Just a short stroll from the beach in Melbourne’s picturesque bayside suburb of Edithvale, life is sweet for the Pope family. It’s the perfect setting for Jane, a part-time retail worker, her husband Matt, who works in the construction industry, and their two children, Jack and Kiana, along with their Jack Russell, Cookie.
When Jane’s father passed away in Queensland in 2021, she knew her mother, Trish, wouldn’t want to stay up there alone - especially after the isolation of lockdowns. “She wanted to move back to Melbourne to be closer to me and the grandkids,” Jane explains.
Having never lived alone, Trish needed a new arrangement, and Jane was determined to keep her close. With Matt’s full support, they invited her to move in.
The only challenge? Their home was bursting at the seams, but they weren’t ready to give up their ideal location. “We love it here,” Jane says. “I don’t think I’d ever convince Matt to move, but the house just wasn’t big enough for multigenerational living.”
Fortunately, one of their neighbours happened to work for Metricon and introduced them to the KnockDown ReBuild option. This approach allowed them to keep the block they loved, demolish the existing house that no longer suited their needs, and build a brand-new home tailored to their family’s lifestyle. It was the perfect opportunity to create a dream home that met all their requirements.
"He shared a variety of floor plans that he thought might work well for us, especially with Mum moving in," Jane explains. "Even better, he guided us through the design options that would fit our needs perfectly."
After careful consideration, they chose the Duxton 42 from the Freedom by Metricon range with a Deakin façade. It was the ideal choice, featuring a spacious bedroom on the ground floor complete with a walk-in wardrobe and ensuite, located conveniently near the front door - perfect for Trish.
Even better, there was a theatre room located right next to Trish's new bedroom. “We converted that space into Mum's own lounge room,” Jane shares. “We also made some thoughtful changes, like adding wider doors and including provisions for grab handles in the shower. Everything is conveniently on one level for her - including the kitchen and laundry - so she has her own personal space, and it’s all set up with her future needs in mind.”
The home’s design allows the whole family to come together in the expansive open-plan living and dining area downstairs, centered around the kitchen. When they need some downtime, there are plenty of options to spread out, with a rumpus room upstairs for extra activities.
“We opted to have a balcony off the upstairs lounge area, complete with a wet bar - which means my husband spends a lot of time upstairs,” Jane laughs. "It’s become his man cave. And if the kids have friends over, they can all hang out upstairs while Mum enjoys some peaceful time downstairs.”
The kids absolutely love having their nan around. "She spoils them rotten, of course, as you can imagine," Jane says with a smile. "They share a very special bond, which is just lovely to see."
Having Trish living with them also provides peace of mind. "She’s had a couple of falls, but with someone usually around to look after her, it’s reassuring," Jane adds. "I’d hate to think of her being by herself."
Plus, sharing a multigenerational home makes financial sense, especially in today’s cost-of-living crisis. Trish helps with the bills, and by contributing some of the proceeds from selling her old house toward the new build, it’s been a smart move for everyone.
"Up in Queensland, she had quite a big house, and keeping up with the maintenance would have been tricky for her," Jane explains. "Thankfully, my husband’s quite handy, so he pretty much takes care of everything on that front. It’s one of the many benefits of multigenerational living."
A year in, the arrangement is working out well. "Don’t get me wrong, we have our moments, but it’s been pretty lovely overall," Jane shares. "My husband is amazing - he's very supportive and patient, and he and Mum get along really well. Having enough space for everyone definitely helps."
There is one family member, though, who doesn’t understand boundaries - Cookie the dog. "Cookie always jumps up on Mum’s walker, and she ends up wheeling him around the house pretty much all day," Jane laughs. "They’re adorable together."
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