Moving from farm life and a larger home into a two-bedroom apartment is no easy feat, but Mary from Seasons Waterford West shows how she’s achieved this in her beautiful, well-organised apartment.

When Mary and her husband George moved into Seasons Waterford West seven years ago, they had a choice of apartments in the new community.

“We looked at two or three different apartments and I chose this one. I liked the carpet as the other ones had lino. I also liked the northerly aspect and that it was close to the dining room,” says Mary.

Mary and George were relocating from Wagga Wagga in New South Wales to be closer to one of their three daughters in nearby Regents Park, so Mary decided that it was time for a fresh start as far as furniture was concerned.

“We were on a farm at Ariah Park, which is near Wagga, for 31 years and then we retired to Wagga for 12 or 13 years.

“I had browns, greens, yellows and all the autumn shades for years and years so I decided to go black and white.”

While the contemporary furnishings make the apartment look fresh and modern, Mary has also managed to include special mementoes within her apartment’s decor. These memories of life on the farm have become increasingly important since George passed away just eight months after they moved in.

In particular, her daughter’s painting of their Ariah Park farm occupies pride of place at the entry to the apartment with an aerial photograph of the property on the opposite wall.

“We built the house ourselves – myself and George. George welded all the frames and designed it.”

Next to the dining table, a slimline glass cabinet houses beautiful trinkets and tea sets from Mary’s mother and in-laws.

“My mum lived to 102 and some of these tea sets she played with when she was a young girl. They’d be about 90 years old.”

While Mary’s garden is a lot smaller these days, she still spends a lot of time there creating a beautiful, relaxing space.

“When I moved in, there was a little garden there with only about three plants so I’ve done all the work out there.

“I can spend about an hour just trimming things up. It gets me out of the chair and gives me some exercise.”

Mary says that her two bedroom apartment is perfect for her, with her second bedroom now used as a sitting room and guest room.

“In the second bedroom, the couch pulls out to a bed. I’ve had my brother stay there and if I have a couple staying, they sleep in my bed and I sleep in there. It gives me more space.

“I like the apartment. It suits me. It’s all I need.”