Page 5 - Hawaii Renovation - Sep 5 2021

GRAHAM BUILDERS
COVER STORY
SEPTEMBER 5, 2021
HAWAII RENOVATION 5
Also this month, on Sept. 18, Graham Builders will host “All In The Ohana,” a very special session on designing multigenerational elder-friendly homes. Register at grahambuilders.com/seminar or call 808-593-2808.
BY CAROLINE WRIGHT
Three out of 4 adults age 50 years and older would prefer to stay
in their homes as they age, according to a recent AARP survey.
One Oahu couple decided to plan proactively, working with Honolulu design/build firm Graham Builders to cre- ate a residence that will com- fortably accommodate their needs well into their golden years.
“Our goal was to build an ‘age-in-place’ home for our retirement,” explains the homeowner. “Safety and easy maintenance were big concerns for us as we age.”
Like many older adults, the homeowner and his wife were increasingly anxious
about safety and accessibil- ity as they became less mo- bile, as well as their ability to keep up with rigorous home maintenance. So, a few years before retirement, they care- fully began strategizing.
STRATEGY FOR AGING GRACEFULLY
The couple loved their residence in the hilly part of Aiea, but they knew the
home’s multilevel construc- tion would be difficult to navigate in their later years.
“Also, the homeowner had always dreamed of liv- ing on the Aina Haina prop- erty where he’d grown up, and which he still owned,” explains Bonnie Oda, direc- tor of client care for Graham Builders.
The original family home had been built in 1955 and wasn’t quite suitable for ag- ing in place. Additionally, the house was low and at street level, which meant that oc- cupants had little privacy.
“It simply wasn’t going to work for their future needs, so they decided to rebuild from the ground up,” says
Oda, who is a certified aging- in-place specialist.
The couple attended a Graham Builders seminar and liked what they heard, particularly about the firm’s commitment to building homes that clients could enjoy for many years. They asked Graham Builders to design a comfortable three- bedroom, two-bath home, all on one level. It needed to have wide doorways and hallways, high-quality windows, an open concept kitchen, a modern fire sprin- kler system, and other fea- tures that would add to its security, accessibility and functionality.
COLLABORATIVE DESIGN FOR GREATEST EFFECT
Through Graham Builders’ comprehensive collaborative design process, the couple and their design team cre- ated an elegant, comfortable home for the couple. Unex- pected events, including the coronavirus pandemic, delayed their project on sev- eral occasions, but the result
speaks for itself.
“It’s difficult to pick a fea-
ture we like the most, but I’d have to say one of our favor- ite elements is the open con- cept kitchen/living room,” enthuses the homeowner. “We love all the cabinets and soft closure features.”
Sleek and streamlined, the expansive kitchen radiates comfort and a warm wel- come, while offering every modern convenience an en- thusiastic cook might desire.
“With Silestone quartz countertops, a pair of sinks and a handy lift for their stand mixer, the homeowners will enjoy preparing meals,” says Oda. “Entertaining friends will be easy and fun.”
Handsome and luxuri- ous, the lovely vinyl plank flooring from Metroflor helps ensure safe mobil- ity throughout the home, and it’s simple to maintain. Other low-maintenance fea- tures include between-the- glass shades by Pella; solid- surface, seamless sinks in the laundry room and bathroom; and solid-surface bench and
walls in the master shower, so there’s no grout to scour. A central vacuum system makes cleanup easy and convenient.
“The cost of remodeling or rebuilding a home to ac- commodate aging in place is generally far less than the considerable expense of an assisted living facility,” Oda points out, adding that in- sulation from exposure to bacterial and viral risks that sometimes break out in se- nior facilities is also an impor- tant factor to consider.
“This home will allow the couple to safely and comfort- ably live in familiar surround- ings with familiar furnishings as they age,” she concludes. “And there’s enough space to accommodate a family mem- ber, or even a live-in aide, if they need help later on.”
For more than three de- cades, Graham Builders has been helping Hawaii families make the most of their island homes at every stage of life. The free “Building Your Home for Life” seminar will take place on Saturday, Sept. 11.
GRAHAM BUILDERS
CONTACT 808-593-2808
ADDRESS 1144 Young St., Honolulu WEB grahambuilders.com
COVER STORY