Trend Report: Homes That Span Generations
Making multigenerational spaces work better for all ages
Growing interest. “In our area, it’s all about economics,” says Bill Johnson, owner of Noble Johnson Architects in Nashville, Tennessee; Gen Zers are living with parents to save money, and elderly retirees are sharing mortgages with their children. The results are small detached backyard buildings and master suites within main homes. “For us, it’s mostly vacation homes, places for families to all get together,” says Brian Mayotte, vice president of Build in Naples, Florida.
Photo by Studiobuell
Overall approach. Whatever the form of the home, the clients’ main requests follow a similar pattern. “The most common theme is that people all want to be together, but they don’t want to bother each other,” Sandschafer says. Johnson agrees. “Creating boundaries is critical to these projects’ success,” he says.
Creating internal harmony. “You make sure that each of the user groups — kids, grandparents, parents — has a semiprivate space,” Sandschafer says. “Kids want a place to be noisy and play games; adults want a quieter space to read a book or take a work call.” This means separate smaller studies and dens, as well as flexible furniture arrangements in great rooms so spaces feel appropriately sized whether the whole family or only a few people are lounging there. Some homeowners opt for folding walls to separate rooms.
Johnson’s Product Picks: Progress Lighting Dome Pendant, Apt2B Harrison Chair, Delta Cassidy Faucet
Overall approach. Whatever the form of the home, the clients’ main requests follow a similar pattern. “The most common theme is that people all want to be together, but they don’t want to bother each other,” Sandschafer says. Johnson agrees. “Creating boundaries is critical to these projects’ success,” he says.
Creating internal harmony. “You make sure that each of the user groups — kids, grandparents, parents — has a semiprivate space,” Sandschafer says. “Kids want a place to be noisy and play games; adults want a quieter space to read a book or take a work call.” This means separate smaller studies and dens, as well as flexible furniture arrangements in great rooms so spaces feel appropriately sized whether the whole family or only a few people are lounging there. Some homeowners opt for folding walls to separate rooms.
Johnson’s Product Picks: Progress Lighting Dome Pendant, Apt2B Harrison Chair, Delta Cassidy Faucet
Focus on privacy. “There are redundancies necessitated by privacy,” Mayotte says. These can include a balcony for every bedroom, multiple stairwells and master suites, and individual indoor-outdoor access points. Sound is also an issue, making insulation and acoustic drywall important, along with a thoughtful layout. Bathrooms become buffers between bedrooms, houses are divided into wings, and creating zones helps counteract the acoustics of large open areas.
Access for all. Universal design is key and can be beautiful. “We try to make these projects as accessible as possible while taking great pains to disguise that,” Johnson says. “We want to make everyone feel comfortable where they’re living.” Examples include ramps for wheelchair access, towel bars that double as grab bars in bathrooms, 3-foot-wide doorways, entryways without thresholds, and radiant heating with individual thermostats to suit personal temperature preferences.
Access for all. Universal design is key and can be beautiful. “We try to make these projects as accessible as possible while taking great pains to disguise that,” Johnson says. “We want to make everyone feel comfortable where they’re living.” Examples include ramps for wheelchair access, towel bars that double as grab bars in bathrooms, 3-foot-wide doorways, entryways without thresholds, and radiant heating with individual thermostats to suit personal temperature preferences.
Respect kinship above everything else. “The most important thing is a client-focused approach,” Sandschafer says. “Really get to know their routines, their likes and how you can accommodate the needs of everyone who lives there, across every age and user.” It’s advice learned from experience. “Get everyone involved, from the grandkids about the pool design to the color of parents’ bedrooms,” Mayotte says. “And don’t fight the group. Family ties will win every time.”
Sandschafer’s Product Picks: Lynx Grills 24 in. Refrigerator, Apt2B Taylor Modular Sofa, Kohler Hotel Handshower Kit
More: To learn more about this popular homeowner request, watch our
Renovating for Multigenerational Living webinar.
Sandschafer’s Product Picks: Lynx Grills 24 in. Refrigerator, Apt2B Taylor Modular Sofa, Kohler Hotel Handshower Kit
More: To learn more about this popular homeowner request, watch our
Renovating for Multigenerational Living webinar.
This story is from our Trade Program Trend Report email series.
Baby boomers wanting to be near grandchildren. College graduates moving back home. Older folks needing help from younger family members. Extended families spending summers together. Whatever the situation, the overall idea is the same: Families more than ever are reaching across generations to create homes together. “In an increasingly busy world, family remains the strongest connection,” says Trina Sandschafer, design principal at Booth Hansen in Chicago. “People want to make memories with their children and grandchildren and spend time with family.”