When we decided to turn our single family house into a multi-generational home, we faced our most important challenge: how to provide her independence while providing everything she would need in a home. After exploring various options, we decided to build an attached addition to our house – creating a space that would give Mom her own sanctuary while allowing us to be just steps away.

Today, I’m excited to share the floor plans for our 1,000 square foot addition that has transformed both our home and our family life.

The Design Philosophy

Our primary goals were:

• Creating a fully independent living space with a private entrance
• Ensuring accessibility for current and future needs
• Maintaining a connection to the main house
• Designing a space that felt like a home, not an afterthought

The Floorplan Revealed

Our addition features:

• A spacious 14’ x 12’ primary bedroom with large windows for natural light
• A fully accessible bathroom with wide doorways and grab bars
• A complete kitchen with all essential appliances
• A place for her to craft
• A space for the kids to still feel like they could “go over to Nana’s”
• A spacious open-concept kitchen with a large island and living area that opens to the shared deck space
• A dedicated laundry room
• A connecting door to the main house for the kids and pets to roam freely
• 16-foot ceilings with skylights to create an airy, open feel

The layout creates a natural flow from the private entrance through the living areas to the bedroom and bathroom separated from the living space with a cozy hallway.

What We Learned

This project taught us several valuable lessons:

1. Begin with accessibility in mind. Wide doorways, zero-threshold entries if possible, and reinforced bathroom walls for future grab bars were much easier to incorporate during initial construction.
2. Balance connection and privacy. The connecting door to our main house is invaluable, but having separate kitchens and laundry rooms ensures independence.
3. Invest in long-term comfort. The heated tile floors in the bathroom, heated toilet seats, and space for her craft closet are the everyday comforts that are worth every penny.
4. Plan for the future. We included the square footage that can work as flex space over time. For now, we use it as a sweet little room where the girls can sleep over at Nana’s, but the possibilities down the line are limitless for this space.

We hope sharing these plans might help other families explore similar options. While every situation is unique, having a separate but connected space has given us peace of mind and Mom the dignity of her own home.

Would you like to see more details about specific aspects of our addition? Let me know in the comments!

Note: We consulted with architects, contractors, and our local permitting offices before and during construction. Always check local building codes and zoning regulations before starting a similar project.