VOGUE LIVING: An Architect’s Camp Cove
Nick Tobias' 1970s-era Camp Cove home is a contemplative reflection of its relaxed beachside locale. The light and bright interiors evoke an intangible feeling of well-being which we highlighted with beautifully tactile, natural hued pieces, that compliment Nick's impressive and varied Australian art collection.
Article featured in the Nov/Dec Edition of Vogue Living, out now. Architecture by Nick Tobias. Photography by Anson Smart. Styling by Studio CD.
Just a 50-metre stroll from the slim, golden arc of harbourside beach named Camp Cove lies the newly re-imagined home of architect and art connoisseur Nick Tobias. Set on a corner, the open aspect of the two-level house—originally dark brick—was just one feature in a list of appealing traits, which led Tobias to buy the four-bedroom, five-bathroom property at auction a little over 18 months ago.
"I DEFINITELY WANTED SOMETHING LIGHT. LIGHT IN TERMS OF LUMENS, LIGHT IN TERMS OF COLOUR, AND LIGHT ENERGETICALLY. I DIDN’T WANT ANY HEAVINESS—ESPECIALLY IN THE FEEL OF THE SPACE. I WANTED IT TO BE POSITIVE AND I WANTED IT TO FEEL LIKE A HOME, NOT A SORT OF CRAZY DESIGN OBJECT.” – Nick Tobias
Alongside a long-held passion for music — a collection of guitars and a Steinway piano bequeathed by his grandmother are among Tobias’s most treasured possessions — art plays an important role in the architect’s life and his home. His creative streak—first nurtured by his artistic grandmother—was further developed in his early 20s by a close friend who happened to be on the board of the Museum of Contemporary Art [MCA] in Sydney.
Backing onto a park, with two sides facing the street, Tobias saw the property as an opportunity to create a home with a tangible link to local life. While external blinds, internal curtains and lush verdant landscaping by Myles Baldwin help control privacy, Tobias also enjoys the freedom of opening a window on a sunny day to chat with passing friends should the mood take him.
STYLING EDIT SUPPLIED BY
Furniture, Art & Decor – Space Furniture, Greg Natale, Montmartre Store, Robert Gordon, Ignem Terrae Ceramics, Polite Society, Cultiver, House of Ise.