by Sarah Thorn | Jun 9, 2022 | Aging In Place, Building A Quality Custom Home, Construction, Construction & Design
[et_pb_section fb_built="1" _builder_version="4.16" _module_preset="default" custom_margin="||||false|true" custom_padding="||24px||false|true" da_disable_devices="off|off|off" locked="off" global_colors_info="{}" da_is_popup="off" da_exit_intent="off" da_has_close="on" da_alt_close="off" da_dark_close="off" da_not_modal="on" da_is_singular="off" da_with_loader="off" da_has_shadow="on"][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.16" _module_preset="default" width_tablet="" width_phone="100%" width_last_edited="on|phone" custom_padding="9px||10px|||" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.16" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_image src="https://media-upload-livingstone.s3.amazonaws.com/img/20231129151442/Plan_Forever_Home_header.jpg" alt="Design Forever Home" title_text="Plan_Forever_Home_header" _builder_version="4.23.1" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.17.4" _module_preset="default" width_tablet="" width_phone="90%" width_last_edited="on|phone" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.16" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.23.1" _module_preset="default" header_2_line_height="1.4em" hover_enabled="0" header_2_font_size_tablet="" header_2_font_size_phone="24px" header_2_font_size_last_edited="on|phone" global_colors_info="{}" sticky_enabled="0"]Aging In Place If you ask someone who is ready to build a new home, they will often tell you that “This is the last home I will ever build. They will have to bury me in the back yard.” If you’re building a forever home, it’s always a good idea to consider designing your home for Aging- In-Place. Good Aging-In-Place considerations will include an elevator (or shaft), curbless showers, wider doorways, lever door handles, and an extra emphasis on lighting to name a few. This will allow you to live in the home as long as you want or provide better resale-ability should you choose to sell your home in the future. You also will want to consider your Indoor Air Quality. An often overlooked aspect of homebuilding that is becoming more important as homes are built tighter (read more here). If you're building a forever home, a Wellness-Within-Your-Walls certification is a good way to ensure healthy indoor air. Check out the Ready Residence, which is soon to be the first WWYW certified home in N.C.[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.23.1" _module_preset="default" header_2_line_height="1.4em" hover_enabled="0" header_2_font_size_tablet="" header_2_font_size_phone="24px" header_2_font_size_last_edited="on|phone" global_colors_info="{}" sticky_enabled="0"]The Only Constant Even if it is the last home you will ever build, you should be prepared for plans to change. Recent surveys show that most people live in their home an average of five years, and you’re probably not much different. You may be thinking, but this really is going to be my last home. And if it is, that’s great. But you may want to consider the reality of averages. A client of ours (who we'll call Susan) took more than a year to design her new home for her family, only to discover she was way over budget. She also realized that by the time she completed her home construction, all but one of her five children would be away at college, and she had designed bedrooms for each of them! Reality finally dawned on her—within a few short years, she and her husband would be empty-nesters. Designing her home for a family of seven thinking this would be her home for the rest of her life didn’t fit the reality of Susan’s imminent transition to a home for two.[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.23.1" _module_preset="default" header_2_line_height="1.4em" hover_enabled="0" header_2_font_size_tablet="" header_2_font_size_phone="24px" header_2_font_size_last_edited="on|phone" global_colors_info="{}" sticky_enabled="0"]Priorities When designing your custom home, first design for your immediate needs. Second, take into account what market conditions will allow for your particular home design. Third, give strong consideration to how long you may live in your home. Susan may shift gears and design a home that’s perfect for her family’s needs for the next five to seven years, with a plan to downsize at that time. With this more realistic outlook, she may give additional consideration to the resale value of her choices.Don’t make the mistake of over-designing a home that may become obsolete for your family within a short period of time.[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.23.1" _module_preset="default" header_2_line_height="1.4em" hover_enabled="0" header_2_font_size_tablet="" header_2_font_size_phone="24px" header_2_font_size_last_edited="on|phone" global_colors_info="{}" sticky_enabled="0"]Bottom Line Be realistic about your short-term and long-term needs and how long you will live in your new home, then design accordingly.[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built="1" specialty="on" _builder_version="4.17.4" _module_preset="default" custom_padding="39px|||||" da_disable_devices="off|off|off" global_colors_info="{}" da_is_popup="off" da_exit_intent="off" da_has_close="on" da_alt_close="off" da_dark_close="off" da_not_modal="on" da_is_singular="off" da_with_loader="off" da_has_shadow="on"][et_pb_column type="2_3" specialty_columns="2" _builder_version="4.16" custom_padding="|||" global_colors_info="{}" custom_padding__hover="|||"][et_pb_row_inner _builder_version="4.17.4" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_column_inner saved_specialty_column_type="2_3" _builder_version="4.17.4" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.17.4" _module_preset="default" header_font="|||||on|||" header_text_color="rgba(17,32,73,0.79)" header_font_size="54px" header_2_font="||||||||" header_2_font_size="34px" custom_margin="||||false|false" header_font_size_tablet="39px" header_font_size_phone="38px" header_font_size_last_edited="on|desktop" header_2_font_tablet="||||||||" header_2_font_phone="||||||||" header_2_font_last_edited="on|phone" global_colors_info="{}"]Building A Quality Custom Home Want to know more? This book by Sean Sullivan is full of helpful information in easy-to-read chapters like this blog post. It is a step-by-step guide to the “must-know” issues of building your dream home. Discover the custom-home construction secrets that could save you headaches, heartaches, and thousands (if not tens of thousands) of dollars.[/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url="https://www.livingstoneconstruction.com/building-a-quality-custom-home" button_text="Learn More" _builder_version="4.17.4" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][/et_pb_button][/et_pb_column_inner][/et_pb_row_inner][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type="1_3" _builder_version="4.16" custom_padding="|||" global_colors_info="{}" custom_padding__hover="|||"][et_pb_image src="https://media-upload-livingstone.s3.amazonaws.com/img/20231129151432/Untitled-design-8.png" alt="Building A Custom Home" title_text="Custom Home Book" _builder_version="4.17.4" _module_preset="default" custom_padding="3px|||||" global_colors_info="{}"][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_section]
by Sean | May 16, 2018 | Aging In Place, Postings
[et_pb_section fb_built="1" admin_label="section" _builder_version="4.16" da_disable_devices="off|off|off" global_colors_info="{}" da_is_popup="off" da_exit_intent="off" da_has_close="on" da_alt_close="off" da_dark_close="off" da_not_modal="on" da_is_singular="off" da_with_loader="off" da_has_shadow="on"][et_pb_row admin_label="row" _builder_version="4.16" background_size="initial" background_position="top_left" background_repeat="repeat" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.16" custom_padding="|||" global_colors_info="{}" custom_padding__hover="|||"][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" _builder_version="4.27.4" background_size="initial" background_position="top_left" background_repeat="repeat" hover_enabled="0" global_colors_info="{}" sticky_enabled="0"]It is often said in our household (particularly on birthdays) that “you are only as old as you feel”. The truth of the matter is that we are all aging-in-place every day. Most Gen X’ers have (or are currently) dealing with aging parents and their living situations. So why has it taken so long for us to accept the inevitable about our own accommodations? One sunny afternoon I sat down with the Smith’s (soon-to-retire clients of ours) and explained our mantra that if we are going to design+build a home for them, then we should do it right, with no regrets. One of the considerations that we make on every home is for our client to be able to age-in-place. I looked across the table and noticed that their eyebrows raised and they responded somewhat defensively with “do you think we are that old”? I reassured them that I was not speaking of their current health situation but wanted to be able to deliver a home for them that (1) allowed them to live in the home as long as they needed without being forced into a retirement home, and (2) that the home would be comfortable for anyone who chose to visit including parents, neighbors, and friends. They put their trust in me and we continued on with the design of their soon-to-be beautiful (and barrier free) home. If you are like the majority of Americans over the age of 55, you want to find that perfect retirement spot and then be able to continue living in that familiar environment throughout your maturing years. According to the AARP, older home owners overwhelmingly prefer to age-in-place, which means living in your home safely, independently and comfortably, regardless of age or ability level. Access to aging-in-place homes is on a limited supply, and often, the result is that we are forced out of our own homes and into an assisted living facility. Odds are high that someone in your family will need a nursing home sooner or later. More than two-thirds of people over age 65 will require some type of long-term care services during their lifetime, and over 45 percent of people will need a period of care in a nursing home, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The cost of that care can financially cripple a family. But there are steps you can take – design and build (or renovate) a home that will accommodate your needs and allow for an in-home caretaker. We all enjoy where we live in the mountains however, due to the topography, finding a barrier-free home can be very challenging here. I explain to our clients that through our extensive design process, we consider ingress/egress, wider doorways, curbless showers, specific types of handles, blocking for grab bars, an extra emphasis on lighting, and the possible use of an elevator. (My clients are often surprised when I tell them that we can install an elevator for much less than building an extra bedroom on the main level.) We also design in a “flex” room which can be used as a home office or a future bedroom for a caregiver. Close to one year went by before the Smiths began their move to Asheville. We received a call from the Smith’s that their adult daughter had moved home with them and had recently broken her ankle. To everyone’s surprise, the move went incredibly smooth as the daughter was able to get around anywhere in the house (on crutches) with ease. So, whether it is your hip, knees, or ankle that gives out, the satisfaction of forward thinking and a job well done, will pay off and save you money and comfort in the end. Just ask the Smith’s, they immediately became our greatest sales team.[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]
by Sean | Jun 2, 2015 | Aging In Place, Universal Design
This bathroom takes into consideration aging in place with the lighting design. We used built-in mirror lighting to be able to see the reflection
better and cabinet toe kick lighting which is especially helpful when using the bathroom at night.
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by Sean | Sep 3, 2014 | Accreditation, Construction, Construction & Design, Recognition
Over the last twenty years, Living Stone Construction has set themselves apart by exceeding expectations. By utilizing a special team approach to Design+Build, we deliver ultimate performance, quality, and value. As only one of a few accredited master builders in the state, LSC is also an Energy Star partner, Certified Green Professional, and Aging-In-Place specialist. No matter what type of project you have, we design, and build, to meet your budget. Call us today 828.669.4343 for a free consultation to see how our team works to make your dreams come true.
by Sean | Aug 22, 2014 | Aging In Place, Testimonials, Universal Design
It’s not unusual for Bonnie and Gary Holstein to strike up a conversation with another couple. And it’s not unusual for them to become friends with new acquaintances, something that the Holsteins love about Asheville and Southcliff, the community south of town where they live their Living Stone Construction-built home.
“Just the other day, we struck up a conversation with another couple at the Battery Park Book Exchange & Champagne Bar, and they invited us to a concert at their home,” Bonnie said. She spoke as she and Gary were driving home from the Biltmore Estate, where they had exchanged numbers with another couple while taking photos of tulips.
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