Jacksen Hayes

Spacial Dwellers

Brisbane, QLD, Australia

Welcome to the first episode of Spacial, a series which explores the spaces of local people and designers. Today we’re exploring the dwelling space of the 32 years young, Brisbane born-and-bread Jacksen Hayes of Teneriffe. At 100 kg’s and 30 years old, Jacksen’s proudest achievement was completing his first half Iron man in 6 hours and 6 minutes.

Jacksen has a pedigree of creative endeavours including graphic artist entries, running a national advertising studio, to creatively leading high profile brands. Nowadays Jacksen flaunts his creative and systems orientated skills in all things operations for the NXT LVL Australia Community. We are kicking off the series with a very talented specimen, join us as he shares some valuable insights into his creative mind.

+ What is the most important space/room to you?

The most important space to me in my house is my bedroom.

+ How much time do you spend in this space daily?

As my must humbled environment and that where I recharge my ability to impact the world around me, I do spend the best piece of each day in my bedroom. From 10:30pm the night before, through to 8:30am the morning of, my ritual keeps me honest and true to my standards around each day. I do not leave until it is tidy and my bed is made!

+ How do you use this space?

This is at essence where I recharge, it is where I reset on a day when a lot of energy is expelled outside of this room, but rarely outside of these walls. It’s a place to lay my head, but also prep myself for battle. It allows me to get into a state and reach my potential flow for that day and I know when I leave here, I’ll only return when it’s time to do that reset. It is my sanctuary, it is somewhere I hold true and I don’t bring any outside work in here, in saying that it is the most comfortable space in the entire building. It has a lot of me in it and a lot of sentimental, forget the visual aesthetics of it.

+ What’s a specific feeling you get from this space?

Calmness. Its the only place I feel calm. In this light right now, I could just sit and do nothing.

+ How would you describe this space to someone who hasn’t seen it?

An over sized bedroom, which would rival any New York / Manhattan Apartments in size but it is homely. It is a space that allows self-containment. It is a large room that has very specific furniture although it was on display, an ensuite a walk in robe, a sink and storage that allows for it to feel like a hotel you wish you had access to. Its a space where I can lock the door and set myself for 6 hours.

+ Do you have a favorite time of day to be in this space?

As the sun rises over Brisbane and the sunlight from 150 mil km’s away breaks through to reflect off my full length mirror – this is easily the most magical part of my day.

+ Do you listen to any music or audio in this space? If so, what genre & out loud or in private?

Within the sanctuary of my room, the genre of beat is predominately a form of deep chill and beach tunes. Each and every time, it allows me to go back to a period standing on the imperfect white sands of Mexico, with local brew in hand, conversation flowing and the crystal teal waters of the coast shifting against my skin as a similar tune plays as nominal noise. Whilst slow and emotionally driven, turn that sh*t up to 11!

+ Are you open to share this space with others or are you tentative about inviting people in?

I am very tentative about allowing others to experience this treasured space. Even amongst loved ones (no romantic). It remains mostly out of bounds beyond the ability to reflect on the decorating and lead into a rouse. It is my museum of my each day – access is limited to VIP ticket holders only.

+ How often do you allow this space to get messy, if ever?

I allow myself a grace period of 2 hours each morning where the ‘mess’ is not controlled by fanatic attention to detail. “But why Jacksen? Because without the mess, what will I clear up!”

+ Is there anything forbidden in this space?

My second closet houses my triathlon gear from years of pounding the pavement in vision of achieving my next level fitness goals. It also contains a chest full of personal memorabilia that I collect to represent the years and decades of my life. A one-box-to-sum-up-the-years approach to hoarding… something that I am very fond of and only review two or three times a year. Restricted no access area, VIP’s only.

+ Whats your favorite item, furniture or feature in this space?

Colour. Colour brings me calmness. I use a lot of greys and blacks to invoke my sense of calm. If i was to say one area that brings me calmness it’s the corner that has my prized bike. It’s displayed like a work of art and to me I treat is as though it is art and that sits next to a full length mirror. In a way, the corner is an embodiment of me in a reflection of me. Take everything else away, and that says more about me than anything else in this room.

+ Does every piece of furniture and items need to cohere with one another or can they be random and irrational?

Coherence is essential. Every item for a minimalistic purpose and every action for an intended reaction – I don’t purchase anything in my life, I collect memories and feelings through objects.

+ How have you given your character to this space?

Well everything is my touch, i am not somebody who buys into consumerism although I will purchase something when it feels right. Evidence of that is I slept on a mattress, come to think of it was a loan mattress for 2 months until I found the bed that was right.

A big component also that I’ve modified to make this me is the artwork. Computer generated graphics to hand sculptured canvas but the biggest art piece was one that I printed and framed when I worked for a printing company.

+ What’s one piece of design advice you could offer to someone who wants to get creative about the design of their space?

Colour creates emotion and what you feel is dictated by factors beyond your knowledge – Environment is key. When starting out with a canvas, choose the ‘feeling’ you are most looking to emit and work from there (colours, textures, finishes, depth, balance). When selecting items to place in the space, for each item focus on the two most critical elements that you are not willing to negotiate on (scale, price, quality, availability, physical features etc.) and search from there. If the bed you are considering is visually beautiful and in a textile that you love, but the quality you need is poor…you have your answer. You rarely can tick them all so ensure that you are seeking a solution to leave a smile for years to come.

+ Complete this phrase: This space is my . . .

Zen, my safety, my true home.

Design Takeaway

First and foremost to clarify this section of the article, the Design Takeaway will aim to provide you, the reader with some valuable design strategies that can be applied in your context:

Colour Creates Emotion

+ Before you go splash the walls with paint, a word of warning – colour should be used in deliberation regarding an emotional outcome. Create a list of ‘themed’ rooms may assist in your planning. For instance, the bedroom may be themed tranquility whereas the bathroom may encourage revitalisation. Taking a leaf out of Jacksen’s book, predetermining a specific feeling can be a great way to structure your design thinking. Creating this dialogue will narrow your search to the most appropriate colours (and design) to match the desired emotion.

+ If you get stuck on specifying a particular colour, spend an hour or two researching ‘colour emotion‘. There are copious amounts of websites to serve as a guide to get you started.

+ The use of grey’s in a space serves as a canvas of neutrality doubling to amplify it’s context. The excessive use of grey does not necessarily call for a red flag, though moderation is always the safest bet.