Decorating a blank canvas: Inside a home that resembles a gallery

Who: Ben Esakoff and James Vivian

What: Art-filled renovated heritage home

Where: Cremorne, Melbourne

Ben Esakoff and James Vivian purchased their home on Esakoff’s 30th birthday and recall standing in the back garden post-auction in disbelief that the home was now theirs. Four years later, and the couple are still pinching themselves on their good fortune.

Vivian comes from a family with a passion for preserving and celebrating Melbourne’s architectural heritage (his mum, Kristin Stegely, is an activist in heritage protection), and this love of built history carries through to his own property. The home was originally built in 1893, and retains many of its original features.

This blending is partly achieved through the couple’s extensive collection of contemporary Australian and international art. The cherished collection was “born out of the need to fill some empty spaces” and evolved into a new passion. They both follow a gut-response strategy to purchasing, where they only collect pieces that they “have a chemical attraction to and cannot live without”.

In a similar fashion to the evolution of their art collection, Esakoff and Vivian’s decorating style developed only once they moved in. Vivian says: “Before we purchased the home, neither Ben or I would say we really had a personal style.” As they inherited a renovated space, there was no need for structural changes, and the home has instead offered a fresh canvas on which to explore their developing aesthetic.

As it is a relatively small home, the couple needs every space to be functional and beautiful, with “no room for redundant zones”. Esakoff and Vivian began by introducing large furniture items from Jardan, and then seeking inspiration from their favourite stores in Melbourne, including Hub, Space, Loom and Euroluce.

The couple’s own cheerfully sophisticated aesthetic has been gently massaged by the help of friend Zoe Murphy, who assisted with the styling and decorating. “There were a few bits and pieces that were out of our wheel house, and we appreciated someone casting their eye over the space,” Vivian says.

Murphy also shared Vivian and Esakoff’s love of colour, which has been thoughtfully splashed throughout the home.

While Esakoff suggests that the best aspect of the home is its proximity to the MCG (he’s a one-eyed Demons fan), it is clear that for both he and Vivian, this home is genuinely cherished. Four years after moving in, they are still thrilled to walk in the door each day after work. “We’re extremely lucky and we know it,” they say.

Display wall art

It’s easy to feel a little uninformed on the subject of art. There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to displaying art, but here are a few guidelines.

• There’s no such thing as too big – a large artwork always looks great, no matter what size the wall.
• Try grouping four or more small artworks together in a “salon hang” – group by theme such as colour palette, or subject matter.
• Favourite smaller artwork should be given some breathing room. Hang at eye level on a narrow section of wall, between windows or doors.
• Artwork should be well-lit to be enjoyed. Don’t hang paintings in shadowy corners.