Q&A with Hanna: Co-designing a Dream Home

At inhousing, we believe that the best homes are designed in partnership with the people who will live in them. For Hanna, who is about to return to her long-time neighbourhood, this collaborative approach has made all the difference. Hanna live in her previous home for 22 years, but as time passed, it became clear the house no longer met her needs. When inhousing identified the site for redevelopment, Hanna was fully involved in designing her new home from the start.

Hanna's feedback helped shape not only her new house but also how we design homes for others. We’d like to thank her for being an important part of this process. Below is a summary of Hanna’s interview with our Manager Property Development, Alistair Trethowan.

Alistair: Hi, I’m Alistair Trethowan, Manager Property Development for inhousing. Hanna, can you share what it was like during the initial consultation for your new home?

Hanna: Being so involved was incredible. It wasn’t just, “Here’s a house; move in.” I could give real input on accessibility features that would make life easier for me. It was brilliant to be part of the process.

Alistair: Accessibility was obviously key. What were some of your must-haves?

Hanna: Definitely the low and adjustable-height benches—those were vital. The bathroom was another big one. At my old place, the shower was hard to access, and the floor had a dip, which made transfers tricky and a bit scary. The changes we made in the new house, like a safe, level floor, have been life-changing.

Alistair: How involved did you feel in shaping the design?

Hanna: I was involved from start to finish. I even got to choose the bathroom tiles, kitchen cabinet colours, and other design elements. It was great to measure things like sink heights to make sure everything worked for me.

Alistair: You also suggested some clever ideas, like flush wardrobes.

Hanna: Yes! At my old place, there were wardrobe seals that made it hard to access the cupboards, so I asked for a fully flush design. It’s much easier now and something I’m proud to have helped influence.

Alistair: Were there any particular challenges?

Hanna: There are always challenges, but the team was great at working through them. For example, the garage was designed so I could drive straight in and use my car’s abbey loader comfortably.

Alistair: You chose to come back to this area after living here for 22 years. Why was that important?

Hanna: I know the area well and wanted to reconnect with neighbours. Plus, it’s closer to the city and my physio appointments. It’s home for me.