HOMEARAMA® Cincinnati 2018

HERE TO HELP
While building a multigenerational
home can yield savings—through
shared construction
costs and utilities, for
example—for most buyers the
choice is about making it easier
to take care of each other.
“We decided it was mutually
beneficial. Right now it probably
benefits us more with
the kids, but later as (our parents)
age and may have health
problems, it will benefit them,”
says Jill Aston, who will live
in Heritage A with her husband,
Scott, and their three
children. Scott’s parents, Candy
and Barry Aston, will live in
Heritage B.
Multigenerational living also
means more hands on deck,
making it easier for everyone
to keep up with property
maintenance and daily chores.
“Anytime you have more
adults living in one area, work
gets divided, whether it’s taking
care of the lawn or meals
or each other,” Jill says.
Candy and Barry, who spend
much of the year in Florida,
won’t have to worry over who
is taking care of their property
while they’re away.
Erin will live in Lighthouse
with her husband, Bryan, their
three children and Erin’s parents,
Mark and Nancy. She
expects a divide-and-conquer
approach will enable each
member of her household to
do more of what they love—
like gardening or cooking—
and less of what they dread.
INDEPENDENT LIVING
Despite the perks, the move to multigenerational living wasn’t
an easy decision, especially for Candy and Barry and Mark and
Nancy. They initially rejected the idea, envisioning a lack of
privacy and freedom that would come from living in their “children’s”
house. While the solution for these families was to build
connected homes that function independently, multigenerational
living can be as separate or combined as a family wishes, ranging
from homes with multiple master suites to those with privately
accessed apartments.
The exterior of Lighthouse resembles any other single-family
home, but the two front doors, driveways and garages hint at the
separate living spaces, which are connected via a door in the parlor
and in the lower level of the main house. Even their respective
patios are positioned for privacy.
“We designed everything with privacy in mind, to be separate
but yet really convenient,” Erin says of their homes.
Each of the older couples also designed with aging in place in
mind. Candy and Barry can easily consolidate their ranch home to
live in just a few rooms, if needed, and Mark and Nancy’s space
is completely wheelchair accessible.
HOMEARAMA ® 2018 25