For Homearama builder Herb Watson of The Walters Company Inc., building the EasyLiving Home at Culpepper Landing was a way to merge beauty with unforeseen circumstances.

“We need to plan for our eventual demise, as well as being able to accommodate for everything that may happen in life,” said Watson. That’s the idea behind his EasyLiving house.

Whether you are single, planning for your first child or considering purchasing your retirement home, an EasyLiving certified home offers simple solutions that are functional and stylish. More importantly, it’s a home that will not need to be refitted to accommodate your family’s changing needs.

It will also be the first EasyLiving Home in Hampton Roads and will join only three other EasyLiving certified homes in Virginia.

The EasyLiving Home program is operated by a nonprofit coalition of organizations committed to making homes more accessible, including the AARP, Home Builders Association of Virginia, Virginia Housing and Development Association and Virginia Board for People with Disabilities.
 
According to EasyLiving Home project coordinator Rhonda Allison, an EasyLiving home is “a visitable home. Anyone can visit you whether they have a wheelchair, a walker or a baby stroller that needs to come in,” she said. “Anyone can come in and be comfortable in your home.”

To be considered an EasyLiving Home, the house must meet the following criteria:

  • Step-free entrance and threshold of no more than ½ inch from a driveway, sidewalk or other firm route into the central living area.
  • A minimum of 32 inches of clear passage space for every interior passage door on the main floor and the exterior door that provides a step-free entrance.
  • The main floor has no less than one bedroom, a kitchen, entertainment area and one full bathroom with sufficient maneuvering space.

Watson’s EasyLiving House features five bedrooms, and four and a half baths, as well as a feature that will “overlook an English garden with a concrete water feature.”
 
The first floor has a “magnificent master suite with a terrace overlooking raised gardens,” said Watson. In addition, the master bath is wider for maneuverability and is equipped with a sunken shower and pedestal sinks. Ceramic tile, a freestanding tub and magnificent décor complete the bathroom.

The 3,500-square-foot home has multiple rooms of hardwood flooring, has been equipped for an elevator and also features an indoor fire suppression system.
 
Homearama 2009 at Culpepper Landing will be open Oct. 3-18, noon until 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, and until 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Admission is $10 for adults and free for children 12 and under. More information and a discount coupon are available at www.homearama.tv, or by calling (757) 420-2434.