Flexible, sunny, and welcoming. An older couple moving from a remote island to a medium-sized town with better community resources to support them in the challenge of dealing with early-onset Alzheimers wanted their new home to be inviting and comfortable for children and grandchildren to visit, and at the same time to have a flexible layout that would allow for future full-time live-in assistance. The renovation is designed around ideas of openness and clarity of organization to keep the couple’s independence manageable for the longest period of time. To create an accessible and warm atmosphere, entrances were made more generous, a new front porch was added for aesthetic reasons as well as to provide an ice-free threshold. New dormers and a second upstairs bath create a master bedroom suite. Circulation is organized such that the house can be converted to include a second, communicating unit for future live-in assistance, with an efficiency kitchenette/pantry.
