In many cultures it is normal for adult children to live at home, even after they are married. Our culture traditionally urges our children to fly once they are out of college or can become self sufficient.

We have been experiencing a social and economical shift that makes it much more difficult for kids to strike out on their own.

In the past, children who didn’t flee the nest were looked upon as unsuccessful. Today, we are embracing our family members. This applies to elderly parents as well, since many people are opting to keep them close.

PROBLEM

This home, built in the 1990s, had a large, open basement, which was virtually empty. The empty nesters welcomed their married son, his wife and baby, into their home. This would make for frequent family interaction and ease of babysitting of grandchildren. This was not a financial decision, but a relationship one.

The son and wife wanted to design their own space and fund it as well. They sought a complete, yet separate, two-bedroom space.

We started with a great space with three exposed support columns (A). The beam (B) above it was high enough to have an eight-foot ceiling height in the finished space. A brick fireplace (C) was already there, directly under the one above on the main floor.

This walk-out basement has concrete walls (D) on three walls and the balance of the walls are wood-frame construction.

The utilities were spread out. The furnace (E) is centrally located, and the water heater (F) and sump pump (G) are off to one side.

The stairwell (H) is enclosed with two doors. All of these elements, including the columns, need to be taken into consideration when designing the layout.

SOLUTION

When finishing a basement, something that is often forgotten is storage space. This is still important. In this case we wanted to make a storeroom and a workshop available to the empty -nesters upstairs.

We started by creating a neutral space (I) that would act as a foyer for the apartment and also give access to the storage (J), the workshop (K) and furnace room (L). A ‘front door” (M) is complete with lock and doorbell.

Surprisingly, we had space for a one-car garage (N), but it wasn’t easy. The concrete floor in this space had to be removed and a new, pitched concrete floor poured with a slope, drainage and concrete apron (O).

The sump pump (G) was re-set, but remained in the same place. The water heater (F) was enclosed with an access door in the garage. The door from the garage (P) is considered the back door so we located a coat closet (Q) and a “To Go” shelf (R) nearby.

The only bathroom (S) has a walk-in closet (T) off it. Other amenities include a stacked washer/dryer (U) and two pantry closets (V). A combined kitchen dining area (W) is open and inviting. Dining can happen at the table or island counter.

Two bedrooms (X & Y) are modest yet workable. The living room (Z) is well connected to the kitchen area and the outdoors. We developed a stone terrace outside the two sliding glass doors.

Marcia Lyon is a professional remodeling designer and freelance writer, producing projects locally and in several other areas across the U.S. and Canada. Her new book on remodeling design, “The Essential Planner for Home Remodeling,” is available at www.creatingspaces.net. Got a remodeling project you would like to have tackled? You may contact her at Marcia@creatingspaces.net or at 515-991-8880 to set up a consultation.