Wow, who would have thought the Woodstock generation would actually get old. Life happens. Unfortunately, our homes are actually aging faster than we are. When you bought your home those high ceilings, circular stairways step and-up entrance was inviting. But now, the home’s steep steps and narrow doorways are becoming problems. Suddenly things that you […]
Remember the Waltons? A popular TV show in the 70’s, the Walton’s showed us how wonderful multi-generational living could be. Well that was TV and fantasy. At that time families largely were two-generational, with parents and minor-age children under one roof. But now times have changed. People are living longer. But for older people getting […]
Welcome to the boomerang generation; recent college graduates who return to live at home after college. There are many reasons why. Although graduates from the class of 2019 will enjoy one of the best job markets in years, apartment rents are sky high. Then there are the hefty student loan bills from college, putting a […]
Great Design should be part of every home. But that great design for homes bought years ago will need to change, as we get older, to meet the needs of people with disabilities and couples who wish to age-in-place. There is a solution. It’s called Universal Design. The Experts in Universal Design (UD) […]
Once the family office was the kitchen table. A garage needed to hold but one car. Bedrooms never heard of a king-size bed. A workout room was a basement. Entranceways couldn’t handle wheelchairs. And a few bookshelves were your library. Today we have new needs and new skills to change everything from the bathroom to […]
People are living longer, healthier lives. There have been many advances in medicine, in exercise, and in technology that have added more years and more life to our lives. As we age, our homes have aging issues too. Many homes are out of date, their kitchens are old, the bathrooms are not as safe and […]
So much of what we love about our homes lies beyond its walls: Our neighbors, our community, the beautiful grass and trees that surround. Unfortunately, as we age, our home’s walls start closing in. We can’t get around as easily as before. Kitchen islands feel like obstacles. Stairs become marathons. Even our entrance way morphs […]
Once upon a time, you found the house of your dreams. Now that dream has become smaller, confined and dated. The windows leak. The pipes are getting old and rusting. You need to paint or redo the siding. Do you go or do you stay? Unfortunately changing your address may just be substituting one set […]
Things change. But we can change things. Like the home you bought, perfect for when you moved in but then changes happened. Perhaps you now need an extra bedroom. That den needs to become an office. The porch would be better and more energy efficient as a sunroom. What to do? Two choices: Move or […]
Homeownership lies at the very heart of the American dream. But in many communities, the homes we love are just not that inviting anymore. We want to stay, but as we age, every day has become ever more burdensome. We cannot get up the stairs, it’s difficult to open doors, our bathrooms aren’t safe, even […]