Inner-City Bungalow for Empty Nesters | DOODL

Knowing their current house was too large and that they wanted to make a move, the homeowners decided to sell their home and rent until the right opportunity presented itself. When this lot came on the market (at a bargain price, in an amazing inner-city location, with mature trees and a lot allowing for green space views), they were perfectly positioned and closed the deal in a matter of days.

The homeowners had built a custom home a few years earlier and didn’t enjoy the process due to conflicting points of view when it came to making design decisions. On their previous build they realized that there were too many cooks in the kitchen and that for the sake of their sanity, they needed one central authority for all design decision making: their soon to be daughter in law, Deana, who had recently launched DOODL.

This new bungalow was designed to fully embrace a new phase of life - the "Empty Nester" era. The design of the house responds to the specific needs of the homeowners, with the main consideration being aging-in-place. The exterior is durable and low-maintenance thanks to its HardiePanel siding, metal-clad windows and landscaping utilizing low maintenance, hardy perennials; most of the home's stairs (such as the entrance steps) are short and can be easily ramped for future wheelchair access, and the shower and soaker tubs are designed to be to be easily accessible Each room was tailored to accommodate the changing dynamic of their gatherings, day-to-day activities, and personal wants and needs.

The architecture is sensitive to the inner-city context in which it is located, and exudes timeless style that will age well along with the homeowners. The L-shaped bungalow floor plan creates a double courtyard condition with the adjacent garage and is divided into two main sections - the tall, open living spaces which engage the surrounding landscape through the use of expansive windows and tiered ceilings; and the quiet personal spaces, which have lower ceiling heights, rich materials and emphasized sound separation from the rest of the home.