Multigenerational Housing

As families throughout our Country have seen a shift in the dynamics of their households, multigenerational living is becoming more and more the norm.  Based on census data from 2016, over 64 million people are living in multigenerational homes and that number is expected to increase with the new census data coming out in 2020.  Growth is driven by both adult parents as well as adult children living under the same roof. Families are coming together for a variety of reasons. They include financial, health and social dynamics.  As this lifestyle for more and more families becomes a reality, the issue becomes how our traditionally designed single family homes can accommodate these growing dynamics. The issues aren’t just limited to bedrooms and bathrooms either.  Collective family spaces like great rooms and the kitchen can be common gathering places, but the need for private space can’t be underestimated for any member of the family.  

Small kitchens in finished basement spaces can create independence while still being under the same roof.

As lifestyles change, so do the needs of our homes.  Creative space planning is always key to maximizing the benefits of the common and private spaces for family members and utilizing existing square footage within the home will always provide the most cost effective option for a home's transformation.  A couple examples may include basements, which can include features in addition to just bedrooms and bathrooms such as family rooms and small kitchen spaces, or areas above an existing garage that may include a separate entrance for additional freedom.  Each will provide both function for a family’s daily lives, as well as enhance the value of the home in resale. Inman News, a leading independent news publisher of residential real estate recently wrote that up to 41% of Americans who are buying a home are considering accommodating family members from another generation.  It’s a trend that real estate professionals and families throughout this Country see growing.

Finding creating spaces like attics and over existing garages can be more economical space transformations.

In a lot of cases, renovation of existing homes or designs for new homes do not have to be drastic to create a more comfortable living space for all members of the family.  At Lakewest, we have a number of projects that we have worked on to accommodate multigenerational families, and the custom approach allows families to focus on what is most important to them.  

Reach out to our team to discuss your needs further, and look out for our upcoming blogs on “Accommodating Elderly Adults in Multigenerational Homes” and “Creating Independent Spaces for Adult Children with Special Needs”.  Every family’s needs differ, but the multigenerational housing movement is just getting started and the benefits can be numerous. With planning and execution, your home can become the ideal place for families to live together, while still experiencing the independence and privacy found in their own space.

The Always Difficult Step of Just Getting Started

Your home's constant need for evolution weighs heavily on most of us as we transition from one stage of life to the next.  Design aesthetics aren’t usually the main reason for contemplating change either (but a fresh outlook on your home and how it represents your own personal style never hurts).  Need for change comes from change in lifestyle or family dynamics such as marriage, having kids or kids moving out. That may mean finding a home with more space (or less) or looking at how you work with what you already have.

Like most things in life, getting started can be the hardest part and as families' needs for their homes change, more times than not just taking that first step can be a challenge.  Whether a large change or small, consulting with a design professional and/or reputable contractor can add clarity and help to better determine the feasibility of accomplishing the updates and changes you may desire (or at least help define which ones are more realistically possible).  Most design professionals will help start to reshape those ideas into a plan. They will help start to determine a true budget and the best ways to execute that vision. The truly reputable professionals will also talk you through the long term impact of investment you are making into your home.

More times than not, tempering your ideas and plans may be the first challenge.  You are sure to get countless ideas from friends and family and see 1,000’s of images in magazines and online.  And then the inevitable question of “is this house really the place for us if all of these changes are required”?

Define your issues and don’t focus on solutions immediately.  More times than not there are countless solutions to an issue and by focusing more intensely on what your current issue is will help shape a solution during your design phase.  This will also allow you to think about the solution being more of a long term than short term solution.

Getting started can be as easy as that first call or email.  Whether it’s a small change or major renovation, it could be the first step to living in a more functional and beautiful space that you can be proud of.

Rethinking Home Office Spaces

Design and architecture are constantly changing and adapting to the needs and wants of Homeowners.  As we see a shift away from traditional “9-5 jobs” that involve long commutes to the office, home offices are becoming not just a luxury for some Homeowners but a necessity.  Furthermore, as the whole world has seen through recent government ordered “stays”, having just one area of the home service as a work area may not be enough. Flex spaces that can serve as a home office have become more and more important in space planning.  Whether for multiple people with “work from home” jobs or having a space for the kids to do their homework, smaller, but functional flex spaces can give a Homeowner an alternative to working at the kitchen table. They can create privacy, organization and function.  The best part is with some creative space planning, they don’t need to occupy an entire room/space.  

Flex working areas can be built in mudrooms, laundry rooms and spaces no bigger than an average walk in closet.  These spaces will challenge Homeowners and designers to think about maximizing the use and function of their entire home but can be accomplished for a wide range of budgets. Many Homeowners can start to rethink some of those rarely to never used spaces and how they can become more functional for daily use for their families. From initial design concepts to final execution, our team can help create these spaces and allow families adapt to the changing needs today’s ever changing landscape.

Bathroom Renovations Simplified

Budget decisions are always at the forefront of every renovation project. In the end, it can be the limiting factor to getting the project off the ground. If not an affordability issue, it could ultimately come down to a decision on the actual return on the investment made into the project when it comes time to sell. There are ways to enhance the look, feel and function of a space, and still keep your budget in a place that makes these enhancements more realistic and gives you a better chance of getting that return on your investment.

These projects don’t have to sacrifice quality materials. Strategic decisions on what materials to use and utilizing existing mechanical locations cut down on costs that can be associated with a typical bathroom model.

Cost savings isn’t the only favorable outcome of making these strategic decisions. Construction time is cut down tremendously in the process limiting the disruption time Homeomwner’s experience by living without a bathroom, plus the general stress of living through a renovation project. In a vast majority of these cases, these projects can be completed in less than 2 weeks.

Contact our team for more information on the design and construction concepts that we have focused on to create beauty, functionality and value. In most cases we can provide you with a budget estimate after a brief phone consultation.

https://www.lakewestrenovations.com/contact

The Impact of Expansion vs Renovating Your Existing Space

Every construction project is unique in its scope and execution for a variety of reasons.  Whether you are planning a DIY project, or hire a design build firm to help you space plan and ultimately execute the job, there are an infinite number of decision points that will shape the outcome and the budget.  Finishes will always have an impact on the budget level for any project, whether it’s a whole house renovation or a kid’s hallway bathroom, but in most cases the most impactful part of the process will be space planning.  Most Homeowners (and some contractors until they get too far into a project), don’t truly understand the scope and budget impact of significantly changing the existing space. That can range from true structural impacts of removing walls or enlarging openings to moving mechanicals such as electric, plumbing or HVAC supplies or returns to new locations.  In more cases than not, even an experienced contractor won’t know the true impact of the scope until post demo.

In most cases, each Homeowner has to weigh the cost benefit of what the long term impact their project will be providing compared to the immediate improvement in the function of their daily lives.  Generally added value to a home comes with something tangible, such as an added bathroom, bedroom or more finished square footage in the case of a space like a finished basement. All the same criteria that a tax assessor or a home appraiser would use to develop a value.  That isn’t to say that Homeowners shouldn’t be making improvements to areas of their home that don’t check any of these boxes. There are instances where general life cycle improvements are necessary, even if they won’t bring you more value on paper.  Things like roof replacements, window replacements and furnace/air conditioning replacements are necessary evils and if not performed it will have a negative impact on the functionality of your home while you are in it and will make your home significantly less marketable when it’s time to sell.  Renovations and updating of the interior spaces of the home are no different. Updating kitchen and bathrooms won’t check the box on the appraisers valuation calculation when comparing to homes with more square footage, more bedrooms, more bathrooms, etc., but they do provide for increased marketability of the home and most importantly an improvement in the functionality, look and feel of the space for that Homeowner to enjoy while they are living there.  The key to these projects is controlling the budget by making the appropriate space design and finish selection decisions.

When you start considering a renovation of your space, consider first how you could best use your existing footprint and mechanical locations.  This will typically save on the overall budget and overall timeline of the project. With the help of design professionals you may be surprised how that space can be repurposed for more efficiency and functionality.  If it’s determined that expanding the space is necessary to achieve your overall renovation goals, talk to a professional contractor about the potential impacts on the structure and mechanicals of proposed scope. Establishing that will help you make a more informed decision on the cost/benefit of the overall project.