Personal Space: Inside the apartment of former Sneaky Sound System frontman Daimon Downey

Artist Daimon Downey didn’t anticipate a career in music. He spent 14 years living out of a suitcase, travelling with his dance music group Sneaky Sound System, and was sharing the stage with Robbie Williams and James Brown.

The group even scored ARIA award wins including Best Dance Release for a self-titled album in 2007. But by 2009, the fine art graduate decided it was time for a change and quit the band.

“It was a tough decision to leave … but it had to happen,” he says. “I needed to keep my feet on the ground and put some roots down and I wanted to focus on my painting as well.”

These days Downey lives in a 1930s art deco apartment in Bondi with partner Georgia Gorman. He describes his home as maximalist in style, filled with items collected while travelling, and admits there’s always room for more. “I don’t like to hoard, my home still needs to be neat.”

An abundance of natural light and a view of the ocean provide the ultimate inspiration for the artist who works from home.

“I love that I can stare down at the beach and still feel like I am in the thick of things from up here,” he says.“There are only two apartments in my building which makes it all the more special.”

A few of Daimon’s favourite things

Smeg fridge

This is a remake of a retro fridge. It’s in my colour range, a gorgeous pastel blue. It isn’t very practical because it’s not very big, but this is a case of fashion over function and I don’t really care because it makes me happy.

James Brown’s bow tie

While on tour we shared a bill with James Brown. He did a final show and was performing It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World. I was standing side of stage and James ripped off his bow tie mid-set and threw it towards me. I’ve kept it ever since.

First artwork framed

This artwork of mine is 26 years old. I studied fine art and always wanted to be an artist. That was the first piece I got framed. It’s painted on four tile panels all put together. I used acrylic paint. I also did a lot of figure and line drawing back then.

Domingo

Domingo is a rescue cat and our first boy. He is lovely and joins a few other cats we have at home. He had been shipped to three houses prior to us. He has been with us for nine months.

Arflex Italian leather chair

I have had this chair for 15 years. It’s a classic 1960s design. I went into a shop in Sydney that was closing with a tiny wad of cash and made an offer – they told me to get out. But they followed me down the street and said it was a deal. You can read a book and get to the third page and fall asleep.

Pots and paint brushes

My studio is a large room with tables that have layers of history and past exhibitions on them. I am a lazy man when it comes to brushes, though. It’s my only downfall. I put a brush in and forget to put the lid on and it’s one brush per tub and it then solidifies. I am hopeless at that.

Italian vase

This Italian vase is handmade by an artist named Corp from Puglia in Italy. This was a birthday present and it’s a unique, functional art vase. They are made exclusively for Alex and Trahanas. I love it.