The Suite Life for Mom

The Suite Life for Mom

There are many reasons to consider a multi-generational home design. The advantages to combining households makes moving in mom or dad an appealing option. But making room for an aging family member in an existing home can be a challenge. Often the room ends up being a former child’s room, or a modified main floor common space. This is less than ideal, especially if the new member of the household leads an independent life.

In the Countryside Neighborhood of Edina, one family has created space for multiple adults to thrive while balancing the demands of a busy household. When a parent passed away, leaving a home in the city much to large to manage, the family looked high and low for a home that had private main floor living for mom as well as a place for the couple and their two small children (at the time ages 3 & 8). This proved to be an impossible task. Homes allowing for a family of this configuration were non existent and modifying a home was not going to provide the end result they were seeking.

“We wanted a home for all of us together that was private enough for mom to feel it was hers as well as ours. We needed one level living and privacy so mom could choose to dip in and out of the hustle and bustle of raising kids.” Remembers Nancy. Wanting to remain in Edina, they employed an architect who specialized in Aging in Place to help them develop a floorplan with private spaces that would easily adapt as mobility needs shifted, as well offer spaces for the family to come together. The resulting home has a Universal Design 2000 square foot main level with the home’s kitchen, a formal dining room, living room, laundry/mud room, and family room as well as a sun porch leading to the private bedroom and 3/4 bath suite. It has the feel of a single family home since the in-law suite is not visible, but rather tucked along the side of the home off a sun porch with private backyard views.

The Fred Nordahl Construction home is packed with features. There are no external steps into the home from outside making it easy to enter & access the two patios. The in-law suite has a zero depth shower, grab bars and a vanity easily modified for limited mobility. The kitchen has wide passages making it easy to maneuver and resulting in a center island with storage on all four sides. The doorways are wide and there are laundry rooms and family rooms on the main and upper levels.

Mario Lopez is Real Estate Agent with National Realty Guild, The home is listed in Edina MN MLS Number 4826692.