When your work life is spent on the road, having the perfect place to call home becomes everything. For creative couple Stephen and Hayden, that perfect place was hiding in plain sight - just two floors above their current apartment.
When work regularly takes you and your partner to different cities - often on opposite sides of the country - having a shared and steady anchor point to return to becomes invaluable. For Stephen, a musical theatre performer and actor of 20 years, and Hayden, a seasoned musician and musical director, this reality has shaped much of their relationship.
"Even though we’re in the same industry, we're often working on different productions, in different states, at the same time. We’ve even had the same opening and closing nights - just in different cities," Hayden explains.
"If I was working in Melbourne and Hayden was in Brisbane, we wouldn't come and visit each other," Stephen reflects. "We'd both come back to Sydney – to come home to see each other for the weekend. It just grounds you," he shares.
For the past seven years, ‘home’ for the pair had been their much loved (albeit compact) one bedroom apartment, situated on Gadigal Land in Sydney’s Erskineville. Like many locals, the pair had fallen for Erskineville's village charm in no time. As Stephen puts it, "It's such a beautiful melting pot of a community in terms of gender diversity, age…kids, older people, couples, families. It’s just gorgeous."
While the pair knew that the area they’d grown to love so much was where they wanted to stay, they had definitely begun to outgrow their current place and had been searching for something bigger for a while. Though, none of the places they looked at ever seemed to quite measure up.
"We kept looking at other buildings, for a place with an extra bedroom and bathroom, but nothing was quite as nice as where we were living," Stephen recalls.
Then one day, the perfect upgrade finally appeared – just two floors above them!
"It was exactly our current apartment, in the exact same building, just with a better outlook and an extra bedroom and bathroom. It just popped up at exactly the right time, and it all kind of worked," Stephen smiles. "It was amazing!"
Having the additional space has transformed how the couple live and work, particularly for Hayden.
“Being a musical director means that, effectively, I’m in charge of everything you hear when you go to see a musical,” Hayden explains. “So that’s conducting the shows, playing the piano and teaching all of the vocals - all that sort of stuff.”
“I also do some teaching and coaching in my spare time and so, one of the biggest drivers for us moving to a two-bedroom place was to be able to separate the bedroom space from the workspace," he adds.
The second room now houses his piano and a proper desk setup, creating a dedicated creative space for Hayden to work, that doesn't encroach on the living area. "Having somewhere to work and then somewhere to live has made such a difference," he shares.
For Stephen, a long-standing passion for art has recently evolved into a part-time role working with Harvey Galleries, seeing visual art become a formal part of his career, alongside acting.
"Art has always been an interest of mine,” Stephen reveals. “I've been collecting since I was about 20 and so, it's been great to get involved with the gallery over the last two years and to kind of make that a part of my career as well."
His personal collection showcases works from Australian artists like Louise Kyriakou, whose ceramic faces bring a subtle whimsy to the walls of the couple’s home, and glass artist Amanda Dziedzic, whose mesmerising, hand-blown glass ‘Yumemiru’ take pride of place on a sideboard at the apartment’s entrance. Distinctive pieces by Taiwanese-American artist, James Jean, and American artist Josh Agle (who goes by the name ‘Shag’) also feature prominently within the space, alongside treasured works by Dr. Seuss himself - Theodore Geisel - whose artistic output Stephen now helps represent through his work with Harvey Galleries.
Working in theatre can bring its own set of challenges when it comes to finances and home ownership - something that both Stephen and Hayden know all too well. Like many of their peers, they've experienced firsthand how the variable nature of creative work can make navigating major financial decisions, like buying a home, particularly complex.
The pair also know the value of being able to lean on trusted advisers that understand the nuance of financially navigating a creative career.
"Having someone who can actually give you advice on what to do, but who also has that niche understanding around your work, is really, really useful," Stephen says.
"Just being presented with all the different available options and having someone say 'Here's what our guidance would be'... that was really valuable for us,” Hayden agrees. “It helped us to feel like we were making an informed decision, based on the knowledge of people we trusted.”
Beyond the practical support, it was Pure Finance's approach to purpose-driven business that also resonated with the pair.
"When you explain what Pure Finance does and how it all works, and then also the fact that you’re doing things ethically and giving back to the community - that’s something that, I think, really appeals to people who work in the creative industry," Stephen reflects. "I think that's why so many actors and creatives now use Pure Finance, because you understand what they're going through, but then your values as a company really align with ours as well."
Now, for the first time in almost ten years together, the pair are finally working on the same production (in the same city!) the very hilarious musical comedy - Titanique - with Hayden as Musical Director and Stephen in the delightfully evil role of Rose’s mother, Ruth.
It seems a fitting coincidence for this next chapter in their lives. One where they've created not just a home, but a true creative haven they can always return to, no matter where their careers might take them next.
Stephen and Hayden’s favourite local spots in their (not so) new neighbourhood:
- Food Craft Bakery & Espresso - The pair’s favourite local cafe. "They've been feeding us for 10 years!"
- The Copper Mill - another local favourite for great coffee and brunch fare
- Pino's Vino e Cucina - A hidden gem and pasta hotspot for the rare occasions that the pair “aren’t working nights.”
Got a creative career yourself and finding it tricky to navigate the property market? We get it. And, we can help! Drop us a line: info@nullpurefinance.com.au