How the dream of building a multi-generational home was born in a quiet New Hamburg neighbourhood
Jeff and Natalie Van Gyssel, the owners of Just Working, wanted to renovate their 1953 New Hamburg bungalow to make it energy efficient. They were also ready for a design refresh. They knew, however, that as a middle-income family, a huge renovation project like this was beyond their financial reach.
Jeff and Natalie tend to think beyond themselves. When they hit an obstacle, they like to back up a bit and take a wider view. They want answers for others, too, not just themselves. And that’s how the dream of building a multi-generational home was born.
The catalyst: a rising cost in home ownership
Jeff and Natalie saw that housing prices were rising dramatically. The hope of home ownership was fading for many young couples. Young men and women were struggling to find decent accommodation in today’s rental market. They wondered about the future of their own children too.
Instead of giving up on their dream of renovating, Jeff and Natalie decided to dream bigger. They devised a plan to literally lift the roof off their modest bungalow. They would construct a second story which would contain two rental units. This would be their small part in helping to ease New Hamburg’s rental crisis.
Jeff and Natalie also designed their home to adapt to the future needs of their family. They foresaw a time later in life when they might want to move into one of their upstairs units. This would allow a son or daughter and their family to take over the original home on the main floor. Another of their children might want the second unit upstairs.
For now, the Van Gyssels are offering the two rental units at an affordable 75% of the market rate. Their plan is to recoup the cost of their renovations but not to earn extra cash from the rental income. This modest financial goal is part of their bold, personal vision. They want to give back to the community instead of using their multi-generational home to create an income stream.
Offering their home as a place where community can happen
Jeff and Natalie’s vision goes beyond creating an economic benefit for themselves and those who rent their units. They have opened their homes and their lives to their tenants as well. They have invited them to be part of a community with them. The Van Gyssels and their tenants have meals together around their big dining table every other week. They share outside chores, like lawn and garden care, snow shovelling, and taking the garbage to the curb. Their children play together. They look for ways to support each other.
What does a multi-generational home look like?
There is no right answer to what a multi-generational home looks like. It could be an older home converted into apartments or a modern home designed to allow for multiple family groupings. There are even family-focused condos being created to serve the growing market for multiple generations to live together and support one another. Multi-generational homes can offer separate living spaces or shared spaces under the same roof. Sometimes shared living spaces include additional kitchen facilities and private areas.
Ideally, multi-generational homes can adapt themselves to changing family circumstances. They are a creative response to a need that exists in this post-prosperous world. They tend to be more energy efficient. And they hearken back to a time when, often by necessity, extended family lived together under the same roof. As with Jeff and Natalie’s house, they often lend themselves to accommodating rental units depending on the changing needs of a family over time.
What Jeff and Natalie’s home looks like
Jeff and Natalie’s home is striking from the outside. Charcoal and stained-wood panels, roofing, and trim provide interest and proportion to the expansive blue-grey exterior. The focal point is the mid-century-modern style doorway, dramatically framed by two-story high wooden beams. A spacious side entrance allows independent access to the rental units on the second story.
Their home looks stunning from the outside, but when you enter it, what strikes you is its inviting simplicity. A generous entryway leads into an open living space, including a sitting area, music room, and kitchen and dining area. I noticed that there is no television in this family area. It is a place that invites community and relaxation, sharing together in music or reading, activities at the table, or a meal together.
Reclaimed, retained, and re-used
Much of what you see is constructed from reclaimed material. The large entryway into the kitchen is framed with weathered barn beams creased with blue paint. The countertops and sides are constructed with poured cement slabs and stone masonry. Bookshelves are made of reclaimed boards. The open stairwell is set off by a panel of reclaimed brick. The floor is also from reclaimed ash trees cut down because of an ash borer infestation. It has a lustrous finish and will withstand the wear and tear of multiple generations.
The kitchen is a modest size. Jeff and Natalie kept the existing cabinetry and repainted it a tranquil grey to harmonize with accents of blue and teal. Above the cabinetry, they’ve built open cupboards with white face-frames painted teal inside to showcase their ceramic pieces.
The dining room is dominated by a large wooden table that they purchased second-hand. It bears the marks of loving family meals and activities. And it beautifully reflects Jeff and Natalie’s approach to family life and to stewarding financial and natural resources.
Sacrifices and trade-offs
The Van Gyssels’ project was about “give and take,” not about having it all. And it did not come without sacrifices. They refreshed but did not replace their kitchen cabinetry. They sacrificed their garage to create a large entryway into their home. Natalie vividly remembers the four months they spent in the twenty-five-foot trailer during renovations. The kids say it was the best summer ever! For Natalie, though, who works from her home ‘office,’ it was challenging. But she hopes that her sacrifices will encourage others to embark on their own adventure to create community.
The joyful vision
Jeff and Natalie are clear that they are not setting themselves up as a perfect model for others. God has given them a vision that reflects who they are and what they care about. They honour the individuality of others and how God works uniquely in each person and family. But they do hope that their journey inspires others to think creatively and communally.
For the Van Gyssels, building a multi-generational home was the way to achieve the things they value most. They created an inviting space for their young family that will adapt to its changing needs. They shared this beautiful resource by creating affordable rental units. They now share their home and create community with those who have rented space from them. They have built a home for themselves and others which stewards environmental resources. And they have found a way to joyfully love and serve their God at home.
If Jeff and Natalie’s home inspires you, contact us. We would love to discuss your project and help your dream become a reality!