Demographics matter! Statistics have shown us that in North America alone there are approximately 85 million (yes, MILLIONS), Baby Boomers! By their numbers alone, they have become a force to be reckoned with. They are telling you what they are looking for in a home, but are you listening?

As a licensed interior designer in Orlando, Florida, I often work with clients who want to build a new home, remodel the home they currently live in, or search for an existing home to purchase. one of the very First What we do is sit down together to determine your design goals and identify any special needs you may have that need to be addressed in the early planning stages of the project. Your job is to communicate your needs. . . my job is to listen. And what I hear from my clientele of Baby Boomers (those born between 1946 and 1966) is consistent. They simply do not want to find themselves in a situation where they are forced move out of your house because it is not a age free environment.

Home functionality and flexibility It is one of the main concerns of this generation. Boomers are forward-thinking when it comes to making design decisions based not only on what their immediately are their needs, but by determining what their needs are future needs could be too. These are some of the things they look for in a home. . .

• Wider hallways and doorways that could be wheelchair accessible if required
• open living space and furniture layout that would allow them to move more freely
• easy “accessibility”, especially at entrances and restrooms
• Barrier-free bathrooms and kitchens equipped with comfort-height luminaires
• great lighting throughout
• easily rampable steps if necessary
• lever handles instead of doorknobs that will accommodate all users
• pull-out shelves for all base cabinets in kitchens and bathrooms
• single-story plans, or home elevators that are quickly becoming “must haves” for ease and accessibility in multi-level homes, a quality-of-life-enhancing feature in none age
• flexible areas such as home offices, media centers and training areas, designed to support the varied demands and daily activities of this generation. . . who are tech minded, health conscious, retired, semi-retired “non-retired”!

The definition of “HOUSE” for many of us it is no longer simply the place where we keep our belongings. has become the headquarters of our lives! It is a refuge where we want to bring touches from the outside to the inside and vice versa. Many of us want to combine technology, the Internet and wireless communications with the comfort and tranquility of a simpler, slower and more elegant moment in time. . . and call this HOUSE. It’s about having options. With a collective voice, the Baby Boomer generation is finding new ways for us to design spaces that fit not only their lifestyle, but also the challenges of their changing life stages. We need to listen!