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Over the years I’ve had the pleasure of working with retiring couples, actively employed seniors, and those categorized as “boomers”.  These people are extremely giving and warm.  Many have worked for decades creating a lifestyle for themselves based on family, friends, and nostalgic memories.  I would like to briefly share a few characteristics which have consistently been an essential living trait boomers want in their DREAM HOME. 

1.  Home theater - a central location to gather with family, grand children, and friends for entertaining and relaxation

2.  Three to Four car garage - for storage of a lifetime of accumulated recreational fun, such as bikes, cars, boats, etc

3.  Workshop - usually attached to the garage as an extended area off the parking stalls. Used for crafting, woodworking, model building, and other hobbies

4.  Dedicated office - a specific room set aside for working a second career, paying the bills, and following the investments. These rooms also serve as a quiet place to get away and relax, read a good book, do needlepoint, etc.

5.  Inclusion of family heirlooms - use of furniture from previous homes, antique collection hutches, built-in display cases and glass door cabinets allow for the display of a lifetime of collectibles. This usually includes sports memorabilia, career related mementos, souvenirs from travels abroad, trophies and many more. Here the focus is on displaying the items in the open, rather than packing them away hidden in boxes. They want to feel surrounded by their intimate creation of a lifetime of comfortable memories.

6.  Warm and lived-in look - I have seen brand new homes look as if they had been lived in for decades. Boomers are passionate about creating a warm feel to their surroundings. Usually accomplished by the use of reclaimed wood flooring, distressed wood and cedar beams, faux finishes on the walls, custom ceiling mural treatments, and stone flooring.

7.  Dedicated guest quarters - whether it be a detached guest house or rooms set aside for the grand children and visiting family, many boomers incorporate this separate and often times private sleeping arrangement. They want their guests to feel at-home, comfortable, and experience a sense of privacy. Most include attached private bathrooms as well as a kitchenette with microwave, refrigerator, and sink.

8.  Main floor level master bedroom suite - this arrangement allows for easy access to the main sleeping quarters. Navigating a flight of 18 to 20 stair steps can become a challenging task as aging takes it toll. With a little forward-looking planning, boomers are planning for a future of heightened comfort and convenience.

9.  Recreation rooms - (second story or basement level) recreation rooms for casual entertaining

10.  Outdoor living and cooking areas - this is becoming a must-have luxury. Many “boomer” homes incorporate pocketing doors off the great room leading to an expansive outdoor covered patio and living area. This usually includes a BBQ and grill assembly to rival the indoor kitchen. Bringing the “outdoors in” has become a common request especially for this active generation of custom home owners.

Tags: ageing, ageing in place, aging, aging in place, baby boomers, boomer trends, boomers, building a dream home, concept to creation, custom home, dream home, jeffrey crane, planning for a retirement home, retirement planning, retirement stages, trends, trends in custom homes, what boomers want

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