An aging in place remodel changes a home’s layout and fixtures so a homeowner can keep living there safely for decades, without ever moving to a single-level condo or assisted living. In the Twin Cities, that usually means a main level primary suite, a curbless shower, wider hallways and doorways, and lever hardware, built into a design that still looks like the rest of the house rather than a hospital retrofit.
New Spaces sees this request most often from homeowners in their 50s through 70s who plan to stay in their South Metro or established Minneapolis and St. Paul neighborhoods for good. They are not remodeling because of a fall or a diagnosis. They are remodeling ahead of one, while they still get to choose the finishes, the layout and the timeline.
“The homeowners who plan this ahead of time get better design and a lower total cost than the ones who wait for a fall,” says New Spaces’ design-build team, which has completed accessible bathroom and main level projects across the South Metro with more than 40 years of experience serving Twin Cities homeowners.
What Counts as an Aging in Place Remodel?
An aging in place remodel is any renovation that removes a physical barrier to living safely at home as mobility, balance or vision change over time. The most common projects are a main level bedroom and full bath, a curbless or low-threshold shower, zero-step entries, and hallways and doorways widened to at least 36 inches for a walker or wheelchair.
It is different from a standard bathroom or main level remodel mainly in the details: blocking in the walls for future grab bars even if none are installed yet, comfort-height toilets, lever door handles instead of knobs, rocker light switches, and slip-resistant flooring that still reads as a design choice, not a medical fixture.
Which Universal Design Features Do Twin Cities Homeowners Add Most?
The features New Spaces installs most often are a curbless shower with a linear drain, a main level primary suite carved out of existing main floor square footage, and a no-step entry from the garage or a rebuilt front stoop. All three solve the two failure points that force a move: stairs and a bathroom that will not work with a walker or wheelchair.
| Feature | What it solves | Where it usually goes |
|---|---|---|
| Curbless shower, linear drain | No step to clear, no curb to trip on | Primary bath, main level guest bath |
| Main level primary suite | Removes the stairs from the daily routine | Converted den, main level addition, main level remodel |
| Zero-step entry | Wheelchair and walker access from outside | Garage entry, rebuilt front or side entry |
| 36-inch+ doorways and hallways | Wheelchair and walker clearance | Bedroom, bathroom and main hallway thresholds |
| Blocked-in walls for grab bars | Bars can be added later without opening walls again | Shower, tub and toilet zones |
Where Does an Aging in Place Remodel Fit in a Twin Cities Home?
It fits most naturally inside a main level remodel or a home addition, because that is where the square footage for a true main level primary suite already exists or can be added. New Spaces recently completed a main level ADA accessible bathroom remodel in a 2005-built Minneapolis condo, converting a standard tub-shower combo into a curbless shower with a bench and grab bar blocking, without changing the bathroom’s footprint or its finish quality.
Rambler and split-level homes across Burnsville, Lakeville and Eagan are the easiest starting point, since the main level already carries the primary living space. Two-story colonials in Edina, Minnetonka and the Mac-Groveland and Southwest Minneapolis neighborhoods take more planning, usually a main level addition or a converted main floor den, to get a full bedroom and bath onto the ground floor.
How Much Does an Aging in Place Remodel Cost in the Twin Cities?
A single bathroom converted to a curbless, accessible design typically runs from the same range as a standard primary bath remodel, since the added cost is mostly in the shower pan slope and drain, not in exotic materials. A full main level primary suite built from existing space, or added on, costs closer to a main level remodel or home addition, because it is carrying new framing, plumbing and electrical, not just a bathroom refresh. New Spaces gives an exact number after the Needs, Wants and Wishes discovery process and a fixed-price proposal, since the real cost driver is whether the suite is carved from existing square footage or built new.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an aging in place remodel need to look like a medical space?
No. A well designed curbless shower, comfort-height fixtures and wider doorways read as clean, modern design choices. Grab bar blocking sits inside the wall until it is needed, and lever hardware and rocker switches are common in non-accessible remodels too.
Can an aging in place remodel be done in phases?
Yes. Many New Spaces clients start with the primary bathroom, since it is the highest-risk room, and add the main level bedroom suite or the zero-step entry in a later phase. New Spaces’ Multi-Phase Loyalist clients do this often, keeping the same design team across phases for consistency.
What is the difference between aging in place and universal design?
Universal design is the broader principle: spaces that work for people of every age and ability, not built around one specific need. Aging in place is universal design applied specifically to a homeowner’s plan to stay in their current house long term.
New Spaces has completed aging in place and universal design projects across the South Metro and greater Twin Cities, including the main level remodels in Burnsville and Prior Lake and primary bathroom remodels in Eden Prairie and Minnetonka. Every project follows the same Needs, Wants and Wishes process and fixed-price commitment used on every New Spaces remodel. For general background on accessible home design, the AARP’s aging in place guide is a useful independent reference.
Homeowners planning ahead for the next decade in their South Metro or Twin Cities home can start with a Needs, Wants and Wishes conversation with New Spaces to see which features apply to their layout, and what a fixed-price plan looks like. Browse recent work in the project gallery, see the bathroom remodeling and basement remodeling service pages for related project scope, or contact New Spaces to start a conversation. Call (952) 898-5300 to talk through a project directly.