaken not stirred, neat but wild, bright but light.”
The home is a two-bedroom art deco apartment, that boasts high
ceilings with ornate decorative mouldings. Daimon has added his
colourful flair to the interior with the use of pastel-painted walls in the
living room, kitchen and bedroom. He says “I live and work for colour so
naturally, it weaves into all aspects of my life”.
Having lived in the home for 10 years now, Daimon has put his own
stamp on the place, to reflect his charismatic personal style. The walls
are layered with art created by him and artist friends. He explains, "I
love the look of old regal mansions with their happy, colourful walls.
Artworks seem to have an extra dimension when hung on colourful
walls”. The home is also decorated with sculptures and found objects
that he has collected over the years.
As a rental home, most tenants would be concerned not to make any
impactful changes, but with a forgiving landlord, Daimon has had free
reign to make it his own and embrace his artistic expression within the apartment. One of the bedrooms has been converted into an art studio where flecks of paint litter the floors, becoming an artwork in itself. Daimon shares “respectfully we can do what we want here. I paint walls and floors the colours we want, the studio floor is like a Pollock painting, light fixtures have been modernised in places by us. We have the freedom to change things without inspection.”
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With his background in hospitality, Daimon's favourite room in the apartment is the kitchen. He says “ I love getting on the pans, and when friends are here, it's where it starts and ends.” The kitchen remains in its original condition from when he moved in however, to give it a slight cosmetic lift, Daimon painted the cupboards and pressed metal splashback.
In equal first place to the kitchen is his art studio, where Daimon is
currently working on his new exhibition inspired by faces - exploring the
notion of abstraction versus expressionism, with a play on colour.
Daimon describes his art: “I’m not a provocative artist. There is no
political agenda or angry rants from me! Art is a window on a wall, a
window looking in so the feeling is pleasing, meditative and positive. An
antidote to drama.”
Like Daimon’s art, his apartment windows also have a pleasant outlook,
onto Sydney’s famous Bondi Beach. Daimon says “this place ticks more
boxes then a ballot sheet for me. It has my home studio that breathes
the air through big bay windows straight from the ocean. It is right in the
bustle of Bondi, and it's old charm fits my vibe. The fact there is a
cocktail bar below us is dangerously fab too. So it's one big happy
(sometimes wild) family up in here!”
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QUICK QUESTIONS:
How do you describe your style?
Positive.
Do you have a design mantra you live by?
Make your own choices.
What do you love about living in Bondi?
Noise, people and the ocean.
Local secrets?
That would be breaking the code!
Who inspires you?
Doers!
Secrets to entertaining at home?
The more, the merrier.
What’s on your playlist when you are at home?
John Martin and Nick Drake.
Are you an introvert or an extravert? And what does that mean for your
approach to your home?
Extravert! The house is a peacock showing its full display.
Favourite objects in your home?
Vases