Bedroom and mid-sized transitional boy carpeted and beige floor kids' bedroom photo in Chicago with multicolored walls

This project was a complete gut remodel of the owner's childhood home. They demolished it and rebuilt it as a brand-new two-story home to house both her retired parents in an attached ADU in-law unit, as well as her own family of six. Though there is a fire door separating the ADU from the main house, it is often left open to create a truly multi-generational home. For the design of the home, the owner's one request was to create something timeless, and we aimed to honor that.

Photo: Lucy Call © 2015 Houzz

The genesis of design for this desert retreat was the informal dining area in which the clients, along with family and friends, would gather. Located in north Scottsdale’s prestigious Silverleaf, this ranch hacienda offers 6,500 square feet of gracious hospitality for family and friends. Focused around the informal dining area, the home’s living spaces, both indoor and outdoor, offer warmth of materials and proximity for expansion of the casual dining space that the owners envisioned for hosting gatherings to include their two grown children, parents, and many friends. The kitchen, adjacent to the informal dining, serves as the functioning heart of the home and is open to the great room, informal dining room, and office, and is mere steps away from the outdoor patio lounge and poolside guest casita. Additionally, the main house master suite enjoys spectacular vistas of the adjacent McDowell mountains and distant Phoenix city lights. The clients, who desired ample guest quarters for their visiting adult children, decided on a detached guest casita featuring two bedroom suites, a living area, and a small kitchen. The guest casita’s spectacular bedroom mountain views are surpassed only by the living area views of distant mountains seen beyond the spectacular pool and outdoor living spaces. Project Details | Desert Retreat, Silverleaf – Scottsdale, AZ Architect: C.P. Drewett, AIA, NCARB; Drewett Works, Scottsdale, AZ Builder: Sonora West Development, Scottsdale, AZ Photographer: Dino Tonn Featured in Phoenix Home and Garden, May 2015, “Sporting Style: Golf Enthusiast Christie Austin Earns Top Scores on the Home Front” See more of this project here: http://drewettworks.com/desert-retreat-at-silverleaf/

Parents laundry room
Transitional laundry room photo in Minneapolis

Porte cochere - coastal porte cochere idea in Portland Maine

Kitchen/dining room combo - transitional dark wood floor kitchen/dining room combo idea in Los Angeles

Parents maple custom cabinet entry lockers
Entryway - transitional entryway idea in Minneapolis

This four bedroom beach house in Washington's South Sound is all about growing up near the water's edge during summer's freedom from school. The owner's childhood was spent in a small cabin on this site with her parents and siblings. Now married and with children of her own, it was time to savor those childhood memories and create new ones in a house designed for generations to come. At 3,200 square feet, including a whimsical Crow's Nest, the new summer cabin is much larger than the original cabin. The home is still about family and fun though. Above the 600 square foot water toys filled garage, there is a 500 square foot bunk room for friends and family. The bunk room is connected to the main house by an upper bridge where built-in storage frames a window seat overlooking the property. Throughout the home are playful details drawing from the waterfront locale. Paddles are integrated into the stair railing, engineered flooring with a weathered look, marine cleats as hardware, a boardwalk to the main entry, and nautical lighting are found throughout the house. Designed by BC&J Architecture.

Main floor parents accessible bathroom.
Inspiration for a transitional bathroom remodel in Minneapolis

Garage - transitional garage idea in Minneapolis

Inspiration for a transitional kitchen remodel in Minneapolis

Main floor accessible parents bathroom
Example of a transitional bathroom design in Minneapolis

Front of kids home. Side entry to parents portion of the home is on the right of third garage stall.
Transitional exterior home photo in Minneapolis

Parents kitchen, solid panel interior door right of cooktop is access to kids home. Patio door to shared deck.
Example of a transitional kitchen design in Minneapolis

Inspiration for a transitional kitchen remodel in Minneapolis

This project was a complete gut remodel of the owner's childhood home. They demolished it and rebuilt it as a brand-new two-story home to house both her retired parents in an attached ADU in-law unit, as well as her own family of six. Though there is a fire door separating the ADU from the main house, it is often left open to create a truly multi-generational home. For the design of the home, the owner's one request was to create something timeless, and we aimed to honor that.

Family room and outdoor Loggia Nestled among the citrus groves, olive trees, rolling foothills and lush fairways of Rancho Santa Fe is Casa Tramonto -- a Mediterranean-style estate for a multi-generational family. The home is laid out in a traditional U shape, providing maximum light and access to outdoor spaces. A separate courtyard connects to a guest house for an elder parent that now lives with the family, allowing proximity yet plenty of privacy for everyone.

Family homes are multi-generational now more than ever. Whether you have aging parents or adult children moving into the original family home, are working from home while being a fulltime parent, or are a frequent host of guests, considering a suite addition on your home allows you to create comfortable accommodations and separation without compromising any of the luxuries or conveniences of having your own space. Here are some plans to consider if a suite addition is the right fit for you.