Dave and Maria sold their home and rented until an ideal site appeared: one with ample space and mature trees. The exterior is durable and low-maintenance thanks to its HardiePanel siding and metal-clad windows; most of the home's stairs (such as the entrance steps seen here) are short and can be easily ramped for future wheelchair access.
Architect Design Office of Deana Lewis Inc. (DOODL)Home design can be a hazardous endeavor for a couple: the process can rapidly reveals different visions and priorities. One husband and wife nearly found out the hard way: Dave, a longtime entrepreneur, and Maria, who works in the oil industry, experienced a stormy first home design. The pair—who are empty-nesters but still active professionals—now sought a new home that would accommodate their needs well into the future. The house would have to be hardy and low-maintenance while adapting to potential changes in their health and mobility. After securing a plot within inner-city Calgary, they tapped their soon-to-be daughter-in-law Deana Lewis to lead the design. With only one designer in charge, says the architect, there wouldn't be "too many cooks in the kitchen" like last time. Lewis, who recently co-founded the architecture firm DOODL, used durable materials to craft generous and flexible spaces that Dave and Maria can use for the forseeable future.
