ᐅ Single-Family Home Floor Plan for Two – Feedback Welcome

Hausbau 55 schrieb:

This topic is about new homes for people over 50. It is appropriate (and even advisable) to consider the life stages beyond 60, 70, and further years.

For me, this is too generalizing. As someone over 60, I am often surprised by the sometimes rigid mindset of my neighbors in their 30s, but apparently, that suits them. Of course, I anticipate certain things and avoid putting deliberate obstacles in my house. However, if I approach homebuilding that way, I wouldn’t be able to choose a nice floor in my younger years because of the children, then later something else wouldn’t work due to a dog or cat, and suddenly I’m in my mid-forties thinking about fifty, when I should already be considering 60, 70, etc. — so again, not doing what I actually want. When in life will that finally happen...? There is always some reason not to do it...
How often have I heard "we couldn’t do that because..." and I thought how sad it was — of course it would have been possible if the focus had been different or if they had just been a bit braver.
At any age, one can build a house with hope and a positive outlook on life, or one filled with worry and anxiety.
In my opinion, it’s more a matter of personal philosophy.
When I read posts sometimes, I understand why so little individuality is visible in new housing developments. I admire people with courage, even if they know they might make mistakes in some areas.

Hausbau 55 schrieb:

I have three older sisters, each with partners, and all live in houses with stairs. One-level living and other senior-friendly features (our walk-in shower is 1.10 m x 1.2 m (3 ft 7 in x 4 ft)) were not or insufficiently considered at the time. Many things weren’t possible due to plot size or other factors. All six of them currently say that if they were to build new now, they would choose a size and layout similar to our bungalow. Fortunately, many seniors who build anew today also choose bungalows.

Almost everyone would do things differently if they were to build again. Even though I have just moved in, my next house would look completely different. Still, I enjoy every minute here NOW. That’s not a contradiction. But it must always be a special home for me, not flashy but individual!
The bungalow “is a popular choice,” the timeless living wall unit made of beech veneer equally so — apparently you can’t go wrong with those, but people seem a bit afraid of that; I tend to prefer a bright red sofa.
Not least because the ubiquitous advertising shows these ever-smiling “active seniors” in their freshly plastered bungalows. But they could just as well be shown having tea on a houseboat or sitting by a campfire in a tipi.
Everywhere I see generalizations — in travel, car buying, and more. Everything is supposedly secured and adapted everywhere, but in the end, nothing in life is really secured.
My mother moved voluntarily at 82, we ourselves have moved multiple times, and if our current house no longer fits us, then changes or adaptations will be necessary. In most cases, physical limitations are the lesser issue nowadays, as there are countless aids and options available. Usually, mental weaknesses, fears, forgetfulness are the main difficulties for elderly people.
My mother often forgot to turn off the stove or tripped on level ground due to different floor surfaces. Later on, she liked the very small bathroom because she could hardly fall and always had something to hold onto... this topic could be discussed endlessly. Limitations and the individual way of dealing with them vary as much as people do.

Hausbau 55 schrieb:

By the way, my father moved into a care home at 84 because living on one floor was not possible in his rented house. Perhaps he could have stayed longer in his familiar surroundings otherwise.

I don’t know the details, but in cases I am familiar with, the real problems were mostly elsewhere: loneliness, fear, not wanting to be a burden, stubbornness (also of the rest of the family), etc., and sometimes (as has been mentioned here more than once) the gentle pressure from the younger generation...
I don’t see a strict “necessity” to build a bungalow in old age, but it can be done if that is what someone prefers.

Tom1978 schrieb:

My parents, my sister, and I lived together in one room for a year. I didn’t have my own room until I was 18. We still had a very good life. During university, I lived in a student fraternity (one room). Now I live with my wife and daughter in 70 sqm (750 sq ft). But yes, doubling the living space would definitely make me unhappy *WarningMayContainASlightHintOfIrony*

I once lived for months in a small, semi-open hut, and recently on a luxurious 200 sqm (2,150 sq ft) for two, sometimes even missing a room. Everything is possible as long as your mind remains open to what fits or is possible at the time. But I often see people living with poor compromises out of fear, which then makes them unhappy. Often, this is not an issue of money, which is frequently just used as an excuse.
I would very much like to see and experience more diversity and courage, especially in new housing developments.

pagoni2020 schrieb:

Of course, I consider some things in advance and don’t deliberately create obstacles in my house. But if I approach building a house that way, then when I’m young, for example, I can’t have a nice floor because of the kids; later something else doesn’t work because of the dog, cat, or something similar. Before you know it, you’re in your mid-forties thinking about fifty, when you should be considering your sixties and seventies, so again you don’t do what you actually want. When in life will it finally happen...? There’s always some reason to hold you back......

Some people might prefer to own a plot right next to the cemetery and have the key to the mortuary chapel, so their final journey would be shorter when they sense their last moment approaching. But what am I saying — the safest way is basically to go straight to bed in your coffin; then when the time comes, someone only needs to close the lid. While Villabajo is still reading stairlift test magazines, Villariba celebrates every new milestone birthday from seventy onwards by building a new house 🙂

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Nordlys schrieb:

Why would two people need a walk-in closet? Just because the Meyers have one?

What does “for two people” have to do with it? Every walk-in closet I’ve seen so far was designed for two. Children’s clothes usually aren’t taken into account. Of course, you don’t have to have one, but if you want one, why not?

By the way, I could never imagine living in a bungalow, as has been discussed here at length already 😀 I just don’t find them visually appealing. If you want something age-appropriate, then a penthouse apartment without a garden 😎

But this is about someone else’s house with their own needs.

Well, a walk-in closet is usually (at least for us) a place where the wardrobe is located along with some space in front of it. In that sense, you have had something like a dressing area all along, whether it’s right by the bed or around the corner. It just might not have been explicitly called that before.

In our case, I mainly use one bathroom, so we actually have a his-and-hers bathroom without knowingly or deliberately referring to it that way.