Transitions are our specialty here at TPD Architect. Over the last few months, not only have we been working on renovations and new construction for families whose lives are changing, whether the kids are growing up or moving out, couples are downsizing, or families are considering accessibility or working and schooling from home, but we’ve also been thinking about ways to help homeowners so that they can make informed decisions about what comes next.
Our new service, Thrive at Home, will help folks determine what kinds of renovations or upgrades would provide them with the ability to live in their homes longer. Thrive at Home is a stand-alone consulting service that provides owners with the advice of an architect trained in accessibility and aging issues, without committing to a large renovation project.
My specialty as a residential architect is not just helping clients make strategic decisions about how their homes will grow with them – but ensuring the beautiful home that they’ve crafted over the years stays beautiful. A lot of the advice and products out there for renovating your home as you grow older are, well, not too nice looking. No one wants to have their home resemble a rehab facility with white plastic and institutional-looking grab bars.
When people hear that I’m a certified Aging In Place Specialist it’s brought up eye-opening conversations. We talk about their parents looking for a place to live, the need to downsize and decrease maintenance costs while wanting to stay in the neighborhood, and the revelations of knee replacement surgery or a teenager’s torn ACL.
Life events can certainly determine the wish lists for our home, but these kinds of renovations and upgrades can be good ideas for everyone. An accessible kitchen with the newest induction technology range provides a great culinary experience as well as a safe place to cook with kids. A zero-step entry is great for carrying in bags of groceries and works equally well for wheelchairs and strollers. A curbless shower has a spa-like aesthetic and eliminates a slippery tripping hazard. Good design shouldn’t be reserved for the young and able: designing places where everyone can thrive is at the heart of what we do here at TPD.
Over the next month or so, I’ll be sharing more about our consulting services and what we are learning along the way about how to design for folks of all ages who want their homes to be functional, beautiful, and livable – for longer. Stay tuned.