Aging In Place Renovations

We had the prior experience of building a multi-generational home in Maple Plain where we lived with my father in law from as he aged into his nineties. This taught us many lessons about aging and the relationship of a home in later years. So when Ruthie and I took on our next adventure, the renovation of an 1880’s home in downtown Northfield we started the design looking through the lens of aging in place.

Nowak Renovation

Edina Project - Creating two family spaces

The design created a new private entry for the lower dwelling and a lift accessible entry from the garage for the upper home.

The design used the existing large roof overhang to provide a gallery stair and entry from the garage to the upper home

A mechanical lift chair in the gallery staircase provides an accessible home from the garage.

Edina Family Testimonial

“Brian Nowak brilliantly navigated the transition of our family home in Edina from a two level single family rambler to a duplex for my daughter and grand daughter in the lower level, leaving my home upstairs with a few modifications. For the lower level he converted the mother-in-law apartment with kitchen, laundry room, and storage area, working with our ideas to create an efficient two-bedroom home with walk-out to pond-side patio downstairs, leaving another two-bedroom home for me in the upper level. We have complete privacy in the separate homes, with stairway access between levels.
Mr. Nowak is creative and accommodating. He is efficient and competent and listens carefully to preferences and requirements.”

New open plan dwelling at ground level