Liveable for a Lifetime
“I don’t know why they do that; there is no need for a step to be there,” Tualatin resident Troy Farnsworth said, walking through a neighborhood in Beaverton and noting that every home on a particular cul-de-sac has stairs leading to front doors. “It could be a ramp, and by ramp I mean just a sloped walkway. The more natural you can get it to feel on the outside, the more inviting it is.” And it’s more practical, he said.
Liveable for a Lifetime ~ Troy Farnsworth
Farnsworth, a building designer involved with the architectural profession since 1979, said that, when designing homes, he assesses needs for today and tomorrow so the home is “livable for a lifetime.”
“I use the term ‘livable for a lifetime’ rather than ‘aging in place,’” said Farnsworth, who began his career in California before moving to Oregon in 1993. “The boomer generation is healthy, active and unreceptive to terms that imply that (they) are getting old.”
After implementing designs for everyone from rock diva Pat Benatar to movie stars such as Nicolas Cage and hundreds of regular folks, Farnsworth said what he finds most rewarding about his job is enhancing lifestyles through “one of the best investments you can make.”
“There are a combination of things I have experienced in my lifetime, including working with special needs children and adults, friends and acquaintances with mobility challenges and caring for my aging parents,” Farnsworth said, that have led to his fascination with homes built “barrier-free.”
" Hideaway" ~ 2004 Street of Dreams
He said he’s noticed a “new paradigm shift” within the housing industry; more and more generations of families are sharing one household. And more and more of Farnsworth’s designs feature master suites — or two — on the main level, increased space around toilets and bathtubs and sinks with leg space beneath, which could accommodate a wheelchair or step stool.
An added bonus, he said, is that the designs needn’t resemble a nursing home, but rather showcase modern finishes in a more spacious backdrop.
Homes can be modified to the unique needs of each living situation, such as a younger adult caring for aging parents.
“When using the tub, a transition deck adjacent to the tub makes life much easier,” Farnsworth said. “European style curbless showers have no floor level obstructions.”
Tom and Debbie Sidley of Beaverton chose Farnsworth to modify their 1989 home.
“We bought this home as a starter home, raised our family here and didn’t want to leave the neighborhood,” said Tom Sidley, who said that now that his children are grown, he wanted to modify his home for his future needs. “How do you live in this home when you’re 50, 60, 70? We needed to accommodate our needs as we (got) older.”
And the Sidleys’ remodel has become the talk of the neighborhood.
“People come up and tell us how much they like the design,” Debbie Sidley said. “And it’s been two years since it was finished.”
By converting a confined formal living room and dining room into an open concept that widened the Sidleys’ kitchen, Farnsworth achieved easier mobility within the home.
A new island configuration in the kitchen and countertop that jets off at a 45-degree angle made getting around both obstacles a breeze. A microwave, tucked within the island, is easy to get to for children or those with mobility limitations.
Extending the family room in the back of the house “to marry the outdoors in,” Farnsworth said, and adding a wall of windows and skylights above, was a way to capture views of the greenspace.
The master suite, above the family room, was enlarged 4 feet in the back as a result. Stone details were added to the traditional two-car garage, which was also split into two garage doors for added interest.
“It’s very comfortable,” Farnsworth said of the design implemented by contractors with Brittney Homes. Farnsworth has worked with contractors such as Blazer Custom Construction, Bernard Custom Construction, Centex Homes, SLS Remodel-Additions and Paul Marto Building Co., to name a few local ones, and said that implementing designs that promote independent lifestyles create healthier families.
Home Entryway
“Lever style door handles, 36-inch-wide doors throughout, backing installed in the walls during the framing stage to accommodate safety
Many events in life are unexpected, but everyone does get older. Farnsworth suggests planning ahead to adapt homes now for changes later. If anything, Farnsworth said, “start with a bathroom.”
“Persons with mobility challenges are not limited to someone in a wheelchair or using a walker,” Farnsworth said. “It could be a young mom or dad struggling with a baby in a stroller or a teenager who broke her ankle using inline skates. (It could be) you, recovering from surgery after your accident on the ski slopes.
“‘Livable for a lifetime’ is for everyone regardless of age or physical ability.”
(originally published in the Beaverton Valley Times)
