If your family is like thousands of others in Hawaii, your house is already home to several generations, all living together under the same roof.
Perhaps your home isn’t quite large enough to comfortably accommodate your multi-generational family. Maybe you might already be thinking about expanding your space.
You already know the benefits – and the pitfalls – of multi-generational households. On the plus side: shared housing costs, built-in childcare, safety and security, and stronger, deeper bonds between generations.
“On the downside: issues like an absence of privacy, a surplus of noise, and just not enough elbow room in the kitchen,” says Lenore Smith, client care manager for Graham Builders. “If these are problems for YOUR family, we can help.”
Comfort and privacy for everybody in the family
With more than three decades of award-winning expertise in designing multigenerational and aging-in-place residences, Honolulu design/build firm Graham Builders has assisted hundreds of families with the creation and construction of homes that provide comfort and privacy for everybody in the unit.
Homes for extended families often include private entrances, separate living quarters, and shared spaces that encourage community and connection. The design team is adept at creating flexible floor plans with accessible features that cater to every family’s unique requirements.
“Storage management, privacy, noise issues, and adequate kitchen space are all common areas of concern for multi-generational families,” Smith reports. “We do our best to ensure that our designs are age- and ability-friendly, because many multigenerational households include older and/or disabled folks with special needs.”
Options for storage include individual family closets and drop-zones in the laundry, garage and mud rooms. Ohana kitchens, with multiple prep stations, sinks, and appliances, allow different family units to prepare, cook and eat separately yet simultaneously. “And our designers and construction managers work together to create quiet, private, accessible spaces for the family members who need them,” Smith adds.
Recently, Graham Builders helped a large multi-generational Oahu ohana create a home that could accommodate its diverse and varied hobbies. The design included a craft room; a huge kitchen with two sinks, two ovens, and a wet bar; and parking for half a dozen vehicles.
“Everybody wants a space to call their own, and part of the design process is making sure that everybody’s needs and requirements and dealbreakers are heard and carefully considered,” says Smith. “Our designers are very good listeners! That’s how they’re able to design homes that really work for each family.”
Founded in 1990, Graham Builders remains the only contractor in Hawaii honored by the Better Business Bureau’s Torch Award for Business Ethics. You’re cordially invited to attend Graham Builders’ FREE “Building Your Home for Life” seminar on DATE???? from 9-11 a.m. To register, visit grahambuilders.com or call 808/593-2808.