Sustainable Solutions for Aging in Place

Growing In Place

Remodeled with comfort as the priority, this house is now a healthier and more sustainable home.

Aging-in-place is often an important component of the strategy when shifting to a greener, more sustainable way of living. For this homeowner, right-sizing with the smaller footprint of this house made sense, but there were plenty of opportunities to adapt the space to better address her current and future needs.

Planning for future needs involves a lot of practical thinking, so this remodel started with the practical: repairing a sinking corner of the foundation, removing asbestos present in the floor, and removing deteriorating foam insulation from the walls and the roof.

By addressing these issues and switching to greener options, like mineral wool insulation made with recycled materials, we improved the energy efficiency and indoor air quality, making it a more economical and safer long-term home.

Growing in Place – Board & Vellum
Hide & Seek

A mix of open shelving and closed cabinets allows for displaying treasured items, and hiding some appliances behind paneling draws attention to the range and hood as the heart of the kitchen. Growing in Place | Photo by Brian Hartman.

Hide & Seek

A mix of open shelving and closed cabinets allows for displaying treasured items, and hiding some appliances behind paneling draws attention to the range and hood as the heart of the kitchen. Growing in Place | Photo by Brian Hartman.

Growing in Place – Board & Vellum
Neutrals & Nature

A calm and neutral color palette sets the stage for the wall-filling window — and its connection to the natural scenery — to be the star. Growing in Place | Photo by Brian Hartman.

Neutrals & Nature

A calm and neutral color palette sets the stage for the wall-filling window — and its connection to the natural scenery — to be the star. Growing in Place | Photo by Brian Hartman.

Growing in Place – Board & Vellum
Feature Accent Lighting

Recessed LED fixtures overhead fill the space with bright light to aid in prep and cleaning, while wooden pendant shades add a flame-like warmth that encourages gathering for conversation. Growing in Place | Photo by Brian Hartman.

Feature Accent Lighting

Recessed LED fixtures overhead fill the space with bright light to aid in prep and cleaning, while wooden pendant shades add a flame-like warmth that encourages gathering for conversation. Growing in Place | Photo by Brian Hartman.

Growing in Place – Board & Vellum
Growing In Place

Growing in Place | Photo by TBD.

What was once a flat ceiling is now gabled with an exposed wood beam. Coupled with a door featuring prominent glass panes that soak the entryway in daylight, the first impression when entering the home is bright and airy.

Growing in Place – Board & Vellum
Open Plan Living

This wide, open plan living space still feels cozy thanks to subtle definition created by variations in texture, color, and material choices that anchor each “room.” Growing in Place | Photo by Brian Hartman.

Open Plan Living

This wide, open plan living space still feels cozy thanks to subtle definition created by variations in texture, color, and material choices that anchor each “room.” Growing in Place | Photo by Brian Hartman.

Growing in Place – Board & Vellum
A Private Suite

Tucked away at the end opposite the entry, this spacious suite can be open to the rest of the home or closed off to create a personal retreat. Growing in Place | Photo by Brian Hartman.

A Private Suite

Tucked away at the end opposite the entry, this spacious suite can be open to the rest of the home or closed off to create a personal retreat. Growing in Place | Photo by Brian Hartman.

Functional choices, like the style and height of appliances in the kitchen, reduce motion like bending and prioritize ease of use. Knowing the homeowner’s passion for gardening, we focused on infusing the home with natural beauty to inspire creativity and support well-being. To increase natural light and enhance the indoor-outdoor connection we added new, more energy-efficient windows and doors.

The open plan contributes to the spacious feeling, while warm wood and traditional trim create a sense of coziness and comfort in the bedroom suite. While developing the aesthetics of the interiors, we utilized locally-sourced, sustainable materials — such as the raw-edge wood mantel over the fireplace — and incorporated elements of nature into every area of the home.

Notes & Credits
Photography by Brian Hartman.

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