Seniors appreciate low-maintenance housing options

By LAURI GROSS

In home design and home building, sometimes less is more, and I don’t mean adopting a minimalist lifestyle or eliminating things you love. Instead, think less bending, less reaching, less climbing, less maintenance and less to clean. Now, doesn’t that sound like more fun? That’s especially true when you add amenities that include everything from community gathering spaces to pickleball courts. Northeast Ohio offers retirees and empty nesters this “less is more” lifestyle in a variety of home options, and there are plenty of local experts ready to guide your path there.

While this demographic is not a monolithic block, Pat Perrino, president of Perrino Builders and Remodeling says many in this age group are looking for “luxuries but in a smaller home.” He adds, “They are looking for ranches and first-floor master bedrooms and some upstairs living. A lot of customers we talk to have lived in their home for 40 years and they are looking to not necessarily downgrade but downsize. If they have been in a home for 40 years, it probably has older windows and things that need to be updated so they are excited about the idea of a new home with an open kitchen and open floor plan and everything brand new so they don’t have to worry about things like cutting the grass and getting a new furnace.”

Adam Kaufman, Howard Hanna real estate agent agrees. “Empty nesters,” he says, “are looking for the ease and convenience of maintenance-free lifestyle. It can be a townhouse or single-family dwelling where the maintenance crew is taking care of it or a condo or even an apartment.”

Adam calls it right-sizing and he thinks Northeast Ohio needs more housing to accommodate the need. “There is a shortage of inventory and so many people are interested in this,” he says. (Learn more about Adam’s offerings at JustAskAdam.com)

Pat says his company is always scouting spaces for new developments and they are currently building 55+ com- munities in Willoughby Hills, Sheffield and more. (Details at PerrinoCustomHomes.com.) In addition to developing new neighborhoods, Pat’s company is happy to renovate existing homes or do a new build on a client’s lot if they opt to tear down their existing home. Pat and Adam have worked together. “Adam Kaufman has sold quite a few of our homes,” Pat says. “And we work with others too; all the realtors. They bring clients to us and we are happy to work with them.”

Like Adam and Pat, Linda Hilbig, president of Somrak Kitchens in Bedford Heights (SomrakKitchens.com) works with clients in existing homes as well as new builds. Either way, she says there is a growing need for spaces designed specifically for this demographic. She explains, “Obviously it is easier to design and create space for ADA allowances in a new home especially when it involves planning the structurals of a new space. In an existing home, you are limited to the existing space and budget and you may not be able to take advantage of all you can do as efficiently and cost effectively as starting from scratch in a new build.”

Adam mentions Moreland Commons as a good example of new homes meeting the need. “Moreland Commons has been extremely successful,” he says. “It is upscale and it offers a great lifestyle. The location is sensational.” As of early July, Adam said 75 percent of the 41 single-family homes in this development were already sold. The development also includes 18 villas. “We have not started selling the villas,” he says. “We break ground on those later in the summer. Payne and Payne is the exclusive builder in Moreland Commons,” he adds.

No matter the home style, there are many ways Linda and her team create kitchens for retirees and empty nesters, from ingenious features to functional floorplans that all make things easier for people as they age. Linda says it all starts with ease of access. “We recommend that our clients look to include more drawers than traditional base cabinets with doors for storage as well as pull-out pantries for both food storage and heavy small appliances so that everything can pull out to you. This requires less bending and is easier on the joints. We also will include a pull-out kidney-shaped lazy Susan or include a super Susan in the corner or even design the corner with drawers for easy access.”

For floorplans, Linda suggests extra room for moving around and placing appliances where people are less likely to bump into them. And she adds that having a variety of counter heights makes the space work for “individuals that may have back issues or need to sit while working.” She continues, “Have the sink and cooktop close by or install a pot filler at the cooktop so you are not lifting heavy pots of water.” In addition, under-the-counter drawer microwaves mean less need to reach up and less chance of spilling something hot as you remove it from the microwave. Even ovens can be placed at different heights. “Think of raising your built-in under-counter oven 8 to10 inches off the floor,” Linda says, “and select a shallow sink so you are not bending over when you are working at the sink.”

Color also plays a role in making good choices for older clients. “Soothing colors with low sheen are less hard on the eyes,” Linda advises, as she adds, “We also look for nonporous materials for counter surfaces, and low-slip non-glare softer flooring surfaces such as hard wood. Less is more when it comes to style. Keep it easy to clean, keep the edges eased and avoid angles.”

Linda also advises clients on the importance of good lighting, with plenty of natural and artificial sources and she points out how it’s helpful to have lights in uncommon places such as inside cabinets and inside the dishwasher.

For seniors babysitting grandchildren, Linda says food storage and prep remains a priority. “But,” she adds, “for entertaining, our clients are adding beverage centers and builtin coffee centers that include temperature-controlled wine storage as well as a separate place to prep the beverages for themselves and guests.” Linda also recommends steam ovens. “They’re great for re-heating leftovers, take out or food from delivery services,” she says and adds, “Everyone should have an under-cabinet vacuum system to avoid the pitfalls of bending over to use a dust pan.”

It makes sense that homes for this demographic include these types of safety and convenience features. As Pat says, “A lot of people are getting older and living healthier and longer so we find there are a lot of people that also have money and they want to enjoy the rest of their life instead of letting it slip away. They want to be close to grandchildren and live in something that is up to date.” He shares the sentiment and adds, “Moving into a new home is a special experience.”

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Chagrin Falls

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Set on a private cul de sac, this state of the art home has been meticulously renovated and maintained to offer the very best of Chagrin Falls living. With 4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths and 5,500 square feet of living space on the first and second floor, this home offers unique spaces for entertaining, relaxing and everything in between. The fully finished lower level features a guest bedroom, full bath and an amazing walk-in wine room.

Nature Center at Shaker Lakes “Nature at Night”

During summer in Northeast Ohio, some things don’t change – things like lovely women dressed in breezy, floral dresses and dapper fellows in neatly pressed shorts or slacks and colorful shirts at… fill in your favorite gathering. And in this case, the gathering was Nature at Night. The annual benefit for the Nature Center at Shaker Lakes was sold out (as usual) with more than 500 attendees. Some things do change – the setup was slightly different from previous years, with tents and tables clustered in a sort of open courtyard and plenty of space for guests to get to the bars and delectable food stations. Tables also lined the boardwalk that overlooks the marshes of the Shaker lakes – one of the most stunning and unique settings for any benefit.

Notably, Nature at Night is one of the few special events that relies on neighborhood eateries to offer noshes and nibbles, and this year was no exception. Coordinated by Chef Doug Katz, the food stations dazzled with small plates and craft cocktails. Gigi’s on Fairmount offered a signature drink, The Red Cordial (vodka, rose cordial, pineapple, cranberry, and lime wedge – total yum). Nine area restaurants participated, plus a wine spot and a local brewery. The connections this organization has are deeply rooted in the Heights community.

This year marks the last benefit for Kay Carlson as the President and CEO. She is retiring after 15 years. To recognize her contributions, the Nature Center is kicking off a new endowment fund, The Leadership Fund in Honor of Kay Carlson. Held at The Cleveland Foundation, the endowment will support the position of President/CEO in perpetuity, allowing more fund allocations to educational programs, habitats, and trails.

The benefit also provided an opportunity to introduce the incoming President/CEO, Peter Bode. After a national search, the new leader was found right here in Cleveland. Previously he was the Executive Director of the Community Life Collaborative, an organization that engages communities in social and environmental justice. He is a Cleveland State University graduate with a B.S. in Environmental Science. He is also a Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner (CERP) and a Qualified Data Collector for the Ohio EPA. “I grew up with Metroparks in my backyard,” he told Currents. “It’s time to get back to the trees.”

While the Nature Center has trails for people of all abilities, fitness walks, youth camps, workshops, and more, most importantly, it offers critical science programming to 7,500 students, pre-K to first graders. Board member Terry Wade Lyles stressed in her remarks the need for “equity, education, and engagement.” The organization does all of this through private donations and grants. Organizers were happy to report they raised over $110,000 from the event. STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY RITA

KUEBER

Chagrin Valley Little Theatre presents musical “Kinky Boots”

Chagrin Valley Little Theatre is thrilled to round off its 93rd Season with the hit musical “Kinky Boots” this summer. Featuring a Tony-winning score by pop icon Cyndi Lauper and a hilarious, uplifting script by fourtime Tony winner Harvey Fierstein, the production runs from July 21 to August 12, 2023. Performances will take place on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 PM, with matinees on Sundays, July 30th and August 6th at 2 PM.

The production is presented with generous support from Winds of Change and Gypsy Sole (shopwoc.com).

Based on the 2005 film of the same name (which was in turn inspired by true events), this highly anticipated production promises to captivate audiences with its infectious energy, powerful performances, and heartwarming story. “Kinky Boots” follows the journey of Charlie Price, played by Josh Budd, who inherits his father’s struggling shoe factory. Desperate to save the business from bankruptcy, Charlie forms an unlikely partnership with the fabulous drag queen Lola, portrayed by Anthony Woods-Mitchell. Together, they discover that they have more in common than they thought, and that changing your mind about someone can change your whole world.

Directed by Greta Rothman, with musical direction by Andrew Novak and choreography by Jen Justice, “Kinky Boots” is exhilarating, inspiring, and downright fun! The exceptional cast includes Clay Anderson, Amy Brodsky, Ev Brodsky, Kaitlyn Carr, Billy Cummins, Christopher Fujikawa, Kyle Glascott, John Hickman, Demarco Jones, Sean Henderson Jones, Brad Kisner, Dimitri Kosteas, Jennifer Kubinski, Allen Littman, Abby Longshore, Jordon Matthew, Brayden Norvell, Raleigh Orosz, Eric Oswald, Elisabeth Roter, Debbie Schinker, Samm Schinker, Olivia Sharp, Kegan Sulamoyo, Jack Thompson, Genevieve Vince, and Christopher Wuehler

Tickets for “Kinky Boots” are $21 for general admission and $17 for students, seniors, and military personnel. Tickets can be purchased online 24/7 at CVLT.org or by calling the Chagrin Valley Little Theatre Box Office at 440.247.8955, Tuesday - Friday afternoons from 1:00pm - 6:00pm. Early reservations are highly recommended, as tickets are expected to sell quickly.

Hudson Society of Artists to present annual “Art on the Green”

The Hudson Society of Artists will present the 41st annual Art on the Green Saturday and Sunday, August 26 and 27 at a new location, on the JOANN Green at the corner of Terex Rd. and Rte. 91 in Hudson. Art on the Green is a juried fine arts and crafts show which features the works of more than 140 exhibitors. Categories include painting, sculpture, woodwork- ing, jewelry, metalwork, photography, digital art, fiber arts and clothing, ceramics and pottery, glass works and more. Free admission and free parking. Food trucks will provide a variety of dining options. Art on the Green is a rain or shine event. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 26 and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 27.