At Home With James Vivian

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There’s an old (old) saying that you shall not covet your neighbour’s house.

But when that house is Highbury Grove, belongs to an architect friend, and was recently renovated by said friend’s architecture practice Ritz & Ghougassian — well, who could blame James Vivian and Ben Esakoff for the aforementioned coveting?

Finding the walls of their Cremorne cottage “slowly closing in on us over lockdown 1 - 1000” the dermal therapist (slash Viviology skincare founder) and Ena Pelly general manager began looking at larger properties in their home city of Melbourne.

When nothing quite clicked, James and Ben set their sights on country properties, using them as a weekend space, and retaining their current home for Monday to Friday living.

“Unfortunately, we kept being outbid.”

So, if you’re wondering how they came upon their current home — their friend's former place — it all started “in jest.” A text to Gilad Ritz (of Ritz & Ghougassian) — asking if he wanted to sell Highbury Grove — sealed the deal. Actually, it was an out-and-out “yes!”.

james vivian and husband ben asakoff pose in corner of their living room. james leans against wall, wearing navy striped pants, patterned autumnal polo, sneakers. ben sits on textured chair, one leg resting atop the other, wearing all black

Having an “appreciation for Ritz and Ghougassian” as architects and people, and “not having to do anything” to the home in terms of renovation — well, the next step came down to combining two opposing aesthetics within the space.

Ben is “minimal, tonal, understated and all about letting the house do all the talking”. On the other end of the spectrum, you’ve got the colour, texture and exuberance that James prefers — someone who “likes to add his own flare to his surroundings.”

Or as they tell us: “Here in lies the eternal push and pull between our two aesthetics.”

Luckily for them, Highbury Grove itself has two distinct components: a heritage overlayed front of home, retained and restored, and then a renovated extension. The former has been overtaken by James with “artwork and decor that suits his style”, whilst newer zones “let the architecture do the talking”, and are “more pared back.”

split image. left: marble and wood dining table with blue vase on top, patterned chair tucked in. artwork leans against wall. right: kitchen shot with marble counters and wood cupboards. green plant wall in background.

Once inside “you really could be anywhere in the world.” Think hints of “Japanese architecture, mid-century nods” and so much storage it ends up defeating the purpose — “we often cannot find things.”

When it comes to homewares that suit both aesthetics, both components, and all the “hints” of the house? Vintage washed chambray and Belgian flax linen; softly textured with a contemporary feel.

With the main bedrooms’ concrete brickwork walls — that “functions as an artwork itself” — our Reilly collection in carbon acts as the perfect complement. The quilted offerings, like the sham and bed cover, subtly reflect the surrounding linework; the cool tones are seen in the silver Abbotson Linen sheeting.

landscape image of james vivian master bedroom. textured bed frame with made up bed. carbon coloured sheeting, pillowcases and bec cover with silver linen sheet. exposed brickwork walls, with large, abstract painting leaning against one wall.

Ben and James call the bedroom their favourite room in the house — more specifically, the view from the bedroom. Outlooking the internal garden, as well as the architectural lines of the renovation, reminds them of their “time in Palm Springs” — especially significant to them, as it’s where they married in 2015.

Meaning is scattered throughout their home. Sometimes, it’s in the form of a painting of a New York Ivy Halderman painting of a frankfurt sausage with high heels on, sitting on her bun. And other times, it’s the Dyson vacuum.

“The floors get really dusty,” Ben jokes.

landscape image of james vivian lounge room. long textured couch in foreground, with sheridan check westberry throw over arm. artfully scattered chairs and wooden tables throughout, and abstract orange sculpture. open space leading to garden.

As for the former? It’s “as strange as it sounds”. Permission was only granted to take the piece back to their Melbourne home — Ivy originally didn’t want it to leave the US — after the promise was made “to take the greatest care of her,” says James.

Art collecting is a great passion of James; featured throughout the home in the form of paintings, sculptures, vases and more. As to not overwhelm, decor like throws and blankets are tactile, in neutral shades like the Woodsdale cushion in their living room, or the Clara Wool Blanket that adorns the guest bedding.

split image. right: textured chair with sheridan woodsdale cushion. black bookcase with books and vase. right: exposed brickwork with colourful artwork, featuring LED lights, hung on wall.

Another passion — and the one you probably recognise him for — is skincare. There’s James Vivian the person, the skincare clinic and now the cosmeceutical skincare line, Viviology.

split image. right: shot of corner of bathroom countertop, with ash sheridan living textures towel. glass window shows palm fronds. right: james vivian wearing sheridan chiswick robe, applying viviology skincare in mirror.

Hand in hand with skincare, are lavishly soft towels — like the Living Textures Towel collection. And with an emphasis on home as a sanctuary — “a place you look forward to opening the door at the end of the day” — loungewear like the Chiswick Robe keeps James relaxed and comfortable.

“[Home] is a place to house all your favourite people and things. It evolves and shifts as you go through life.”