Multigenerational Home Design: Layouts for Extended Families
Design or remodel a home for extended family: private suites, step-free baths, shared spaces, ADU and egress rules, and sourced 2025 costs.
Author
Ryan
Ryan writes Home Remodel Guidance's planning guides: the order of a remodel, permits, contracts, budgets and contingencies, room-by-room renovations, and which jobs a homeowner can do versus which need a licensed trade.
Ryan has written most of Home Remodel Guidance, covering a renovation from first plan to final inspection: the sequence of work, permits and inspections, contracts and change orders, contingency budgets, financing and insurance, and guides for kitchens, bathrooms, additions and home systems. His DIY-versus-professional guides separate the jobs a careful homeowner can take on from those that need a licensed electrician, plumber or engineer. Guides on this site cite their sources and are updated when the facts change.
Articles by Ryan
Aging in Place Trends: Home Features That Support Independence
See which aging in place home features are in demand, from curbless showers to wider doors, and what AARP and CDC data say about why they matter.
Wellness-Focused Home Design: Health Meets Architecture
How to design a healthier home with better air, daylight, lighting, materials and calm spaces, using EPA and WELL guidance and survey data.
Kitchen Island Trends: Styles, Colors and Features Reports Show
Kitchen island trends from NKBA and Houzz data: storage-packed bases, statement color, rounded shapes and longer islands, with what to copy and skip.
High-Tech Bathroom Features: What to Know Before You Buy
Smart toilets, heated floors, digital showers and humidity-sensing fans: the wiring, GFCI and safety rules to know before you add bathroom tech.
Statement Ceilings: The Fifth Wall Gets Attention
Statement ceiling ideas with paint, wallpaper, plaster, wood and beams, plus how to choose by room, what to check first and when to hire a pro.
The Minimalist Movement in Home Design: Less Is More
What minimalist home design is, how warm minimalism differs from stark minimalism, and how to apply it with color, materials, storage and lighting.
Interior Color Trends 2026: What the Reports Show
Warm neutrals, greens and browns lead 2026 interior color trends, per NKBA surveys and the paint brands' picks. See how to use them without dating a room.
Smart Home Integration During a Renovation: What to Pre-Wire and Plan
Plan smart home integration in a renovation: what to pre-wire while walls are open, how to pick an ecosystem and Matter devices, and how to stay secure.
Outdoor Living Spaces: Trends and How to Plan Yours
What homeowners are building outdoors, from lounge areas and lighting to fire features and kitchens, plus a step-by-step plan for your own space.
