I do mnot like the style of the house at all. Are you forced to use only the builders designs. IMO a 2 storey house is not ideal for aging in place and that one is really not attractive at all . I never look at model homes interiors because everything is aupgrade . IMO get an architect to design a home for you . We are in our 70's we bought a house and renovated it is a MCM ranch with a walkout basement but we could if we had to live completely on the main floor IMo that is the design best for aging in place . I think you could do better for a design so maybe show us if there are other homes form the builder if you can't have your own architect .If you want ant help at all you need to post all the meaurements of the spaces .A forever home needs to be functonal for your life and honestly I see many issues with this house. BTW nothing ever stays stagnant for 20 yrs things change all the time and so does what you need . Design what you need now and be prepared for that to change over time .

Not a good plan at all.

Agree with everyone else. I'm an almost 60-something and currently in a multi-level house, but building a single story forever home. You're building upstairs for your older mother -- you should plan for her to be limited in mobility, or for yourself.

Other random comments --- you can't put in a curbless shower after the fact -- the floor has to be lowered to allow for it. If you rip out the shower in the master for a soaking tub, where do you shower?

And yeah, agree with the others that it's not the most attractive exterior. The windows look really odd.

Another vote to go back to the drawing board. Why? Because 2 stories isn’t going to work for you or your aging mother - if you need a curbless shower soon, you need a first floor to put it on. Also, if you are literally building something new and you are already planning renovations in a few years, something is seriously wrong. Please, get out now and find something that better suits your needs.

Yet another vote for a single story.

I think you're getting bogged down in the details and "pretties" and missing the bigger picture. You don't give your rough geographic area, but if you're in the South, a porch would be nice, and if you get snow, that roof doesn't have much of a pitch.

You ask for advice, so here's mine: start with an exterior with curb appeal. You can do much better. It's like the builder is trying to cram a standard SF onto a tiny city lot. A three-story townhouse would offer a better layout and more useable space.

However, as noted, a single story would better achieve your goal. Even a large condo would be better. Sorry, but you need to start over.

Awful plan> Please start over? You can do SO much better than this. Begin with you do not want a kitchen inches from the front door.......

This is not great empty nest design, ( forget the upstairs primary ) not great family design, It's a whole lot of neither and NADA.

Back to the drawing board. Preferably with a good architect, and if not that? A better builder with better options. This guy is an insult to Colorado, and I don't care how you disguise just plain ugly with any amount of stone and "upgrades" . It will still be very unattractive, and not very functional, to boot.

Apologies for the brutal honesty. I'd even rent for a while in Co. before I built this: (

We just moved to a single level MCM home Love it! . Our previous home for the past 20 years was a beautiful two story next to the ocean home. Not an easy decision to sell but our single level’s location nicer & so much more convenient. i wouldn’t consider a two story at your stage in life, no matter how fit you are.

Not a design pro, but I worked as a wellness nurse promoting safety for optimal aging in place in an independent living 55+ retirement condo community for eight years. As far as aging in place, there's a lot to be desired in this plan in so many areas for your future selves as well as your visiting aging mother. Just to point out a couple basics, opt instead for a first floor primary bedroom, first floor laundry room and safety features in the primary bathroom (wide spaces-picture moving around any space with a yard stick at waist level, grab bars, open toilet area, easy to clean, non-slip surfaces and if there must be a tub, then one with an easy to access surround-I've literally seen folks unable to get out of a tub). This is not a plan for successful aging in place.

Can you get your money back? None of these plans is suitable for Seniors. You want a one-floor home. Build what you want; no 'ripping out' some model's features 'later'. Seniors don't 'do' stairs. (Don't get me started on the foolishness of elevators in a SFH!)

DH and I built our 'aging in place' home twenty years ago, when we were 60/63. It has a basement -- solely to house mechanicals and to provide a barrier to damp/mold for first floor bedrooms. (Sinus issues.) Floors are wood throughout. (Tiled baths and back hall.) Doorways have no thresholds and are 3' wide. There's one step up into the house from exterior doors and from the attached, oversized, 2-car garage. There are windows on every exterior wall wherever possible. Walk-in closets obviate the need for dressers in the MBR.

AT random: The plan you showed us has too little living space on the first floor. Beware anything labeled 'bonus space'; it's usually useless. Laundry is dinky with no storage. There's too little storage anywhere. You'd have no privacy on that (too small) patio -- and I suspect neighbors will be young families -- the people for whom these plans are drawn.

The images shown show decoration that distracts from seeing the space. Do not let the lipstick on the pig deceive you.

at the very least you need an elevator

Copying a comment from another thread -- do you really want your elderly mother eating all her meals at the kitchen island?

The first thing to consider is the orientation of the lot. South facing with enough width for a single story design without stacking spaces front to back.

OP - your choice of floor plans is getting hammered here, but you did ask for the experience of the "been there, done that" crowd. As someone commented, at this stage in the planning process you need to focus on the bones of the structure, not on the "pretties."

Start with the lot - as Dan says, orientation matters. Sometimes you have to compromise- we did, because we were building on a redeveloped site in the town, and options for that are scarce. We get a little too much western exposure in the afternoon and have had to work around that with shade sails and foliage. If you can, look for a lot that allows a house built on a north south axis.

Then, you want a house that allows for easy(and safe) movement around it as you age. Minimal to no steps, wide doorways and halls, and low or no threshold showers. I was on crutches for a week after a hip replacement and sure did appreciate those features.

You want storage, and lots of it. For me that's fundamental. Lots of pantry and drawer space in the kitchen, storage in the laundry, linen closets, closets in the bedroom (and the walk-in should be in the bedroom, not in the bathroom). You also want good counterspace in the kitchen: the older you get, the more important it becomes to have a good, functional working area. A kitchen that forced me to use an OTR microwave would be a deal-breaker.

You want space for a dining table, even a small one. We have an island with seating. No one ever sits there unless it's to chat to me while I'm getting dinner ready. Old folks do not like perching on stools to eat.

Whether you want a bathtub or not is a matter of choice. I have trouble clambering in and out of one so we skipped that in the master and have a generous shower instead. We put a stand- alone tub, along with a separate shower, in the second bathroom. The tub there has been used once in 6 years.

What you definitely do want is a house with good flow,easy to get around in,and one that doesn't represent a trip or fall hazard. Look for plans that offer that, and start there.

That is the cheapest-looking tract home, and unattractive at that. Those molded plastic shower/tubs are the worst and you will not be able to just rip out and redo as easily as you think. Do not get a 2- story! We sold our 2 story 3 years ago for an open floor plan custom older home we are fixing up. Find an established neighborhood you like and remodel. They are trying to hide the cheapness of it all with some barn doors and chevron trim

Yep. Keep looking. For a “master planned community” this doesn’t hack it for me. Hope you find better situation and plan. Think 15-30k to “redo” a bathroom one thing often leads to another. And that’s cash now money. Way too much to fix here. So smart to ask now. You just saved yourself a ton of trouble. Check out other builders too. Not all builder’s in master communities are the same. Really research each one if you elect to stay in this community. Don’t sign anything until you get a copy of any contract and have it reviewed and explained by a good real estate attorney.

I have a “New Build Checklist” I would be happy to share with you that could give you lots of good info. Just email me at manganflo@gmail.com
It can help you avoid common mistakes too.

I think she put a deposit down already

Oooops

She declared white anything, wallls , cabinetry ......WHATEVER ?? EVIL.

You aren't going to convince her of anything. Move on............: )

To age in place you will want a ground floor bedroom, full bath and laundry room. Ask your builder to start there-:). Not everyone can afford an architect’s home. I am confident that you and your builder will find a suitable plan. Have fun with your build.

The truth of down size and empty nest and what doesn't "down size" ? Money.

It's life style requiring roof line.

Why? the minute you drop a master suite from second to first floor.........? You either shrink other spaces, or roof line shall grow. . Preferably, lot WIDTH grows.

Just one reason a two story affords what it does without the additional roof line : ) and suits young families so well. Kaching or not.

CO home it says. Reference to pitch/snow also water management will apply. Nothing more to add it's all been said. I hope your contractor does more than one style home.

OP is gone. This thread was brutal.

Brutal but honest. Get your deposit back and run! Was in this position and learned the hard way. Don’t build with big box; build custom custom with a local builder who will accommodate all your needs and build a one story only. Two story’s don’t work when “aging in place”. Big box force you into compromised and design choices that don’t work. Skip the paint and lipstick and focus on layout and flow. When building a “forever home” you need quality over quantity. Our one story has larger hallways to accommodate wheel chairs and walkers. We designed around how you move through a space with ease. We have a big shower and no tub cause as you age, tubs are hard to use. Even the front door has literally one step that can accommodate a ramp as to when or if we get there it can be done. Every bathroom has storage and storage is essential. Bonus space is useless. Only put rooms in the house you will use. Formal anything is garbage and waste to heat and cool. These are all subject to preference but these are lessons learned.

The windows on the front of the house are so tiny. If you do have them build this house, I would want to see if anything can be done to make the windows balanced and larger.

For everyone's information, this is a "blank slate":

.