MAN CAVE MADNESS

Open &Airy Take on the Traditional Man Cave

The term "man cave" either inspires nostalgic longing and thoughts of frat-like freedom or it brings to mind the image of grown men refusing to grow up.  Either way, the term has been around since printed in a newspaper article in 1992 and the desire for an all male retreat has been around since God plucked a rib from Adam and created Man 2.0 also know as woman.  The only difference is that corporate America discovered a new demographic of consumers that they had not tapped into.  Thus the rise of the Man Cave in our culture.

Large Dormer Provides Seating Area and Natural Lighting

Regardless of what you call it, men have always sought a place of their own.  Today this space comes in many shapes and sizes and can be as unique as men themselves.  It can be located in a basement, an attic, a garage, a tree house or an out house.  The location is not as important as the fact that this space is typically all boy! 

Salvaged Bar & Reclaimed Pine Flooring

Tabletop Shuffle Board Spans the Stair

I recently had the privilege of working on one such retreat and found it to be a fun and rewarding experience.  In this project the homeowner wanted to build a detached two-car garage with an additional bay for a workroom.  He also wanted an upper level studio that would serve as his Man Cave.  We designed a structure that would blend with the existing home and created an easily accessible stair that could be closed off from the garage below.  We provided a half bath conveniently tucked underneath the stair.  The studio is a wide open space with access out onto a deck overlooking the golf course.  We added a dormer to provide a seating area and more natural lighting.  The vaulted ceiling helps make the space feel larger than it is and the tabletop shuffle board takes advantage of unused space by spanning across the stairwell. 

The flooring is reclaimed wide plank pine and the bar is a salvaged piece that fits beautifully in the space.  The homeowner is a graduate of North Carolina State University (in case you couldn't tell), so that is the motif he chose to drive his decor.

 This man cave is not cave like at all, in fact is it quite airy and open with abundant natural light and high vaulted ceilings, but it a retreat for hanging out with friends and family (male and female) to enjoy sporting events, cocktails or just some good ole fashion conversation.

Design Strategies to help you "Age In Place"

A beautiful bench seat in the shower is desirable to all ages

One of the most traumatic and easily avoidable events faced by seniors in our society occurs when able minded homeowners feel forced to leave their homes because it is no longer accessible or safe for them to stay.  This scenario looms in the minds of hundreds of thousands of Americans and it's reality is closing in faster and faster.

As of April 2010, 40.3 million Americans were over the age of 65.  They account for over 13% of the US population.  81% of these Americans own their own home and over 60% plan to remain in their homes for as long as they can.

The reality is; however, that most American homes are not designed to accommodate the unique needs of the elder population.  In fact, most homes cannot serve the needs of persons of any age who have temporary or long term disabilities.  Impairments due to the natural aging process begin as early as age 40 and gradually increase over the next few decades.  By the age of 75, 50% of people suffer from significant vision and hearing losses that contribute to social isolation, one of the most harmful factors affecting the health and well-being of seniors in our society.

The good news is that there are a series of adjustments that can be made to the majority of homes that will allow aging Americans or those with disabilities to remain in their homes, maintain their independence and increase the value and usability of their home all at the same time.  These principles can be applied to new or existing homes and they can be done for far less money than is required to move into an assisted living or nursing facility.

In Greenville, SC, a group of experts will come together during the Spring 2013 session to offer a unique series of courses dedicated to helping people who want to stay in their homes and live an independent life.  Through the OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute) program located at Furman University, the course titled "There is No Place Like Home" will bring together panelist including Interim Healthcare, Kustom Home Design and a series of  legal, financial, and insurance experts to lead an 8 week course focusing on ways to keep homeowners in their homes.

As a professional designer with parents approaching this milestone I have first hand knowledge and experience with the sentiments and emotions that drive many of the hesitations, fears and decisions involved with charting a course for this stage of life.  It is for this reason that I have partnered with this group of dedicated professionals and have volunteered to lead the April 16th course by offering professional design insight, advice and strategies for seniors who wish to stay in their homes longer and more comfortably.   I will explore the changing needs of seniors, explain the design implications of such needs and apply Universal Design strategies to provide real world solutions for those who wish to "Age in Place".  There are many challenges we all face with aging related issues, but with proper planning and professional direction staying in your home and maintaining your independence does not need to be one of them.

Registration for the course begins February 26, 2013 on the Furman University website  http://www.campusce.net/olliatfurman/category/category.aspx