Small House in a Small Village

I designed this house specifically for my husband's parents to move into so they could have a new, smaller, easier to maintain home next to their son. They will be leaving the very large 1820's rural farmhouse where they've lived almost their entire 50+ years of married life. They bought it in the 1960's, raised their children there, hosted decades of family meals in the 24' long dining room, and even celebrated one daughter's wedding in the park-like yard. Whenever I feel fretful about my in-laws living next door and what that might mean for my family's autonomy, I remind myself how daunting this move must be for them.


Their new home will be much more modest in size, requiring them to pare down their belongings and saved items. It will also be comfortable, not drafty, inexpensive to heat, and it will boast two beautiful, efficient, and safe bathrooms. The rooms will be sunny and bright. The walls will be smooth and un-cracked. The floors will be level and even. (My Mother-in-law will at long last have the ability to get one of those "robot" vacuums she's dreamed about, but which was never a possibility in their old house with big, stepped thresholds between rooms) Toward the west they will have glorious views of the Catskill Mountains. From the front porch they will be able to watch their grandchild's school bus, as well as all the other members of the community walk or bike by - because this house is not in the suburbs, it is in a village.

The fact that the house is small and easy to maintain and has grab bars and and a curb-less shower are all design decisions that were made to accommodate aging in place. But more important than any of these universal design principles or having family next door if they need help, is that it is located in a small walkable village - not suburbia. Having lived in a walkable neighborhood for years, this above all else, is what I believe has the most value and will be what makes it a great place to move to in one's 70s. I hope they think so too.