Personal Space: At home with The Bachelor's Matty J

Sydney-based radio presenter and ex-reality TV star Matthew Johnson (known by many as Matty J) lives in Bondi with his fiancee Laura Byrne and their one-year-old daughter Marlie-Mae.

Best known as a contestant on The Bachelorette and a year later as The Bachelor (where he met Byrne), the 33-year-old has shelved his overseas work trips (he was supposed to be filming a second season of Luxury Escapes for Network 10) to be a stay-at-home dad while also making podcasts.

Their spacious ground floor apartment is a 10-minute walk to the beach, and eclectically styled with a mix of art on the walls, cowhide rugs and plenty of plants. There’s a menagerie of treasures collected along the way and proof that a baby is in the house too.

“It’s very mish-mash and eclectic and is a true reflection of our personalities,” says Johnson, who is also the new face of the first men’s skincare range for Swisse.

“My work really slowed down with COVID-19, but in hindsight I get to spend all this time at home with Marlie-Mae, which I would have missed out on if I was overseas,” says Johnson, who adds that Byrne’s jewellery business Toni May has accelerated during isolation.

“Being a stay-at-home dad has been amazing, but having the podcast has been another outlet for me and it meant I didn’t lose my work identity, which has done wonders too.”

A few of Matty’s favourite things

The dog 

Laura fostered Buster before we met. I never had a dog of my own and he’s an adopted family member now. We hang out every day. He is a Bull Arab, six-and-a-half years old and weighs 40 kilos.

Podcast equipment 

I had the opportunity to start a podcast in November last year called The Babble. I never had any desire to start one, but Nova asked if I was interested. It began as a little side project (with Natalie Bassingthwaighte) and has become something I really enjoy.

I record two episodes every Wednesday. I didn’t realise how much I would rely on this in lockdown. I cover pop culture and news in one podcast and conduct a conversation with someone in media in the other. The recording equipment is my life right now.

The road bike 

I bought the Trek road bike nine years ago and it had been sitting in storage for a long time. When I relocated to London five years ago, I wasn’t sure whether to get rid of it or not. I’m glad I kept it. I am now right into that passion again. I usually ride two to three times a week and bash out about 50 kilometres.

Scented candle 

One of Laura’s staff members made this for her as a gift last Christmas. When it comes to styling a home it’s not a huge priority for me, but I do love candles. We light it at night and I have become the candle guy in isolation. I love the smell and the fact it’s handmade. It makes it a bit more special.

Photo of Laura and Marlie-Mae 

I bought my Olympus camera into the birth of our daughter and didn’t know if I would have time to use it or if Laura would be too exhausted. I remember the doctors had left the room 45 minutes after our daughter was born and I was behind Laura and picked up the camera. It was a beautiful moment. I have that framed on my bedside table – my two girls.

Backpack 

I bought this when I was living London between 2012-16 and working in marketing not getting paid much. A few years into my career there, I got a promotion and took a step up to be an account director. I had never bought anything designer before – it was never on my radar. I would cycle into work and I wanted a stylish backpack to take with me. I spotted this stupidly expensive brand Mismo – it cost $1000. It’s leather and canvas and made in Denmark. I still use it when I go out.

 Silvercuff 

Laura made me this cuff on The Bachelor. On the date prior, we named a star Mattaura at the Observatory in Sydney – the coordinates of that star are engraved underneath the cuff. She gave it to me on the show. I have never been one for jewellery, but this is the one item I wear every day and never take off. It’s a reminder of how we came together.