Fox Run Residents Personalize Their Homes

Al and Jennifer "Lynne" Kammerer loved their large, single-family house, but the increasing maintenance and repairs were becoming a burden.

"We'd have our two children, their spouses, and our four grandchildren over, but that was only once a year," says Al. "We really got tired of taking care of it."

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Lynne agrees, saying, "It was just too much house that wasn't fun anymore."

After attending an informational luncheon and touring floor plans at Fox Run, an Erickson Senior Living community in Novi, Mich., they knew a maintenance-free home at the vibrant community was exactly what they needed.

The couple selected a two-bedroom, two-bath residence with a den. To their surprise, it was one of Fox Run's few "combination homes."

Acting on feedback

When Fox Run was originally built, the largest floor plan available was 1,400 square feet. As the years passed, prospective residents expressed a preference for something bigger.

"So, we started looking for opportunities to create larger homes. When two neighboring units were open, we decided to remove the wall between them, producing one large residence," explains Sales Director Allison Murphy. "These became our combination homes."

The combination blends form and function. For example, second kitchens can be transformed into laundry rooms with cabinets and a countertop. Other times, they are turned into additional storage space.

"Prospective residents are really impressed by the laundry rooms. They have quite the wow factor," Murphy says. "Combination homes are always a huge hit. People love them."

Of the 1,000 residences at Fox Run, just 35 are combination homes. "If someone is interested in them, they definitely need to be on our Priority List. It allows you to save your spot in line for your desired floor plan," she notes.

Customize your space

Before moving into their combination home, Al and Lynne contacted the Custom Interiors team to personalize their space.

At Fox Run, making your home your own can be as simple as changing a paint color or window treatments. But if you'd like to do more, such as adding a built-in entertainment center, the Custom Interiors team can help.

For the Kammerers, it meant converting one of the bedrooms into an entertaining space with a dry bar.

"Lynne and I enjoy wine and cocktails, so we decided we wanted a dry bar," says Al. "Our daughter and her husband have a dry bar in their home, so I took a photo of it and gave it to [Custom Interiors Coordinator] Jodi Cranis. She worked with her designers and came up with one that we love."

The dry bar's upper cabinets hold wine, liquor, glasses, and cocktail additions such as bitters. Under that is an L-shaped countertop with more cabinets below, each with pull-out drawers for additional glasses and drinks waiting to be added to the built-in mini-fridge.

In their den, the couple worked with Custom Interiors to install a built-in desk that runs the entire width of the room and faces the windows. "It's got six file drawers, three desk drawers, and some open shelves. The top fits my iMac computer, a printer, computer speakers, and other stuff," says Al. "It's just what I wanted."

Custom Interiors also designed and installed shelves and racks in the walk-in closet attached to their primary bedroom.

"Working with Jodi and the Custom Interiors team was a piece of cake," says Lynne. "We really love our home. We were able to make it our own."

Al agrees, saying, "It was fantastic. Jodi and her assistant are very accommodating. They're a delight to work with!"

The home you want

Other residents in combination homes have also requested modifications. Some made simple changes, such as selecting a new tile backsplash for their kitchen, while others installed large built-in shelves and compartments to serve as wardrobes. In one home with an electric fireplace, the residents added built-in bookcases to the walls around it.

Murphy notes that a couple had custom desks--his and hers--set up in a room they use as a home office. They also had the desks equipped with additional outlets to support their multiple computers and printers.

"Custom Interiors works with residents to do anything they possibly can to transform the space into the home they've always wanted," says Murphy.

"It's important to know because a lot of people who have lived in an apartment think that there are restrictions on what you can and can't do," says Al. "Here at Fox Run, there are so many changes that you can make!"

Join today

Murphy encourages anyone interested in moving to Fox Run to join the Priority List, especially if a combination home is on their mind. "It's your best chance of securing your future at Fox Run and getting the home you want!" she says.

To learn more about independent senior living at Fox Run, request your free brochure to get the scoop on amenities, floor plans, and much more.

By Michele Wojciechowski