Materials presentation

And yes, that includes your physical surroundings. In the next few blogposts, I’ll be taking a look at how living spaces can delight and awaken our senses.

What better place to start than with the visual impact that greets us as we walk into the room?

The foyer sets the mood for the rest of the home.

What We See

Design engages and stimulates our perceptions through colors, shapes, forms, and most importantly, how they’re arranged. The goal is to create a visually appealing space, while keeping in mind that different looks work for different rooms.

Vibrant colors and patterns in this (work in progress photo) family room.
A review of the fabric and material swatches

Together we’ll determine the vibe you’re looking for and take it from there. For instance, the word joyful is one that comes to mind when envisioning a newly-designed family room. Good times and lively conversations always seem to find their way into rooms with patterns and color. 

Interiors that are designed to be highly personal, ensuring you’re

surrounded with design that’s meaningful and represents you authentically.   

Feel the power of design.

I’m an early riser and love to spend my summer mornings on my front porch with a cup of coffee. I can’t tell you how grateful I am for this space – particularly during Covid – it’s become my quiet haven. (aka secret hiding space)

If you’re planning to add a front porch to your house or just thinking about a spruce up, here are my five top tips.

(By the way, did you know that in 2018, according to the National Association of Home Builders, approximately 65 % of new-construction single-family homes were designed with a front porch?)


1. Size

Most contractors suggest that a front porch should have a minimum depth of six feet. As an interior designer,  I recommend a generous depth of ten feet. This ensures that you have enough space to easily accommodate sofas, chairs, plants, lamps, and other furniture you’re planning to add to your space. Of course, the width will depend on the porch’s location, roofline, and the size of your house.


2. Railing Styles

When designing my own front porch, my contractor wanted to add only columns, whereas I wanted columns and a railing.  Looking back, a railing with a bit more architectural detail would have been a more interesting choice. Adding a railing with “personality” can be the  jewelry on the exterior of your home.   


If you love detailing, instead of just a straight rail, opt for a Chippendale Style railing. It lends a classic architectural detail.


Two other options are the Drummer Boy Panel which offers privacy as well. It comes in different patterns and styles and can be mixed and matched with straight rails to create your own unique design.


The Double Cathedral Picket Panel can also be mixed and matched with different finishes.


Thinking about your second home?  This decorative railing panel below works particularly well in the mountains or by the lake as it will blend well with your natural surroundings.


3. Switch To Solid Cellular PVC

If you’re thinking, “ugh, PVC?” I can assure you that you can find PVC that looks exactly like wood (minus the headache of constant upkeep and maintenance). Need more convincing? Cellular PVC doesn’t chip or crack. It doesn’t absorb moisture and it can be shaped or molded easily.


4. Furniture

When thinking of adding furniture to your front covered porch, I recommend woven wicker furniture as it will add texture, pattern and color to your patio. Wicker is also fairly durable and doesn’t need a lot of upkeep under a covered porch – just dust it off at the beginning of the season and cover it in the winter months.

A classic front porch swing is a feature I would also recommend adding. It creates an immediate visual of a summer afternoon, relaxing on the front porch.

Photo courtesy of theporchswingcompany.com

Another great addition is a sideboard, which is the perfect place to store board games, cups, napkins, and other small items so that they’re easily accessible!


5. Lighting

Recessed lighting (on dimmers) is always recommended – I also recommend adding a ceiling fixture if you have the height. Free-standing lamps will also make your porch feel cozier.

Photo courtesy of Southern Living

Pro-Tip: Don’t forget to accessorize your porch with a bell! It adds a little nostalgia…like when kids used to be called in for dinner! (okay, or happy hour for the adults!)


Final Thoughts

​​Front porches are fairly versatile . Adding a front porch is like adding another room to your home. No matter where you live, it’s an investment you will not regret.

When my husband and I bought our home 20+ years ago, it was just perfect for our two kids and us. Little did we know that our family (many years later) would multiply! Our third child arrived eleven years after our first.  We also welcomed another permanent resident—my mother-in-law.

Bringing a new family member into your home is exciting and daunting, especially if accommodating them is not as simple as setting up a guest bedroom. It can also be challenging to maintain privacy in a home with multiple family members. 

According to the Pew Research Center, In 2016, a record 64 million people, or 20% of the U.S. population, lived with multiple generations under one roof. As an interior designer, the task of rethinking the layout of our home and ensuring no one felt out of place happily fell into my lap.  Here’s how we remodeled our home and made smart choices to comfortably accommodate all of us.

Before

The previous owner had added an expanse of window to the second floor which became their master bedroom suite.

Our kids’ bedrooms were originally on the ground floor of our two-story house, with the master bedroom suite on the floor above. When we invited my mother-in-law to live with us, we moved the kids upstairs with us. 

How did we reconfigure our home?

The answer – teamwork! We got a hold of our original blueprints, a licensed architect, and set out to work on the new plans. 

Five important changes we made to our home:

1. Each of the two children’s original bedrooms became a sitting room and a bedroom for my mother-in-law.

The  red highlighted area is the “in-law suite

 2. French doors were added to each of the rooms on the ground floor to create a separate entry for my mother-in-law.  Privacy was an important consideration.

Double French doors replaced windows

3. Closing off an adjoining L-shaped portion of the hallway with a door allowed us to create a separation between my mother-in-law’s bedroom and the newly created kitchenette without interrupting the design of the spacious hallway.

The hallway leading to the mother-in-law’s “suite”

4. Since we lost the downstairs bathroom in the process, we stole space from one of the two hallway closets and turned it into a powder room.

New powder room off the hallway

5. Aside from adding bedrooms upstairs for the kids, we added a spare room for exercise equipment and another full bathroom on the second floor.

The Birth of a New Porch!

We always wanted a spacious front porch, and this renovation gave us the perfect opportunity to bring our idea to life!   Spanning the length of the house, its depth spans from 8 to 12 feet. For myself, the kids, and my husband, this serves as the perfect outdoor seating area on the right side of the house. To the left, we created a similar but smaller, seating area for my mother-in-law to unwind and maintain her privacy as needed.

The final result.

Parting Words

Renovating a home can be challenging and exciting at the same time — the choices are limitless!   As an interior designer, I especially enjoyed the challenge of using the existing layout to achieve our customized, desired result.

It’s hard to envision the future in 20, 30 or even 40 years from now, but this plan has enabled our family to live through this pandemic somewhat seamlessly. Multi-generational living has served my family well throughout the years and especially during  this pandemic. In some ways it has even made our lives a bit richer as we continue to adjust to this ever changing world.

Looking for ways to utilize your home efficiently while still keeping your privacy intact?   Keep an eye out for upcoming blog posts on my home (and my client’s homes!) remodeling adventures.

A back lit backsplash from KBIS Orlando 2018

In a few short weeks we will be attending the National Kitchen and Bath Show in Las Vegas. Over six hundred  companies will be showcasing their wares at this industry’s largest trade show.   Designers, architects and contractors will gather to learn about the latest innovative products, technology, design and trends.  

One of the featured programs is called Livable Design – also referred to as “Aging in Place” or “Universal Design” – design that is usable for all people, to the greatest extent possible , without the need for adaptation or specialized design. Universal Design allows families to remain in their homes for as long as they choose.

If you are the child of an aging parent, you’re probably more than aware of these pertinent statistics about Seniors and falls: 

  • One in four seniors fall each year;  their chances of falling again then doubles.
  • Sixty percent of falls happen in the home (80% of those in the bathroom) and thirty percent of those falls require a hospital visit.
  • Every 13 seconds an older adult goes to the ER due to a fall. Fearing one of these mishaps, Seniors become reluctant to leave their homes and therefore begin to isolate themselves from the outside world.

If you’re thinking of renovating (be it a multi generational home or even a second home), here are five tips to keep a safer step:

  1. Renovating a bathroom? Add grab bars that can act as towel bars. One step up would be to purchase ones with LED lighting in.  
image courtesy of evacare.com

2. Renovating a kitchen or bathroom? The installation of heated floors will increase drying time on wet floors and minimize slipping. 

We chose porcelain wood-look parquet flooring for this pool house that are heated.

3. Threshold heights leading from room to room should be flush with your flooring – the raised ones are great for keeping the baby in the walker out of the bathroom…but not so great for grandma in her walker or wheelchair.

4. Choose tile that is honed or has a rougher surface rather than a polished surface.   (For wood floors choose a satin finish)

5. Already chose a polished finish? We discovered a non-slip tile treatment that you can apply to your existing tile that will create traction and improve safety on slippery floors.

If you are thinking of renovating, there’s so much more you can do to accommodate all ages, and allow you to remain in your home. Our free guide offers a wealth of information so that you can live in your “Forever Home”: Sign up now to download this indispensable guide.

Nineteen percent of US households now have more than one adult generation living under the same roof.   That percentage is rising and is equivalent to the 1950’s.   #multigenerational

Why are these numbers on the rise? These statistics will help to understand the surprising uptick:

  • The average cost per year of Assisted Living in the Northeast is currently a whopping $120,000/year.
  • Student debt has risen to $1.4 trillion for US college graduates according to the Federal Reserve.
  • Annual child care costs $24,000 in NYC is (DC and Massachusetts is even higher)

With these statistics, It’s no wonder that multigenerational households are on the rise.

As an interior designer and Certified Aging in Place Specialist, the question I’m often asked is: How do I differentiate designing for families with young children versus ones that share a home with an aging parent?

My answer: It’s a very similar approach. Parents with toddlers know of the many difficulties of pushing a stroller into a home.  Children of older  parents know that those steps leading into a home could one day prevent wheelchair access.

I’m very familiar with these situations because I live in a multi generational household.   My husband and I renovated our home so that his mother could live with us after his dad passed.  Our renovation made our home more “livable” and gave us each our necessary privacy.   Fourteen years later this arrangement still works.

If you are thinking of renovating, there’s so much more you can do to accommodate all ages, and allow you to remain in your home. Our free guide offers a wealth of information so that you can live in your “Future Home”: Sign up now to download this indispensable guide.


The new subway mosaic at Hudson Yards, NYC

According to the US Census, the number of households with three generations under one roof and at least one member the age of 65 and over has grown from 1.7 million in 2006 to 3.2 million in 2016.

At this month’s Business of Home Conference speakers from Curbed and Zillow, talked about how these multi-generational homes are impacting the future of real estate.  Referring to the large number of boomers moving into senior communities as the “silver tsunami”, they defined what’s trending with the Boomer market.

Boomers are:

  • Renovating their homes with “Aging-in-place” at the top of their list. These are homes that accommodate ALL generations. But taking it one step farther is that they’re also designing to meet the needs of parents with Alzheimers or Dementia. (more on both in future posts)
  • Seeking more upscale senior living accommodations in urban areas.

Smart Home Technology was noted as being important to millennials…but I see that technology has become more user friendly to all generations. From Google Nest Hub to Siri to Alexa – it’s becoming a part of how we stay connected with family members.

So where are they going?

One speaker commented: “You’re going to see people who value quality of life, who want to be able to own a home or a business and do it affordably, looking at cities like San Antonio, Austin, Memphis, Louisville and Nashville as their best option,”    Those secondary markets are going to grow quite considerably.”

Continue to follow this blog for more on that in future posts!

The “Vessel” NYC

“The Future of Home” design seminar took place last week in NYC. It was a great experience. One of the most interesting talks was given by Zillow and Curbed entitled “The Future of Real Estate”. They had plenty to say about millennials. Here are my three takeaways.

  1. More people under the age of 34 continue to live at home with their parents.
  2. Married couples are taking in roommates to help with finances.
  3. Most fascinating to me, co-living (aka communal living where tenants share kitchens and living rooms) is on the rise. To meet this trend, companies located in major east and west coast cities are offering move-in ready, fully furnished, wifi and even cleaning crews.

So what does this mean for the future of home design? To me, this reinforces the fact that multigenerational homes will only continue to rise. These are homes that need to be designed to adapt to all generations.

Next week I’ll follow up with how “the Silver Tsumani” – boomers – are effecting the future of real estate. Stay tuned!

A Wall Street Journal article cited statistics from The United States of Aging Survey – adults 60 and older were asked to identify their biggest concern about aging: 40% said that maintaining physical health was important; 32% said maintaining mental health; 25% said living independently and 13% said getting to visit family and/or friends was important.

A survey unrelated to this article caused me to view the last two results with some skepticism. That survey showed that lonely and isolated seniors are more likely on average to report poor physical and/or mental health. I believe that 13% may have answered differently with that knowledge.

So what do these stats even have to do with interior design you ask?

Nine in ten folks want to remain in their homes as they age.  Beautiful design is important but so is a home that is designed for the future – one that is accessible, regardless of your physical ability.

So why leave home if you don’t have to? We can design a beautiful home for you today with tomorrow in mind.

Last year at the National Kitchen and Bath show there was one feature that stood out to us that we’re using in all of our designs: Lighting…everywhere. This “simple” feature combines beauty, safety and function.

These products are now readily available to consumers and they just make life easier…for anyone, at any ability.

Mirrors, sinks and vanities that keep us safe in the middle of the night.
Interior drawer lights add efficiency.
Interior lighting make any cabinet more efficient.

A friend recently told me the story of a woman named Rose who was a patient at the nursing home where her Dad resided. Each and every day my friend would see Rose, dressed to the nines with lipstick and hair styled – position her wheelchair by the front door…waiting for someone to take her home.  Sadly, there was no one and no plan for her return.

And I thought to myself – I will not be that woman.  

Studies show that 90% of people want to age in their homes.  Unfortunately, most people don’t plan properly to make that desire a reality.  My husband and I want to be in our “forever home” by the time our 11 year old graduates high school.

My vision of a stylish, well lit, universally designed home is so vivid that it will be impossible not to become reality.  

Because I refuse to sit waiting at the front door.

Want to learn more?  Sign up for my blog posts as I write about how your forever home can be designed so that you can “thrive in place”.

Can’t wait for future posts?  Read more by linking to articles under the blog category: livable design.

Are you thinking of building a second home? Not just another home but one with subtle nuances that will accommodate your family into the future? We call adding these inconspicuous refinements “livable design details”. Proactive design that enhances and welcomes every generation.

A “simple” first step is to find a house plan (or blueprints) that appeal to you. Start by paying attention to the overall flow of the floor plan…prior to meeting your architect. Envision yourself walking through the space and living there. This will enable you to initiate a productive in-depth conversation with your architect and designer about how you want your home to function for you and your family. (stay tuned for a future post where we go deep into what we recommend be in every second home)

Five tips to keep in mind when developing a livable design plan:

1. Look for a home with a single story floor plan that has a zero step entrance. If you prefer a multi storied home, the layout of the main areas should have at least one (master) bedroom suite on the main floor.

This traditional style cottage (above) could easily adapt to include a zero step entrance while the contemporary home, below, is a perfect example.

2. Thinking of adding an elevator? You don’t have to commit right away. Add a closet to the floor plan to be easily converted at a later date. To add one that is ADA compliant, (Americans with Disability Act) the minimum door width for an elevator interior is 36″. The depth of the interior must be at least 51″, and the width must be at least 68″, (unless the elevator has center-opening doors, in which case at least 80″ is required). Although this size may seem large, it’s important to plan to have enough space for not only the wheelchair bound person but also a caregiver.

Example of ADA compliant elevator.

3. Need to accommodate for family with special needs? Hallways and door openings should allow for a minimum of 32″ wide doorways and 36″ – 42″ for hallways.

4. Is bigger always better? In this case, yes. Think about increasing each room size to account for furniture plans that allow for a minimum 36″ pass by space should a wheelchair become necessary. Keeping this in mind – bathrooms need a turning radius of five foot minimum while kitchens need a pass through area of 42 – 48″.

A example of how a five foot turning radius affects the size of even a small bathroom.

5. Increase the amount of accessible walk-in storage. Not only will this hide clutter and prevent items from being left out, it will also help to prevent falls. Maximizing floor-to-ceiling storage increases orderliness throughout the home.

Bonus: Situate your home in a southern exposure for maximum light! Read more about how light affects design in our blog post entitled “The Healing effects of Light”

I can sometimes tolerate a room without windows on a dreary day but on a sunny day… it’s unbearable!  People tend to gravitate to the areas of their homes that provide them with the most sunlight and the best views. 
Why?  Because research repeatedly proves that natural light is healing. Stress levels decrease and mental energy is replenished in spaces that provide natural light and provide views of nature.  
Do you have a favorite place in your home where you can thrive?  

A recent statistic stated that the highest population of baby boomers live in Califorina.   It should really comes as no surprise.  As we age, we naturally yearn for more natural sunlight…simply stated because it makes us feel better.  

So, if you don’t live on the West Coast, here are a few easy tips as to how you can maximize the comfort and performance in your home from lighting expert Mariana Figueiro.

  • Lighting on a task area surface should be brighter than the surrounding space
  • Minimize glare by curbing the use of glossy materials
  • Lighting so shadows are “softer” (ones that don’t cast harsh shadows)
  • Balance light levels in an area
  • To keep circadian rhythms in sync: during the daytime hours (or at least for 2 hours in the morning) increase light levels and use bluish white for at least 2 hrs in the morning.”  In addition,  during the evening hours decrease light levels and use lights with a wam yellowish tint.
image

This month’s Wellnotes delves into the principles of “Livable Design”, more commonly referred to as “aging in place”. When we think about “aging in place” we think of wider doorways or higher electrical outlets.  A recent statistic however, shifted our focus from a physical to an emotional point of view: “Half of nursing home residents are placed there, not for health reasons but the absence of social interaction due to a lack of accessibility”.  A large part of a designer’s job is to implement designs so that social connections aren’t lost and more importantly, don’t look like an after thought.   As Aging in Place Specialists (CAPS) we can recommend many design options that not only speak to an aging population, but also benefits families with young children planning on staying in their homes indefinitely, such as:

  1. Levered door handles easily grasped by aging hands and small children.
  2. A slight entranceway ramp instead of stairs that are both wheelchair and stroller friendly.
  3. Entranceway cameras with an intercom system (with smartphone features) providing security to both the elderly and mothers with small children.
  4. Hallway motion sensor lights that illuminate objects benefiting both the elderly and toddler’s leaping out of bed in middle of the night.

Livable design is a thoughtful design process that can be implemented now and work for all ages.

                                                                                                               
Our interiors are designed to be highly personal.  We ensure that you’re surrounded with design that’s meaningful and represents you authentically—so that you’ll thrive.   Give us a call or email us.  We’d love to get to know you and help you create an uplifting environment.