You know the future-proof housing trend is gaining popularity when youthful stars of the fashion world purchase a home that promises to one day cater to arthritic hands.
Kristy and John Lawrence, who created global fashion brand Flannel — popular with locals and Hollywood actors alike — have purchased a home that can adapt to young families, through to the empty-nester phase and the senior years.
The extraordinary $6 million house in Cottesloe was designed by architect David Mitchell, who specialises in homes that are suitable throughout an owner’s life stages. He initially designed it as a place for his parents to see out their golden years.
The listing advert from sales agent Candie Italiano explains the downstairs area does not have any steps, while the doorways and passages are wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs.
It says benchtops and appliances are set lower than standard, while large handle pulls and control panels allows “easy lighting control for arthritic hands.”
The upper level of the flexible home includes a kitchen and laundry, which can be accessed through the main home or its own entry, making it suitable for young children or as a teenagers’ retreat.
The advert explains it could also accommodate a carer or nurse, or could be rented as a separate home to provide a retirement income.
Lawrence said while her husband would love it to be their forever home, she was not thinking about their senior years when she bought the house.
The more appealing quality to her is the ability to rent out the first floor of the dual-key home, when the pair become empty nesters, particularly when on their regular work trips to the US.
The husband and wife team are just about to open their sixth store in the US, in the seaside town of Carmel in San Francisco. The label has a strong US following where their customers including movie stars like Jennifer Lawrence.
The Perth-based designer spent seven years living in the US and Melbourne, before returning to Perth in 2021 after remembering how much she loved WA.
While she usually develops her own properties — as well as the interior of her Flannel stores — she said the new home was so beautifully designed and decorated that it did not need any tweaks or changes.
A courtyard in the middle of the home also ensures a luxurious retreat away from the coastal wind.