Inside Her Home: A model and mum's $1,200 a week coastal Brisbane rental.

Mamamia's Inside Her Home is a peek inside real homes, real budgets, and real lifestyles. We're asking everyday women to welcome us into their humble abodes and share the nitty-gritty of renting or home ownership, because who doesn't love a sticky-beak?

We want to share your space! If you'd like to submit your home, contact ailish.delaney@mamamia.com.au.

Today, a 35-year-old living in Shorncliffe, Brisbane shows us around her home.

Welcome to Lani Starkey's light and airy four-bedroom home, where she's getting to know Brisbane after moving for a fresh start. Here, the content creator and model's young family live a tranquil bayside lifestyle that blends the best of nature with city living.

Name: Lani Starkey.

Age: 35.

Job: Content creator and model.

Location: Shorncliffe, a coastal suburb in Brisbane's north-east.

Rent: $1,200 per week.

Watch: Lani takes us inside her home. Post continues below.

Lani's living setup.

What does your rent get you?

I live with my partner Chris and my son Will. We've been here for three months.

It's a two-storey, four-bedroom house with three bathrooms, two parking spots, and a pool.

The house is bright, with high ceilings and plenty of natural light, which makes it feel open and calming throughout the day.

The layout is really functional for a young family; everything flows easily and feels spacious.

Lani's living space is bright and airy. Image: Supplied.

My style leans toward soft neutrals, minimal modern pieces, warm woods, and clean lines.

I love using light beige, white, and natural textures to keep the space warm, relaxed, and elevated.

My favourite corner is the kitchen, where I spend so much time cooking meals for my family.

The kitchen is Lani's favourite space. Image: Supplied.

Lani prefers neutrals in her Brisbane home. Image: Supplied.

I think it's a great deal, especially for a young family. The space, the location, and the lifestyle we get here feels really generous for the price.

With renting, I try to make sure the budget still allows us to save, invest, and have money left over for the things that matter, like date nights, a babysitter, outings with my son, and family holidays.

The neutral bedroom. Image: Supplied.

The hallway. Image: Supplied.

What do you love about your home?

What I love most about this home is the sense of calm it gives me.

The light, the openness, and the quiet moments with my family make it feel really grounding.

The kitchen is special to me because it's where so much of our daily life happens, cooking together, chatting, and sharing meals.

The bathroom includes double sinks and large shower. Image: Supplied.

I love the little touches that make the house feel like ours, fresh roses and family photos on the fridge add warmth to the space.

And the view from the living area, looking out to the trees and the pool, always makes me pause and feel grateful for where we are.

A cosy corner. Image: Supplied.

Why did you choose this property?

The tranquil bayside lifestyle that blends nature, modern living, and city convenience — it was exactly what we were looking for.

The property ticked all the boxes for us as a rental, it's reasonably affordable and has everything we need for a young family of three.

Lani tries on shoes in her wardrobe. Image: Supplied.

It's about a 20 to 30 minute drive to the CBD, or an easy 37-minute train ride to central.

I love the bayside lifestyle here, from the beautiful Shorncliffe Pier to the scenic Lovers Walk along the waterfront. My son can play by the water and explore the parks nearby.

The wardrobe has plenty of space. Image: Supplied.

Do you plan to stay here long-term?

I'd say this place is more of a medium-term home for us. Before moving to Brisbane, we spent over five years in Bomaderry.

We relocated there during the COVID lockdowns, and after my mum passed away, I became my sister's legal guardian, which was an incredibly challenging time.

The pool in Lani's home. Image: Supplied

Once life felt a little more settled, we were ready for a fresh start, so we moved from the South Coast of NSW to Brisbane's Bayside.

Right now, we're renting while we get to know the city and explore different suburbs.

The home has a view of trees out a balcony. Image: Supplied.

Long-term, I've always imagined our family settling somewhere with water views and lots of nature, but still close enough to the city for convenience.

We'll stay here until we find the right place to buy, somewhere that truly feels like our forever home.

Feature image: Supplied.