By Julia Boyle

THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

Space was foremost on Lorraine and Dominick “Clem” Clementoni’s minds when they decided to take a look at Seabrook in Tinton Falls. Their two-story  Cape Cod of nearly 50 years in Union, N.J., had four bedrooms, and the only use she got out of the two upstairs was to clean them.

After touring several model homes at Seabrook in Tinton Falls, the couple chose a two bedroom apartment home and moved there in October 2006. “I love the layout here,” she says. “I actually have more room now than I did in my house.”

Demand for one-level living soars

The Clementonis are not alone in wanting a little more convenience in their living space. A survey by The American Institute of Architects (AIA) finds an  increasing demand for singlelevel home designs, not just among older Americans, but baby boomers as well. One-level homes provide greater accessibility and are generally more cost-effective—benefits that appeal to busy people of all ages.

‘Right-sizing’ for the future

New homes are also moving away from the boxy rooms, narrow hallways, and separate living and dining rooms of years past in favor of larger, more flexible spaces. In fact, 66% of firms surveyed by the AIA report that more and more homes open space layout.

“Moving to Seabrook isn’t about downsizing to a smaller space,” says Ruth Phillips, one of the community’s two retirement counselors. “It’s about ‘rightsizing’ to a space that better fits your life today and your goals for the future.

“Basically, our architects have taken the most-used rooms of your house and laid them out on a single level,” adds Karen Cotenoff, Seabrook’s second retirement counselor.