In my practice, a growing number of clients are asking that their homes be designed to better accommodate them as they age. I’ve seen more requests for bedrooms or flex spaces on the main level, wider hallways and bathrooms that are wheelchair accessible. This interest in “aging in place” is perhaps a reflection of the fact that members of the Baby Boom generation are reaching their retirement years.
One of my recent projects - a new home for a retired couple - includes an office on the ground level which can become a bedroom in the future, and a ground level bathroom with roll-in shower. The stair to the upper level is wide enough that a stair lift can be added later if needed.
The photo above shows a recent addition I designed to a family farmhouse. A ramp to the main entry (left) and a new wheelchair-accessible bathroom (right) accommodate members of the client’s family who are in wheelchairs. The large overhang, designed to match the front porch of the existing house, not only provides cover for the ramp but also creates a sheltered patio area for family gatherings.
There are many additional features, large and small, which can make a home easier for people of different ages and abilities to live in. Such design accommodations are easier and less expensive to design into a home from the start, than they are to add later. They not only allow current owners to stay in their homes longer but also make the home attractive to a wider range of future buyers.
One of my recent projects - a new home for a retired couple - includes an office on the ground level which can become a bedroom in the future, and a ground level bathroom with roll-in shower. The stair to the upper level is wide enough that a stair lift can be added later if needed.
The photo above shows a recent addition I designed to a family farmhouse. A ramp to the main entry (left) and a new wheelchair-accessible bathroom (right) accommodate members of the client’s family who are in wheelchairs. The large overhang, designed to match the front porch of the existing house, not only provides cover for the ramp but also creates a sheltered patio area for family gatherings.
There are many additional features, large and small, which can make a home easier for people of different ages and abilities to live in. Such design accommodations are easier and less expensive to design into a home from the start, than they are to add later. They not only allow current owners to stay in their homes longer but also make the home attractive to a wider range of future buyers.
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