FAMILY HOME THAT’S FIT FOR ALL GENERATIONS
Builders seeing increased demand for extended family options
Just as families don’t always fit the two parent, two child mould, home designs have to reflect those diverse needs.
Sukhbir Singh Bains is one example of a house hunter who entered the market with something other than the standard three bedroom, 2.5 bathroom floor plan in mind. He needed a home that would work for him and his wife, Sukhbir Kaur, his parents Charanjeet Singh Bains and Baljinder Kaur, and sister Simranjeet Kaur Bains.
The family turned to the northeast community of Redstone, where they found a model that fit what they were looking for through Pacesetter by Sterling Homes. It was the Santiago 5, which is the builder’s show home in the community, but with a few modifications.
“I took the two bedrooms and combined them into one, so that my mom and dad have a walk-in closet and big room for them, too,” says Sukhbir Singh. The base Santiago 5 has four bedrooms but they opted for two master bedrooms and one secondary bedroom, giving him and his wife one master and his parents the other. Simranjeet Kaur will take the third bedroom.
Having a second master bedroom was important, Sukhbir Singh says. His family was in a home in nearby Martindale but since Sukhbir Singh got married, he and his wife were interested in more space, while maintaining a master bed- room for his parents.
When it came to bedrooms, the Santiago 5 didn’t restrict them to the second level of the home. The family chose to eliminate the flex room in favour of a bedroom and turned the standard half bathroom into a full bathroom.
“Sometimes my grandmother comes to visit us from India,” says Sukhbir Singh. “So that’s why I chose that bedroom on the main floor because it’s hard for her to climb the stairs.”
Down the road, if more bedrooms are needed, they can develop the basement and add two more. Keeping the family together was a priority, Sukhbir Singh says. “It’s just our culture,” he adds. “We take care of our parents. Some people move out. It’s their choice. I didn’t want to leave my parents alone and that’s why I chose for them to stay with me.”
Families that step outside the three bedroom, 2.5 bathroom standard are nothing new. In fact, Dwayne Habib, area sales manager for Jayman Built in Redstone, says he’s seen growth from this segment of the market.
“We are seeing an increased demand for homes that will accommodate multi-generational needs, particularly among our new-to-Canada families,” Habib says. “Extended families are also making buying decisions as a group, and are often purchasing homes in the same neighbourhood, and often on the same street. This is exciting to see, as it will certainly help to build strong, connected communities.”
Likewise for Genesis Builders Group in the community of Saddlestone. “We have a lot of clientele that falls into that category and have catered some of our floor plans specifically for that,” says sales manager Nancy Smith on multi-generational setups.
“We have a Windsor show home that showcases two master bedroom upstairs. And they both have walk-in closets and ensuites,” says Smith, noting this model reaches more than 2,600 square feet.
“Certainly the dual masters and four bedrooms total is often what we see as the desirable room count.”
One of the opportunities in Jayman’s offering that can accommo- date some extended family needs is the builder’s 1,789-square-foot Avid model, which has an option for a fourth bedroom and full bathroom on the main floor.
“This has been highly popular for families who have elderly family members, and also among families who are planning for the future,” Habib says.
“We have a side entrance option for the Avid, which can create two separate, private spaces for families who want to live together while maintaining an independent lifestyle. This option has been popular among parents with older children, who are or soon will be in need of their own space.”
Ian Yeager had an individual living spaces in mind when he and his family welcomed his mom Linda into their new home. He and his wife Rona and their two children recently moved to a home by Cedarglen Homes in Cranston’s Riverstone. Ian’s mother Linda, 71, joined them soon after, moving into the developed basement.
Finding a home with a walkout basement was important because of the additional light the larger windows provide, says Ian.
“We wanted her to have her own living space,” says Ian. She has her own bedroom, office space, laundry and an area for light cooking, with a toaster, microwave and induction hot plates.
“She can basically be on her own and do her own thing,” Ian says. “Then she’s got her own basement door so she can come and go as she pleases.”