Kitchen & Bath Business - September 2018 - 18

Trends

Full-House Design

Multigenerational living inspires new insights
and products to accommodate everyone

A N Y T H I N G S H AV E
CHANGED IN THE HOME

over the past century,
but in one respect we
are returning to the
ways of the past: multiple generations are
beginning to live together again. According to the
Pew Research Center, 21 percent of family homes
in 1950 had more than one adult generation living
under the same roof. This dipped down to just 12
percent in 1980, but after the recent recession it
swelled back up to 19 percent.
"Multigenerational housing is a doubleedged sword," said Andrew Maynard of Victoria, Australia-based Austin Maynard Architects,
which recently completed a project of this type.
"It is wonderful in many ways - a diverse family
home is often a healthy family home. "However,
multigenerational homes also reflect the nature
of our economies and the dire consequences of
housing unaffordability."
Thankfully, manufacturers are rising to the
challenge with functional yet beautiful products
that cater to the safety and comfort of all individuals in a household. Products that are intuitive,
flexible and easy to use appeal to everyone, despite
age or physical abilities.
"We find ourselves at an interesting crossroads
today where an aging population, technology and
design trends are all coming together to encourage
design that is accessible for everyone,"said Megan
Multanen, chief sales officer for BestBath, which is
known for its ADA-compliant, barrier-free showers and walk-in tubs.

TOP LEFT Showing at KBIS
2019, the LEGRABOX
system oﬀers a high loadbearing capacity and is easy
to wipe clean. Combined with
BLUM's TIP-ON BLUMOTION
technology, drawers can
open mechanically with a
light press of the drawer
front and close quietly and
smoothly each time.
TOP RIGHT Set in its newest

tile inlay pattern, TileDesign,

BESTBATH oﬀers a custom

shower look with a teak grab
bar and barrier-free pan for
easy access and use. The
shower is available in molten
stone, which is oﬀered in
11 colors and provides the
look of granite without the
maintenance.

BY ERINN LOUCKS

THE GROWING DEMAND

The gradual rise in multigenerational living is the result of a growing shared
need. More young parents are both working and need help with childcare,
while seniors need help with the daily difficulties of aging.
In 33 states, the cost of child care is higher than the cost of college tuition,
according to the recently released Care Index from New American and Care.
com. In addition, Genworth Financial's recent report found that assisted
living can cost nearly $44,000 a year, and many people are hesitant to put
loved ones in a facility because of recent negative media. Finally, student debt
is driving more recent college graduates to move back in with their parents;
American students owe more than a collective $1.4 trillion, according to the
Federal Reserve.
"This has created a brand new type of family dynamic in America that
is now mainstream," said Ebony Stephenson of Newport News, Va.-based
Designs by Ebony. "Each generation plays its role and has certain responsibilities around the house."
Stephenson also explained that another contributing factor is changing
demographics. In many of the cultures that are now growing in population in
the U.S., multigenerational living is traditional and commonplace. As communities become more diverse, this sort of family situation is likely to grow
in popularity. If this type of home is designed and managed correctly, it can
create a symbiotic relationship among grandparents, parents and children
where everyone benefits from the close proximity of each other.
DESIGNING WELL FROM THE BEGINNING

Families with young children know that their toddlers can be at risk in a
home. Stanford Children's Health found that each year about 2,000 children ages 14 and under die as a result of a home injury, but these injuries are
preventable with the right knowledge and tools.
"For a home with young children, I would recommend locking medicine
cabinets and installing appliance, cabinet and toilet bowl latches,"said Dawn
DeLuca of New York City-based Dawn DeLuca on Design."Thermostatic
valves in tubs/showers and touchless faucets with a set water temperature
prevent burns. Doors and windows should have holders and stops, and there
should be chimes or alerts set on all doors.This list is by no means complete."
Open spaces with clear sight lines are also important in this type of household. Not only does openness make spaces feel light and large, but it also allows parents and grandparents to keep an eye on young children.This peace of
mind can be highly beneficial in a busy household, particularly one with a baby.

Kitchen & Bath Business / SEPTEMBER 2018 / KBBONLINE.COM / The official publication of KBIS (KBIS.com)

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Kitchen & Bath Business - September 2018

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Kitchen & Bath Business - September 2018