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The modern family structure often calls for homes that can accommodate multiple generations under one roof. The TOH Cottage Community showcases a flexible floor plan designed to meet the diverse needs of today’s families. From en suite bedrooms on every floor to adaptable living spaces, this innovative design offers comfort and privacy for all family members, whether they’re grandparents, parents, or children.
This Old House’s Cottage Community for Families
In 2021, Jerry and Sandy Effren, the principal builders and designers of Greyrock Homes, worked with architect Jim Jamieson to create a series of highly adaptable floor plans. These plans, appropriate for a series of two-story cottage duplexes, are intended to adapt to various families’ living situations, from adults who want an in-home gym to retirees who need accessible fixtures and room for the grandkids.
Ten of these homes were built on a 2.5-acre site in Norwalk, Connecticut, near the banks of the Five Mile River. The houses are energy efficient and built with low-maintenance materials, and a common outdoor space allows for comfortable access to nature. Today, the Cottages at 125 Richards Ave is a luxury rental community in which each home must have at least one occupant over the age of 60.
Something for Every Family
Here’s how one of these home’s floor plans can be adapted for a large family with a wide variety of needs.
En-Suite Bedrooms on Every Floor
The cottage’s design prioritizes comfort and privacy for all family members with thoughtfully placed en-suite bedrooms. The upstairs primary en suite allows parents to be near their children’s rooms, providing easy access for nighttime needs. Meanwhile, the main level en suite offers a perfect retreat for grandparents or guests, ensuring their comfort and independence.
This arrangement allows for multi-generational living without sacrificing personal space or privacy. Moreover, the en-suite bathrooms are equipped with modern fixtures and ample space, ensuring that each family member can enjoy a spa-like experience right at home.
Perfect for a Powder
Conveniently located just inside the entryway, the powder room combines functionality with style. The classic combination of navy and gold creates a sophisticated ambiance, making a strong first impression on guests. This well-placed powder room offers practicality for family members and visitors alike, without the need to venture into more private areas of the home.
Vanity, fixtures: Signature Hardware
Open Sightlines
The heart of this multi-generational home is its open-concept kitchen, dining, and living area. This design is particularly beneficial for parents of young children, allowing them to keep an eye on kids while preparing meals.
The modern farmhouse aesthetic features a crisp white kitchen, complemented by industrial-style metal pendants and barstools. Practicality is key in this space, with low-maintenance finishes such as quartz countertops and fingerprint-resistant stainless-steel appliances that simplify cleaning and upkeep.
- Lighting: Generation Lighting, from Chloe Winston Lighting Design
- Sink, faucet: Elkay
- Cabinetry: Mantra
- Range hood: Panasonic
- Appliances: GE Profile, via Aitoro Appliance
- Countertop: Caesarstone
- Backsplash: Tile America
Spacious Sink
The kitchen’s farmhouse-style apron sink is a standout feature, offering both style and functionality. Its generous size, coupled with a pull-down faucet, makes it versatile enough for various tasks. As Sandy Effren notes with a laugh, it’s “big enough to bathe a child or dog in,” highlighting its practicality for families with young children or pets. This added convenience makes daily chores much more manageable and adds a rustic charm to the heart of the home.
Sink, faucet: Elkay
Finer Details
Attention to detail is evident throughout the kitchen. The backsplash, made from recycled glass, mimics the look of marble while offering easy maintenance with its matte finish. Safety and convenience are addressed through dual-function receptacles that provide National Electrical Code® (NEC®) compliant AFCI/GFCI protection. The addition of smart dimmer switches allows for customized lighting control via smartphone, enhancing the room’s functionality and ambiance.
- Backsplash: Tile America
- AFCI/GFCI receptacle, Decora Smart WiFi Dimmers: Leviton
Room for a Few Friends
The dining area is designed with flexibility in mind, featuring a generously-sized table that can accommodate various activities. Whether it’s hosting a game night or a pizza party, the space offers ample room for family and friends to gather. The thoughtful design ensures there’s always room for one more, making it an ideal spot for creating lasting memories.
- Lighting: Generation Lighting, from Chloe Winston Lighting Design
- Sink, faucet: Elkay
- Cabinetry: Mantra
- Range hood: Panasonic
- Appliances: GE Profile, via Aitoro Appliance
- Countertop: Caesarstone
- Backsplash: Tile America
Part of the Action
Beyond the dining area, a wall of built-in cabinets and a quartz countertop create a versatile workspace. This dual-station area can serve as both a homework zone for children and a home office for adults. Its location allows parents to supervise homework time while remaining close to the kitchen and living areas, fostering a sense of togetherness even during individual activities.
- Cabinetry: Mantra
- Countertop: Caesarstone
Clean and Classic
The living area embodies a clean and classic aesthetic that complements the home’s overall design. Hard-wearing vinyl plank flooring in a light gray finish brightens the space while ensuring durability for high-traffic areas. The gas fireplace, featuring a modern slate surround, serves as a focal point and gathering spot for family members. Black-rimmed patio doors echo the window muntins, creating a cohesive look that connects the indoor and outdoor spaces.
- Flooring: Vinyl flooring in Slate by Permshield
- Windows, patio doors: Marvin
Scenic Screened Porch
Extending the living space outdoors, the screened-in back porch offers a tranquil retreat overlooking the woods and the winding Five Mile River. This idyllic spot provides a perfect setting for morning coffee, afternoon tea, or simply enjoying nature.
Porch flooring and ceiling: Aeratis
Light and Lovely Laundry
The combination laundry and mudroom is strategically located between the garage and main floor living space. This practical arrangement allows family members to easily drop off muddy shoes and clothes before entering the main living areas. Thoughtful storage solutions and durable materials ensure that the room remains tidy and efficient.
- Appliances: GE Profile, from Aitoro Appliance
- Cabinetry: Mantra
A Place for Guests To Rest in Your Family Home
The first-floor bedroom-and-bath suite exemplifies the home’s commitment to accessibility and comfort. Designed with grandparents or older guests in mind, this suite ensures that everyone has a comfortable and private space within the home. The spacious private bath is equipped with a range of amenities, including a generous curbless shower, deep soaking tub, dual vanities, and LED mirrors with Bluetooth capabilities.
- Vanity, tub, fixtures, mirrors: Signature Hardware
- Ventilation: Panasonic
- Tile: Tile America
Peaceful Parents’ Retreat
The upstairs bedroom-and-bath suite offers parents a serene retreat while keeping them within easy reach of their children’s rooms. Vaulted ceilings create an airy atmosphere, enhancing the sense of space and tranquility. A walk-in closet with built-ins helps maintain a clutter-free sleeping area, contributing to the room’s peaceful ambiance. The addition of sun tunnel skylights floods the interior with natural daylight, creating a bright and inviting space.
- Ceiling fan: Monte Carlo, from Chloe Winston Lighting Design
- Sun tunnel skylights: VELUX
Personal Space
The en-suite bathroom in the parents’ retreat is designed for shared use without compromising on personal space. Two separate vanities flank an oval soaking tub, allowing couples to comfortably prepare for their day simultaneously. The medicine cabinets feature adjustable LED lighting, in-door magnifying mirrors, and built-in wireless speakers for added convenience and luxury.
The shower, enclosed by frameless glass, offers both a rainhead and an adjustable handheld wand. The bathroom’s design is completed with black porcelain hex tile that coordinates beautifully with the herringbone floor.
- Vanity, tub, fixtures, mirrors: Signature Hardware
- Ventilation: Panasonic
- Tile: Tile America
Creative Kids’ Spaces
The children’s bedrooms are thoughtfully designed to grow with their occupants. In the nursery, a soft beanbag chair and animal-shaped ottoman complement the sky-themed wallpaper, creating a soothing environment for infants and toddlers. A spacious closet and a nearby linen closet, both out of frame here, provide ample storage. The back bedroom, decorated with a fun space theme, features casement windows with prefinished pine trim ready for customization.
Nursery
- Peel & stick cloud wall mural by Mong Décor, via Etsy
- Cloud pillow and cloud shelf from Crate & Barrel
- Cloud mobile by The Fox and Alice, via Etsy
- Swing by Swing Away Creations, via Etsy
Kid’s Room
- Bedding by Crate & Barrel
- Rocket hamper from Pottery Barn
- Rocket wall-mounted night light from Etsy.com
- Space Explorers Wanted Posters, Free Downloads from mars.nasa.gov
Sunny Shared Bath
The shared bathroom between the children’s bedrooms is a bright and cheerful space, despite having no windows. A large skylight floods the room with natural light, creating an open and airy feel. The vanity top, made of scratch-resistant black granite, offers durability for daily use.
The floor features large square porcelain tiles with a bold star pattern, adding a whimsical touch that appeals to children without being overly juvenile. As Sandy notes, “It’s a lot of fun for a kids’ bath, but it’s not babyish. It will grow with them.”
- Vanity, fixtures: Signature Hardware
- Skylight: VELUX
- Ventilation: Panasonic
- Tile: Tile America
Room To Relax
The basement area further demonstrates the home’s adaptability, featuring a code-compliant egress window well and guest bath that allow for various uses of the space. In this instance, Sandy turned the area into a yoga and exercise room, providing a dedicated space for wellness and relaxation. The terraced step design of the window well, filled with plants, offers a soothing view that enhances the room’s calming atmosphere.
- Egress window well: The BILCO Company
- Vanity, fixtures, mirrors: Signature Hardware
Our Conclusion
The TOH Cottage Community’s flexible plan for multi-generational families showcases innovative design solutions that cater to the evolving needs of modern households. From young children to grandparents, every generation finds its place in this thoughtfully designed cottage, proving that multi-generational living can be both practical and harmonious.