Waukesha County Home

slope up to have a one-step entry, he added. Similarly, he said, two master bedrooms with private bathrooms, with one master usually on the main level, might be from $8,000 to $20,000 to convert the second largest bedroom into a suite with a private bath or shower. A zero-threshold shower allows easy entry for someone with a walk- er or wheelchair, he added. "I don't know if there's anything differ- ent than having two masters with privacy," Thistle said of the top need cited by many for multigenerational living. A Halen model was set up with two mas- ters at a previous Metropolitan Builders Association Parade of Homes, he noted. This year, Halen's Willow ranch model at the Fox Meadow Subdivision next to the Tamarack Preserve in Menomonee Falls doesn't have double master bedrooms. "It would be pretty easy to do," Thistle said of building the model that way. While two-story homes lend themselves easily to having two master suites, prefer- ably one on the main floor, the adjustment for a standard ranch is pretty easy, he said. "You could put a new living space on the lower level or you could put a wing on the other end of the house," Thistle said. While lots that lend themselves to ranch- es with exposed basements are popular, they're harder to find, he said. A trend in "empty-nest" homes is to have finished basements with a kitchenette and full bathroom, whether it's for older kids or guests, making the floor plan basically multigenerational, Thistle also said. Those homes are often ranch homes, he added. O'Brien said the use of rooms in a multi- generational home can change over time as the homeowners age, but a first-floor suite is a "top priority" when planning one. "The suite can also serve as a convenient office, den or guest room. If the bath's design includes two doors (the second from an adjacent common area), it can double as a guest bath," O'Brien said. Thistle said buyers interested in multi- generational homes are often in their 50s with parents in their 80s. "It tends to be middle-age families with older kids or they have an older parent moving in with them or are planning for that," he said. Added features Beyond the double suites and easy entry, there are simple designs, including lower counters in one area, that can aid people with mobility issues. Some of the features, such as lever door handles that make it easier for arthritic adults, are commonplace in new homes. "We offer lever handles as standard, but we don't know if that's because people need it or just like it. It goes into a lot of houses," Thistle said. As O'Brien said, they're handy for every- one. While hard-surface floors are popular for many reasons, a side benefit is improved mobility for people with walkers or wheelchairs. Thistle said he hasn't noticed an increase in requests for non-slip floors in bathrooms, but they're an easy feature to install in a new home. "I built two houses last year that were completely handicapped accessible," This- tle said. "Consideration is given to plumbing fix- tures and the shower layout, and we're relocating valves and those kind of things." Features that Tim O'Brien of Tim O'Brien Homes Inc. described as multi- generational: ■ An easy entry. Your builder can cre- ate a "zero step" entry by gently sloping a landscaped walkway from the driveway to an exterior door. It's an attractive alterna- tive to a wheelchair ramp, and — if well- designed — will look like a convenience, not an accessibility requirement. ■ A first-floor master suite. This belongs at the top of the priority list. The suite's bath needs a shower with a tile floor that's flush with the bathroom floor, so that users don't have to step over a curb to get in and out. As for grab bars, the big plumbing man- ufacturers now offer models with looks that match specific fixture lines, so they blend in seamlessly. ■ 36-inch doorways. In many homes, the only wide doorway is the main entry, but a true multi-generational home will have wide doors throughout so that a walker or wheelchair user can reach every room. As an added advantage, wide doors make it possible to move large pieces of furniture that might not fit in a room with a 30-inch opening. ■ Lever door handles. Levers benefit older people with arthritic fingers, but they will also be appreciated by anyone who needs to get into the house while car- rying an armful of groceries. ■ Visual contrast. Besides making life easier for someone with poor vision, good lighting and strong color contrast between wall and floor surfaces make for a more interesting space. The interior designer can arrange these contrasting elements to evoke nearly any mood, from joyful and energetic to subdued and serene. ■ Smooth, non-slip flooring. Elimi- nating carpet makes it easier for someone with a wheelchair or walker to get around, but it also helps keep dust and other indoor pollutants out of the air. Non-slip tile reduces anyone's chance of slipping in the shower. Multigenerational: Home trend grows HOMES PLUS AUGUST 2017 4 18 Full-size Doors On Display, Our Installers Are Licensed & Bonded 16'x7', 25 Gauge...Non Insulated Steel $ 775 Lifetime Door Co. TRUCKLOAD SALE on Garage Doors & Door Openers Installed Tax Included $ 975 • Other Sizes Available • 2000 Garage Doors in Stock Special! - Take down and haul away old door for FREE! 16x7 SAVE $ 240 NOW Model 8365 ORDER A LIFTMASTER 1/2 HP GARAGE DOOR OPENER & GET 2 REMOTES & KEYPAD. $ 345 Installed Tax Included • Two-Sided Pre-Finished Galvanized Steel • R-10 Insulated • 5 colors to choose from 12645 W. Townsend (2 blocks N. of Burleigh, enter off 124th St. only) Free Estimate 262-783-4004 Monday - Friday 7am-5pm www.lifetimedoor.net 2 5 3 5 2 7 0 0 7 Full Year Warranty, parts and service on installed operators. FREE Internet Gateway with order Submitted photo A second master suite is the No. 1 expectation in new home customers seeking a home for three generations or anticipating on staying put in their senior years, Scott Thistle of Halen Homes LLC said. Multigenerational home features Continued from Page 1

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