Driving up to Don and Pam Lohnes' one-level in Halifax's Clayton Park, you can't help but notice how compact it is compared to the large multi-storey homes surrounding it. That's the first clue.
The wide driveway is the next thing that stands out. A broad concrete slab with an exposed "Folly Lake aggregate" surface, it acts as both driveway and walkway, allowing the visitor to choose to take either the left side ramp or go up a single low step to enter the home.
Clad in a mixture of brick and a stucco-type material called dryvit, this house is Don and Pam's retirement home and has been built with accessibility and low-maintenance at the top of the priority list.
With 38 years as an architect under his belt, Don naturally designed the two-bedroom home himself (as well as providing much of the labour as well).
"It was a good retirement project," Don laughs. Construction began on April 30, 2008 - day two of Don's retirement (his first day off was spent playing golf).
His main goal when drawing up the plans was to build an accessible home that would suit the couple's present needs, as well as allowing for independence and mobility should physical tasks become difficult in the future.
Reflecting on the experience of watching his own father lose his sense of independence in his own home due to mobility issues, Don says he wanted this home to allow he and Pam a more graceful passage into their senior years. "We wanted to build a place that we wouldn't have to move from," Don explains, as he walks through the bright, open concept home. "We wanted a home we could grow old in. When my father was ill we had to take his dining room and turn it into a bedroom. We didn't want to have to go through anything like that."
Accessible, or universal design as it is sometimes called, is building design that is safe and comfortable for all, including people with mobility problems. But just because it's built to accommodate wheelchairs and aging bodies, don't be fooled into thinking that means this house looks anything like a sterile nursing home. Stylish outside and in, the Lohnes' home combines practicality with elegance and grace.
To cut down on the amount of time spent on exterior upkeep, landscaping (in this instance known as "zero-scaping" since there is no lawn) includes a mix of beach rock and bark mulch, along with a few pretty shrubs and plants for greenery, such as ivy, thyme and periwinkle. A concrete walkway surrounds most of the building's exterior, adding a nice European-style touch while also creating a barrier-free access to the side storage area and back patio.
Impressed with the combination of insulation and framing in one system, Don chose ICF modular units for the walls. He's pleased with the result, and his home's R-40 rating. "We wanted to be as energy-efficient as possible," he says, noting that they have 80 per cent LED lighting throughout, as well as a solar panel to heat their hot-water boiler. Their reduced consumption allowed them to qualify for Nova Scotia Power's off-peak hours program.
The house measures 1,920 square feet, with another 556 square feet for the garage. Given the 11-inch thickness of the ICF blocks, the interior of the home measures 1,775 square feet for the main building and 440 square feet for the garage. Stepping into the main living area from the wide entrance foyer, the space looks expansive, but still feels snug and cozy. The wood fire glowing in the fireplace certainly boosts that comfortable feeling, but the warm taupe-coloured, diamond-polished concrete floor throughout the home helps too. With in-floor radiant heat throughout, it's warm both in colour and reality.
The sense of spaciousness comes from the open-concept design and cathedral ceiling in the main living area, combined with a large picture window looking over the back patio and several skylights throughout.
Standing at the main entryway, to the right is a modern L-shaped kitchen, featuring birch cabinets, black granite countertops and an island that includes both a range and bar seating for four. Positioning the prep and cooking area in the island, facing the sitting area with its fireplace and entertainment centre in a wide centre block, is ideal for entertaining and comfort. That particular design feature was at Pam's specific request. "In most kitchens you end up feeling isolated when you're entertaining, everyone else is in the living area and you're stuck in the kitchen, with your back turned away facing the stove," she says.
Pam had another reason why she wanted the prep and cooking area to look out towards the main living space - she wanted to be able see the fireplace.
"In other homes we've lived in, people always ended up in the kitchen or dining room and we'd never get to see the fireplace," Pam says. "I wanted that changed in this house. It makes the whole space feel so much more cozy."
Although his professional background gave Don a clear idea of what he wanted in terms of key features, he consulted Pam throughout the design process - going so far as to build her a small cardboard model to help her visualize all of the rooms and key details. "In other homes there were areas, such as the living room, that we'd hardly ever use," Pam says.
Joking that they used to refer to the living rooms in their former houses as a "museum for their furniture," Don says creating a functional living space was a key concern for this home.
Extra-wide doors and 42-inch clearance between the kitchen countertops and the walls ensure wheelchair accessibility. Other details, such as lever handles instead of doorknobs, can make a world of difference for seniors negotiating their way through a door. It's a feature the Lohnes' have since discovered makes sense for anyone, regardless of age. "The number of times your hands are full, opening the door with the lever handle is just so much easier," Pam says.
A 12x12 foot walk-in closet off the master bedroom, with easy-to-reach shelves and hangers, was planned as both a closet and accessible storage area and has proven itself perfect for easy organization now, and barrier-free access should their mobility be compromised down the road. Choosing a large walk-in closet meant less space for other things, such as an ensuite bathroom off the master bedroom. It wasn't a difficult decision to make, Don says. With one full bathroom and a second half-bathroom, the house is supplied well enough for the two of them and any guests that may stay over. A cubby in the main bathroom hides the laundry area behind folding doors, a space saver that still allows a rail for air-drying clothes - another of Pam's touches. Some spare hardwood flooring Don found at a good price became the perfect desk for their long, narrow office space. With enough room for three computer stations, in a pinch, and a bank of windows to provide plenty of natural light, this room makes the most of the available space.
Smart use of space was the top priority in the utility room as well, with boilers, the propane tank and electrical panels all within easy access. Adding a bit of fun in with practical shelves and other space-saving options in the garage, Don made sure to have two golf putting holes drilled in the concrete floor, for those times when he and Pam can't get out on the greens.
"We love to golf. This will help get us through the long winter months," he says.
Clearly proud of the thought and planning he put into their home, Don says they moved in April 30, 2009, a year less two days from when construction began, and for just $135 per square foot.
"I didn't get paid. Cheap labour, I guess," he jokes.