Building homes for multigenerational living

Building a home for life is more than just a catchy slogan at Graham Builders — it’s a design-build philosophy practiced every day since the company was founded in 1990. It’s the reason why Graham Builders are the experts and leaders in building multigenerational homes, and it’s why the homeowners of this Pearl City residence chose Graham Builders for their recent renovation and new addition.

Multigenerational living isn’t just structural; it’s anticipating life plans and taking into account the long-term needs of each homeowner. This Pearl City couple knew they needed more space for their daughter and the wife’s mother. The husband, an architect by trade, drew up plans for a four-bedroom, three-anda-half bath home with 2,050 square feet of living space, ample space for family time, entertainment and activities.

“The space planning is really well thought out and provides a number of personal spaces that each member of the family can enjoy, but not feel totally isolated,” said Graham Builders president Evan Fujimoto. “The owner developed a well-layered floor plan that gives vantage points to explore different spaces intended for different uses. There is an interesting, circuitous flow between spaces and around built-in features that make you stop and take notice. This is not one of those great-room floor plans; it is more compartmentalized without feeling small or restrained because you can still see a lot of the different spaces flowing from one to another.”

Building a “Home for Life” also means structurally sound construction with the integrity to last generations. To prep the home for the major renovation, the foundation had to be cut for new plumbing and re-poured. The transition from existing framing to the new framing had to be thoughtfully considered so that it would blend together nicely. In the design phase, the owner deftly merged bold new roof lines, forms, building masses and materials that inject a joyful interplay between old and new spaces.

Fujimoto believes that the needs of the senior residents should be of utmost importance with multigenerational design. The wife’s mother loves to cook, so a major kitchen renovation and expansion is at the heart of the new home, along with her very own craft room. The bedroom doorways are wide enough for wheelchair access and grab bars are installed in the bathrooms, even though those upgrades are not necessary at the moment.

“With the cost of housing so high, multigenerational living just makes sense,” said Fujimoto. “It also affords these homeowners some of the best-tasting home-cooked meals they could hope for.”

GRAHAM BUILDERS
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