When we hear the term “Forever Home,” the concept seems foreign to a society that has become used to the endless opportunities and constant change that are part of a century dictated by rapid advances in technology. “Forever” seems more like a term that The Silent Generation loved – those who entered the work force during the post-war era of high economic growth, affordable housing, and strong savings. A formula that ensured a job for life and little desire or need to move around. If you were 70 when the housing meltdown happened, there’s a good chance that your house was paid for and was a home that you had lived in for many years.
Today’s younger homeowners have different lifestyles and aspirations and are facing an economy that offers high housing prices, less job security, low savings, and a depressed household balance sheet. Today, 63% of Americans would not have an extra $500 for an emergency. (Bankrate 2017) This scenario is a formula for uncertainty – which has led to higher and longer periods of renting versus ownership, as well as less mobility. According to the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the percentage of Americans moving over a one-year period fell to an all-time low of 11.2 percent in 2016. Median homeownership tenure – the average time someone stays in their home – continues to rise, particularly among Millennials and Gen X. So, considering the trends, the “Forever Home” appears to have renewed consumer relevance for the future, but with a twist. The 21st century Forever Home is one that must be adaptable to more frequent lifestage and household configuration changes.
Courtesy AMW Design
To quote Socrates, “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old but on building the new.” Let go of your preconceived notions of a typical household – they no longer exist. We have friends buying homes together, homes used for income via Airbnb or shared workspace, multi-generational homes and more. Today, consumers across all ages have more frequent lifestage changes than in the past, and the home must be able to flex as work, leisure, family, and income bring new challenges to the four walls in which we reside.
Our company tours new housing throughout the year all over the country, typically seeing more similarity than uniqueness in layout. One home has really stood out to us for future thinking, designed and contracted by Amy Weinstein of AMW Design Studio in Birmingham, Mich. The home we toured is actually Amy’s newly renovated home (built in 1961) – one that she designed as a work/live dwelling that easily converts into a family home if needed. There are many unique attributes of this home and we are in love with the idea that it is a Forever Home that has been “built for redesign”. Currently, it fits the needs of a professional who works from home but can easily convert to a family home, a multi-generational home or even a shared home among non-relatives. The design was thought out to be flexible for affordable change as needed in the future, going well beyond pocket or barn doors or even moveable walls to truly rethink space configuration.
This unique concept of repurposing applies to both new builds and remodels, and appeals to consumer needs as well as proactive environmental concerns. It also addresses the increasing desire among homeowners for local architectural authenticity, helping maintain a neighborhood’s history and scale.
We love the third bedroom that has become a dream master walk-in closet, but can revert back to a bedroom easily. The open yet separate office/kitchen space is designed to merge as needed – the work island in the office becomes extra space for entertaining, as an example. However, for a family that might need more privacy, the area can easily be closed off with a full wall. The custom made full-height steel stair railing makes a statement just beyond the front door. Says Amy, “It’s an architectural element, kind of an art piece with a purpose – it opens up the hall so it doesn’t feel like a hall.” Our team at Sphere Trending is impressed with this concept that brings more function to the hallway, a rising important pathway within a home as total size is reduced for affordability. No space is wasted, including the downstairs which has been designed for workspace and client meetings, but with consideration of easy adaptability for a household with more people and diverse needs. (See article in the Detroit News for pictures of Amy’s remodeled home.)
As we enter 2018, each generation will make new impacts on housing needs. Millennials are looking for a “labelless” home that they can make into what they want, especially as they drive the freelance workplace. Gen X is actively taking over remodeling dollars – turning a starter home into a forever home while also thinking about future empty nester or multi-generational needs. Baby Boomers are either remodeling or moving to a new home with expectations that differ from prior generations at the same lifestage. They are working longer, entertaining more, bringing hobbies and leisure activities into “insperience” rooms while reimagining the heart of the extended family, needing room for grandchildren and perhaps aging parents. Think about using this new year to recreate what “The Forever Home” means for 21st century living, particularly one built for redesign.
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