It's All About Family

Downsizing to a townhouse to be closer to relatives was a welcome challenge for an interior designer, her husband and their teenage children.

For some people, their first home is their ‘forever’ home, renovated or redecorated only once a decade or so. Other people are free spirits who change their surroundings whenever the mood strikes. Interior designer Bronnie Masefau is in the latter camp.

Bronnie, her husband AJ and their children – Isaiah, 21, Nate, 19, and Kayziah, 16 – lived at various addresses over a span of 13 years, ranging from a heritage-listed house to an apartment. Yearning to be closer to family, the Masefaus decided to move closer to them in 2016.

“Prior to moving, my parents lived with us,” says Bronnie. “We all have wonderful memories of that time, so when we relocated, we were keen to buy a home that could also accommodate Mum and Dad in the future.”

After much searching, an ’80s townhouse came up for sale near Bronnie’s parents – right next door, in fact. But it was a bit too small.

“We four to five adults physically wouldn’t have fitted in the townhouse when purchased,” Bronnie recalls.