Once the children have moved out and retirement is on the horizon, it’s time to consider adjustments to the house that make it more livable. Adaptations to the floor plan or the room arrangements can create a home better suited to a lifestyle of leisure and the pursuit of hobbies. Consider each room and decide whether it has the design flexibility for a home with fewer occupants.
Sometimes it is necessary to create multi-functional spaces in a small footprint. In small spaces such as powder rooms or closets, the use of pocket doors is a good way to gain more floor space and to allow for easy accessibility for persons using walkers or wheel chairs. The dining room and living room can be separated by a sliding pocket or glass barn door so that the dining room can be used as a private study when the owners aren’t entertaining. Frosted glass doorways allow light to penetrate the interior spaces without sacrificing privacy. Pocket doors can also close off one wing of a home for privacy or sound reduction.
Another way to free up floor space is to employ built-in window seats for seating and storage. If the window bay is deep enough, the upholstered bench can also accommodate overnight guests. Cozy seating areas with views to the outside create private retreats within a larger space.
Be conscious of sight lines within the house that improve the view and allow the natural light to penetrate the interior spaces. This will reduce the demand for artificial lighting. When the upper cabinets in the kitchen are eliminated, large windows can be installed which extend from the countertop to the ceiling to provide unobstructed views of the outside. Adding skylights or clerestory windows to vent warm summer air will minimize the use of air conditioning.
A single piece of custom made furniture that has multiple functions can transform a room. For example, a freestanding headboard can be a room divider. When it is constructed with an 18” depth, the headboard can accommodate pull out nightstands and bedside lighting on the front, storage cabinets under the mattress and built-in drawers on the reverse side. One sleek piece of furniture can replace several bureaus and two nightstands!
A home’s design should reflect the owners’ passions and provide inspiration for the next stage of life. Does yours?
— Jean Cary, Jean Cary Interiors