At Home With Vonda & Glenn Mason
A photographer and an interior designer walk into a house. The punchline? It’s their forever (for now) home.
▼
Image: Estella Mason
When Glenn Mason first laid eyes on the property he now calls home, it was through the lens of his camera. A photographer by trade, Glenn had been invited by a new sales agent to capture images of the Devonport house, several months after it had first been placed on the market.
The next time, it was with wife Vonda in tow - and, together, they saw the property not for what it was, but for what it could become. An original art deco residence with a 1980s extension, sprawling front and back yards, and uninterrupted water views, all it needed was Glenn and Vonda’s personal touch.
“It didn’t look anything like it does now, but we could see the potential in it immediately,” Vonda says. “We’ve collected a lot of special stuff through our travels and business ventures, and we loved the idea of making the space our own through a gradual renovation and styling project.”
Image: Estella Mason
An interior designer and stylist, Vonda can’t remember a time when she wasn’t drawn to beautiful things and spaces. In 2013, she opened Mr. Wolf, a home, garden and lifestyle store that continues to be a beloved stalwart of the north-west community under the more recent ownership of daughter, Estella. Vonda’s focus has now turned to operating the Tasmanian General Store - a Devonport bar, café and providore - and interior design work. Her own home is an always-in-progress project.
“No space in our home is ever finished - it’s always evolving and changing, as I tweak and restyle things,” she says. “The way I approach styling the home is to curate interesting stories and collections, seeking to tantalise the senses without being overwhelming.”
Image: Estella Mason
For Vonda and Glenn, making the house their home was never just about incorporating their own possessions, though. Since moving in eight years ago, no room has been spared in their progressive renovation of the space, much of which has been executed on a DIY basis. The kitchen, originally a dark timber space consumed in large part by a staircase to the next level, is now the bright and inviting heart of the home.
“The kitchen was one of the most difficult spaces that we’ve ever had to renovate,” Vonda reflects. “One night, Glenn got the sledge hammer and just smashed out the staircase. It was dramatic, but ended up making sense.
“The kitchen is now the heart of our home - we love to entertain, and often have family and friends in the kitchen, cooking, hanging out and enjoying good food.”
Beyond the interiors, the home’s gardens have also kept Vonda and Glenn busy. Ostensibly a blank canvas when they took ownership, both the front and back yards are now a homage to the couple’s international travels.
“Gardening follows similar principles to interior design, in that it’s all about colours, textures, layers and heights,” Vonda says. “We love to open the big doors out to the backyard, sit in the al fresco area and listen to music - it takes us back to Europe.”
Image: Estella Mason
While real-life travels to Europe and beyond remain an important part of Vonda and Glenn’s lives, the pull back to their little slice of home in Tasmania remains strong.
“We’ve lived all over the world and still love to visit other places regularly, but Tassie has always been a lovely base for us,” says Vonda. “We’ve got everything we could want in Devonport - the beach is just down the road, the mountains are 20 minutes away, there’s a really beautiful food culture, great people and an easy lifestyle.
“Nothing is forever, but we love our life right here for now.”





Images: Estella Mason
▼