CommunityAgents and their spaces: Nicholas Brooks
Next Article21 August 2019
We met Marshall White Sales Executive and Auctioneer Nicholas Brooks at newly opened Armadale hot spot Le Plonc, an elegant Hollywood Regency style wine bar house within the James Said showroom a stone’s throw away from the Marshall White Stonnington office.
Coming from a stockbroking background having completed his MBA in New York City, Nicholas loves the sophistication of the Stonnington area.
‘We’re so incredibly fortunate to represent the homes we do in the areas that we do. 32 Domain Street, South Yarra that is one of the most unique and stunning properties I’ve ever seen. It’s a David Hicks designed residence, and his signature penchant for marble makes it pretty unforgettable.’
‘My favourite pocket of Melbourne has always been the Domain Precinct near the gardens,’ Nicholas says. ‘Entrecote and Jardin Tan on a sunny afternoon are very hard to beat.’
Having recently reached his eight year milestone with Marshall White, Nicholas enjoys being part of a dynamic and changing industry, working closely alongside Marshall White director Marcus Chiminello.
‘It’s an exciting marketplace to operate in,’ he says.
‘I’ve loved every minute of it. I’ve seen some outstanding results in my time at Marshall White and it’s such a testament to the quality of homes and depth of buyers that we are fortunate enough to service.’
He advises sellers to do their research and test the mettle of their agents. ‘Don’t just go with an agent because they send you a fridge magnet once a year, make sure you really like your agent and they’re the best fit for your property.’
So what makes a house a home for Nicholas?
‘I’d like to say the people in it or the shared memories, but honestly good linen does most of the heavy lifting,’ he jokes.
Nicholas and his wife moved from the renowned ‘Melburnian’ building on St Kilda Road to Albert Park to settle somewhere more suited to their growing family.
‘I love our rear yard, it’s perfect for barbecues in summer and, more recently, watching our little girl play in the garden,’ he says.
The community atmosphere of Nicholas’ Albert Park residence is what helps it hold a special place in his heart.
‘We’ve got a typical single fronted Victorian, but what’s a little unique is the laneway at the back at our property which is shared with two other streets. It’s regularly filled with kids riding their bikes, playing games and having little tea parties. It’s given us a great way to get to know our neighbours.’
While Nicholas admits that decorating is not his strong suit, aesthetic elements throughout the home hold sentimental value for him.
‘Being colour blind means that styling in our home falls out of my jurisdiction,’ he laughs. ‘But I love locally sourced pieces: we have the entire “Melbourne” series of prints from photographer Ben Thomas, who’s sometimes called the “Cityshrinker”, along our hallway. He does some incredible work.’
Nicholas considers himself a proud Port Phillip resident, counting local favourite Fat Albert as his breakfast spot of choice.
‘In Albert Park, we have the beach, lake and park all only minutes away while only being a few kilometres from the city. I also love all the period homes in the area, as well as all the residences with timeless charm and style getting a modern makeover.’
