Bigger family, better home: Floor plans for multigenerational living

Baby Boomers and the upper end of the Gen Xers are seeing their families grow at a time when they expected the opposite. The kids are grown but aren’t moving out like they used to. In fact, more of them are moving back. In addition, aging parents are increasingly choosing to live with their adult children. With a bigger family, you need a better home, one that has the living space, layout, and features to accommodate your new lifestyle. Baker Residential has floor plans for multigenerational living that have been designed for this new household dynamic.

For the first time in 130  years, there are more young people between the ages of 18 and 34 living with their parents than in other living arrangements.  At the same time, elderly parents are discovering that it’s both a safer option to move in with their grown children and more economical than a planned living community. This choice is certainly more social when you can have grandparents at home to help with the children, share stories and traditions, and give you peace of mind that they are well cared for.

What does a multigenerational home have?

A multigenerational family—one with more than one adult generation living under one roof—has unique needs. 

A place to call their own. Your newly added family members are accustomed to having their privacy. Simply giving them one of your bedrooms might feel cramped for them. At the very least, they should have an oversized closet and a full bath. A suite would be even better! For older parents, that living space should be on the main level so they can avoid the stairs.

When your kids and grandkids come to stay with you for an extended period, you’ll probably need to give them more than a suite—for their privacy and yours. Think about opting for a floor plan with second-floor bedrooms that are easily connected, maybe adjacent or with a jack-and-jill bathroom. A loft could function as a playroom for this family within your family. Having your owner’s suite on the first floor would be a smart layout to enhance the layer of privacy.

More cooks in the kitchen. When your parents, in-laws, or grown kids (maybe with their own families) are part of your expanded household, the kitchen might be crowded. More people means more food, which requires more storage. Look for a floor plan with an oversized center island, which gives you extra prep space and a breakfast bar for casual meals. A walk-in pantry is right up there with the must-haves, and homebuyers are also asking for a butler’s pantry, service kitchen, or appliance kitchen to accommodate the increase in equipment, ingredients, linens, and more. You might also think about adding a second refrigerator, so look for a space that can accommodate that appliance.

Wide open and stepless spaces. Look for wider doorways and other areas that can be easily navigated by someone in a wheelchair or with a walker.  The bathroom should be outfitted with a step-in shower without a threshold that presents a tripping hazard. A bench seat built into the shower would be a much appreciated feature, too.

Multigenerational floor plans that fit

Baker Residential builds award-winning, spacious homes in the Raleigh Metro area—also known as The Research Triangle. We offer a variety of floor plans with plenty of ways you can make changes to fit your lifestyle.

Here are some of multigenerational home designs that nicely accommodate bigger households.

The Stanton: Do you want more room but all one one level? You can configure The Stanton for 2,708 to almost 4,000 square feet and still have the advantage of a ranch-style home. The owner’s suite is situated in the rear of the home, like its own wing. Add a second suite on the other side, complete with a living area, storage space, and optional built-in cabinetry.

The Ansley: This award-winning home design includes a first-floor guest suite and offers two levels of exquisitely detailed living space. With your choice of 4, 5, or 6 bedrooms and up to 5.5 baths, this floor plan is spacious, smart, and stylish. The owner’s suite is on the second floor. There’s a guest suite included on the main level, which has the option of a second laundry, a real plus for older parents who want this convenience. The second floor includes two secondary bedrooms, each with a walk-in closet, a nicely sized loft that would make a nice family room, and an unfinished storage that could be converted to a game room, study area, or additional home office. We also offer 

The Oakleaf II: This floor plan is a perfect fit for the multigenerational living situation. The home has 3,944 to 5,880 square feet, with as many as 7 bedrooms and 7.5 baths. The design features 2 suites on the main level. The guest suite is close to both the kitchen and laundry room, and has an entrance directly from the garage. The second floor of this plan accommodates 3 or 4 bedrooms and has both a loft and game room included. If you need even more space, you can finish the third floor and the basement of this expansive residence.

The Woodlawn II: With a suite on both the first and second floor, this home presents another great floor plan for your multiple generations of adults living together. You have the option to expand the included first-floor guest suite. The kitchen has a walk-in pantry and an oversized island, with the choice to add a second island. The lavish owner's suite on the second floor is designed as a private retreat. A young family can fit comfortably with you in this home. Just convert the second-floor bedrooms to a family living space. The location of the laundry room on the second level is another plus for this type of living situation. 

The Ashland II: One of our most popular and versatile home designs, this floor plan can be expanded from 4,289 square feet to as much as 6,337 square feet and 5 to 7 bedrooms. The layout includes a second-floor owner’s suite and first-floor guest suite off the kitchen You can add a second island to the kitchen to accommodate more cooks and prep space. With both a formal living and dining room, The Ashland II also has room to create home offices or study spaces for your multigenerational family home. The 2 second-floor bedrooms connect to each other with a jack-and-jill bathroom. This layout makes it easy to have a living space, using one bedroom for grandkids or as a living room to expand the suite.

The Edmonton: Are you looking for a home that’s wonderfully welcoming but not too large? The Edmonton could be the right fit. This 2,885-square-foot, 2-story floor plan offers 4 bedrooms and 3.5 baths, but has the flexibility to grow to 3,516 square feet, 5 bedrooms, and 5.5 baths. Start by adding a guest suite on the first floor and expanding to a 3-car garage. On the second floor, give one of your suite-worthy family members the bedroom with its own full bath, walk-in closet and linen closet. It’s adjacent to the laundry as a nice reminder that the adult members of the family take care of their own laundry!

The Dartmouth: This home will give everyone what they need and want! The 2-story, 3,000-square-foot home smartly uses every inch! The first-floor guest suite can be expanded to add a living area that includes an extra closet and a fireplace. You’ll appreciate the extra storage space provided by the kitchen’s walk-in pantry. Upstairs, the owner’s suite has a spa-like bath and a walk-in closet that’s big enough to be a room. If you want to share the second floor with someone who needs more space, you can give them the third or fourth bedroom, which each has a walk-in closet—and the use of the large bonus room, perfect for a living or family room or home office.

The Brampton: Baker Residential designs homes that give our buyers the creative details they appreciate and the smart layouts they need. The Brampton is a great reflection of this balance.  Start with nearly 3,500 square feet of interior space and 5 bedrooms with 4.5 baths. Then keep growing. The main level includes a guest suite with room for more—like a living room or a larger bath. The owner’s suite is situated upstairs with a vestibule entry that adds to the privacy. Create a welcoming living space for grown family members by transforming the front bedrooms on this level to a suite. Each of the 2 bedrooms has a full bath and walk-in closet. Plus, the laundry room is in this space, and there’s an open loft that could give them their own living room, playroom, exercise area, or home office.

Don’t forget the unfinished spaces!

Each of these floor plans has an unfinished basement that can be transformed to an inviting living area. You can also look upwards and finish the upper level with bedrooms and bathrooms to grow your space even higher.

Is your family growing in ways you might not have expected? Don’t try to squeeze into a home that doesn’t embrace and support the multigenerational lifestyle. Grow with it. Reach out to the new home specialists at Baker Residential about our communities of new homes for sale in the Raleigh metro area.