One of the biggest trending topics, among many of my friends, seems to be watching with bittersweet emotions as their young adults are heading out into the world. They are so proud to watch them flourish, and yet they’ll be missed among the day-to-day family and household activities. Speaking as the eldest child, I know my mother missed having a built-in babysitter, (along with my company) as I took off for East Carolina University after graduating high school.
(Photography: Whitney Gray)
Of course, a bit of a quandary can occur as to what to do with the “extra” room created by a missing, regular occupant. For some, the first few weeks are still a back and forth process, depending on the distance of travel and other factors. (Yes, young adults do get a little homesick and yearn for that nurturing place to land.) In some cases, the parents hope to maintain an attachment to childhood years and preserve the room . . . creating homage to days gone by. But after a few years, that seems to wane.
In today’s world, we’re also experiencing what has been referred to as the “boomerang” generation. Due to employment challenges in a difficult economy, family unit changes, and so on, adult children and their families may be moving back home until their circumstances present better options.
I’ve also witnessed extended, multi-generational family units become more commonplace. Elderly or infirmed parents or other relatives may need a place for a temporary or permanent stay for care taking. It definitely changes the dynamics of our lifestyles and the function of our life spaces.
As an interior designer, I’ve worked with many clients through these different seasons of life as they seek to adjust their home to different occupants. Each situation has required me to literally think outside of the box of the room or space I’ve been challenged to design. I’ve come to rely on many vendors for solutions to meet the task.
Thinking about these different transitions created a light bulb moment for my next posts for this blog. I shared with Kim Shaver, editor of the Experience Your Home blog, that I thought it would be of great benefit to pen a series of real-life stories and experiences that required a flexible approach to furniture and décor. I’ll tie in some great, multipurpose pieces by Hooker Furniture, as well as share some ideas for custom pieces I’ve created for clients. I promise it will be worth the read!
I love using multi-purpose pieces. This Pagoda Hutch and Buffet from Hooker Furniture’s Melange collection would be a fabulous piece to transition a daughter from displaying her doll collection, to showcasing her sports or dance trophies, and then could head off with her upon graduation to grace her dining room furniture in her first apartment. Lots of storage capacity is included, in the buffet with doors.- Don’t worry, I’ll cover some ideas for the fellows, too!
Along the way, I hope you’ll share your own stories and questions. I’ll check back on comments, every few days, to see if I may provide some good solutions.
Stay-tuned for the next post: “Feathering the Not-So-Empty-Nest: Off to College.”
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