Living and working in Sydney provides a fantastic lifestyle and it’s no wonder we’re consistently rated as one of the world’s best cities to live in. However, the rapidly rising cost of real estate in Sydney is having a huge impact on families both young and old. A result of this is that living as an extended family could be the next big thing.
Multi-generational living is on the rise
Multi-generational living is increasing in popularity in Australia as families begin to approach the way we use our spaces with a different perspective. In Sydney, 1 in 4 people live in a multi-generational home. Dr Edgar Liu of UNSW has been researching the pattern in Brisbane and Sydney and says the pattern looks set to continue.
The Benefits
If you are thinking of living with other family members, extending your home will give your family an opportunity to pool resources. Rolling numerous homes into one allows young working parents to have more support with childcare, an opportunity for grandparents to play greater roles in their grandchildren’s lives, and in many cases provide support for more mature family members.
The rising cost of living throughout Sydney means that many young adults delay moving out of home until after they complete tertiary study or save up enough for their own home. Adding another storey to your home can provide much needed space for your extended family to stretch out and enjoy living together while providing some much needed space and privacy. By living together longer, the sound of laughter and the sizzle of sausages at a family BBQ needn’t take months of organising for you to enjoy these simple pleasures.
Whether you want to live with family or to have family from overseas come for a period of time, we create additions for this purpose. There are all sorts of creative possibilities in redesigning a home, such as fitting downstairs with wheelchair friendly access and more mobile family members living mainly upstairs. At Addbuild Additions we take you through the entire process, from concept to completion with a focus on designing solutions to suit your individual needs.
Multi-generational living – making it work
Living with extended family can be a joyful experience, yet a source of tension at times. Living together in close quarters can produce strains in families around subjects such as parenting and money. Below are a few things to take into consideration before moving in with extended family to ensure that your positive relationships remain intact.
Set Boundaries
Discussing things like household finances and disciplining of children before moving in together is imperative to peaceful life with extended family. There may be murky waters in regards to willingness to contribute to household chores, childcare and finances. Various factors impact every member of the family in a different way, and vary between households. Healthy discussion and understanding upfront help families to strengthen their ties instead of straining them.
Communication – Flexibility & Negotiation
Communication and flexibility can help to avoid misunderstandings. Making the time to communicate respectfully at an appropriate time can make or break family ties in the long run. Listening to others openly and respecting differences can allow your family members to understand you and your choices – when they too feel respected and heard. Open communication can lead to families growing even closer.
Respect Privacy – division of space
Giving family members access to both shared space and private space is crucial to successful multi – generational living. Often families have to make crowded living conditions work by creating bathroom schedules or losing use of the garage for other purposes, however with our creative designers, you can add an extra storey to your home to create not only more bedrooms but common areas, private spaces, bathrooms and everything your extended family needs in a home.
Make the idea a reality
Talk to us about what is possible for your family – whether you are thinking of an extension or a second storey addition, our designers can work with your concept – by considering the complexities of your unique family dynamic – and create a design that provides space for quality time with your family, yet division of space that allows for privacy and much needed solitude.
If you are looking for a way to incorporate parents or other loved ones into your home life without moving away from the neighbourhood you love, creating an addition to your existing home could be the best thing you could do for your whole family.
Still not sure?
If you’re not sure how to make the most of your current home to share with the family, feel free to give us a call. Alternatively, use our Contact Form. With over a 1,500 home additions and extensions under our belt over the last 40 years, we have helped families of all shapes and sizes!
