When Sheryl and Robert Lewandowski, both in their early 50s, designed their dream home, they put their master bedroom, laundry room and master bath on the wheelchair-accessible first floor.
They're not disabled. In fact, they're in perfect health. God willing, they won't have to worry about getting around in a walker or wheelchair for many years.
But that hasn't stopped them from thinking about where they want to live when they grow old - preferably, in their own home.
The Lewandowskis have joined a growing number of baby boomers building elder-friendly features into their homes. A recent survey of 500 architecture firms in the United States conducted by the American Institute of Architects named accessibility as the fastest-growing trend in home design.
But as a generation in midlife embraces accessible design, it is eschewing clunky, institutional standbys such as stainless-steel bathroom grab bars in favour of subtle touches that blend into their home's decor: adjustable kitchen counters, for instance, and wider-open living spaces.
In other words, accessibility is in - but it had better be chic.
"The 50-to-65 crowd, they'll say, 'I need it to be aesthetically pleasing,' " says Toronto real-estate agent Adrienne Hanbidge.
Features popular with her clients include lever door handles rather than knobs that are hard for arthritic hands to turn; cork floors that are easier on the joints than hardwood; easy-access tubs and showers, and kitchen counters low enough to sit down in front of while chopping vegetables.
Most importantly, everything has to blend with the home's look.
Simple changes such as rounding the edges of kitchen counters or improving lighting can make a big difference in livability while actually contributing to a home's style, Ms. Hanbidge says.
Designers are aiming at boomers' vanity by pushing accessibility chic.
Some people resist when designer Kimberley Seldon tells them she refuses to install a fancy new tub without grab bars.
"It's not about being elderly, it's about being smart," the Toronto designer tells her reluctant clients. Then she explains that the bars can be colour-co-ordinated to the bathroom's decor. Elevators are a particularly hot trend in high-end private homes, Ms. Seldon says. Elegant, wood-panelled doors make them look like just another room off a hallway.For people who don't want an elevator, she recommends lining up closets vertically to create space for a future elevator shaft, just in case.
Even younger generations are starting to think about accessibility. Jim Bottomley and Holly Evans, both 36, are building a cottage with 90-centimetre-wide doorways and halls, a roll-in shower, and windows low enough to let someone in a wheelchair enjoy the views.
"We were interested in doing something stylish and attractive," says Mr. Bottomley, a hospital administrator in Ottawa. After reading an article about universal design, another term for accessible design, he and his wife realized they could have both style and accessibility.
They had always dreamed of building a cottage. They searched for the perfect plot of land for two years, and have spent the past five years in construction. Making it wheelchair-accessible, Mr. Bottomley says, was just part of protecting their investment.
"We love this spot and we don't want to have to leave it," he says.
On the upper end of the age range, retirement homes are preparing for the boomer wave by thinking about form as well as function.
Boomers who give up their homes to move to a condo or retirement centre don't want to abandon their sense of style.
"We're looking at design features that support the frailties of an aging population, but also look and feel like any other condo on the market," says Neil Prashad, president of Origin Retirement Communities Inc.
The condo kitchens at Origin's new Mississauga development, Evergreen, are open-concept and have ovens mounted mid-wall so that residents don't have to stoop over to use them.
"It makes sense, and yet it just looks like a really beautiful kitchen," Mr. Prashad says.
Homeowners who plan ahead, however, hope they won't need to move when they age.
The Lewandowskis had planned to build another house in their neighbourhood once their children grew up. But they like their current home and its ground-floor setup so much that they now intend to stay.
"We tried to think about the long run," Ms. Lewandowski says. "We don't have to use our upstairs whatsoever, it's easy to maintain - we love our home."
Top trends
Accessibility is the fastest-growing trend in home design, but baby boomers don't want to sacrifice style for safety. What's hot and not for aging in place:
HOT:
Cork floors, which are softer than hardwood
Lever-style door handles
Ovens installed mid-wall, so you don't have to bend down to bake
Deep tubs with steps
Elevators
NOT:
Carpet and area rugs that trip up wheelchairs
Knob-style door handles that are tough on arthritic hands
Kitchens with all standing-level counters
Easy-access tubs with colour-co-ordinated grab bars; large roll-in showers
Stairs
