Local interior designer Patty Koskovich and her husband began building their Anacortes home with a view of the Guemes Channel in 2017. After two years of careful construction, their Coastal Aging in Place home was completed, perfectly planned for comfortable living— now and for years to come.
“I call it… my seaside sanctuary,” says Koskovich, who researched and designed the initial plans for the build herself. She knows the importance of a safe, comfortable, and beautiful home, thanks to her previous nursing career and being a Certified Aging in Place Specialist since 2008.
“It’s important to be able to move around on one floor and have everything accessible,” says Koskovich. She and her husband, a retired firefighter, are both turning 73 this year. They both acted as contractors for the build, contributed to millwork, cabinets, various flooring, tiling, and finishing the basement.
Photograph by Bill Evans Photography
The home is two stories on a sloped lot with a daylight basement. In order to keep things accessible, Koskovich focused on “main floor living,” with the kitchen, living room, dining room, master bed and bath, laundry room, second room (office or bedroom), powder room, and pantry all available upstairs.
“The floorplan allows for an open concept with clear sightlines. All doors are 36” wide, hallways are wide, there is easy maneuverability, and floors are non-slip in most areas. All door handles are lever hardware,” says Koskovich. “At the entrance, minimal steps or no steps are preferred. We have one step, and our sidewalk is four feet wide. Exterior doors do have a threshold, but no steps to enter or exit.”
Photograph by Bill Evans Photography
“In the kitchen we used drawers instead of cabinet doors, and all the hardware is a [D] pull, [which is easy to grasp and pull]. The main kitchen faucet is hands free. [From] the kitchen counter to the island is 48’’ inches, a two-cook kitchen. Appliances [include a] French door refrigerator for easy access [and] induction cooktop for safety.”
Lighting is also a consideration for Aging in Place (AIP). Koskovich mentioned that on top of having plentiful windows, there’s overhead, task, and ambient lighting, some on dimmers.
“All three bathrooms have blocking in the walls for future grab bars, comfort height toilets, and lever faucets. The master bath has a KOHLER assist toilet paper holder and towel bar, rated for ADA. The shower is a no-threshold entry with a wide opening, with backing in the walls for future grab bars. There is plenty of floor space for turning,” says Koskovich. She also adds, “The tub is not for aging [in place,] but it’s pretty!”
In the master bedroom, plenty of light and maneuvering room, a door to the exterior, and a closet with barn doors and storage keep the AIP functionality going strong.
Photograph by Bill Evans Photography
On the basement level, there’s a sitting area with a bar, two bedrooms, and a bath. Currently, the space is used for entertaining and guests, and is accessible through the basement-level garage at the back of the home or via stairs from the main floor. Not only can the space easily become a caregiver’s unit, it can also be made accessible by an elevator that Koskovich planned ahead for.
“We used the pantry area to plan for a future elevator,” she says. “It is structurally built for removing the flooring at the entrance to allow for an open shaft to the lower floor. The electrical is done, it has a dedicated circuit and a panel in an adjacent storage room for ease of conversion. Meanwhile, I have a pretty great pantry!”
Coastal Aging in Place | Project Details
Draftsperson: Bruce Runstad
Interior Designer/Owner: Patty Koskovich of Koskovich Design Group
Project Location: Anacortes
