Two Spaces Combine to Become One Personalized Haven

Maris Grove, an Erickson Senior Living community in the Brandywine Valley of Pennsylvania, offers an innovative solution for those seeking unique, spacious living arrangements: combining two smaller residences into a single, expansive home. 

This creative approach caters to a variety of preferences and needs, from those desiring more room for entertaining or hobbies to individuals eager to move to the community when traditional floor plans are unavailable. 

These custom living spaces reflect the adaptability and personalized lifestyle that Maris Grove offers, ensuring that future residents find not only a home, but the perfect fit for their retirement aspirations.

Proactive planning

Tony and Jean Ameo, who moved to Maris Grove from The Villages in Florida in April 2024, were drawn to the community for a number of compelling reasons. 

"We wanted to be closer to family," Jean shares. "We have a daughter and her family in Kennett Square, Pa., and a son in Ohio." 

The couple had explored other retirement communities in the area, but they found Maris Grove to be the most appealing. "We liked the size of it and the fact that Erickson has a very good reputation," Tony says. 

But perhaps the greatest motivation for their move was ensuring their children would not have to make difficult decisions for them in the future.

"We thought it was time that we took care of ourselves as we got older," says Tony, pointing to the fact that Maris Grove is a continuing care retirement community. Should their health care needs change in the future, additional support will be available right on campus. 

"Although we had good doctors in Florida, it wasn't the same as what we saw here at Maris Grove," he adds. 

"It was important to us to relieve our children of the burden of making decisions if we weren't proactive about our future," Jean says.

Exceeding expectations

While still in Florida, the couple joined the Priority List to hold their place in line for the residence of their choice--a larger, corner unit. However, their sales counselor called to inform them about the availability of a new "combined" residence that offered everything they were looking for. 

When the two smaller units were merged together, it created a residence that boasted two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a large bump-out window, and a beautiful open kitchen with plenty of cabinet storage. 

"The apartment exceeded our expectations!" recalls Tony. "The bedrooms are down the hall, which creates some separation," adding to the home's appeal and comfort. 

Unexpected opportunity

Kate Dougherty was content living at Traditions at Longwood, a 55-plus community in Southern Chester County, Pa., but she and her late husband had joined Maris Grove's Priority List in 2015 with the intention of a future move. 

Like Tony and Jean, they wanted to be closer to their children and grandchildren, who live within 30 minutes of Maris Grove.

When the sales office called her with a potential residence that fit her needs and was more affordable than the larger units she was originally considering, she decided to take a look. 

"I was very open to moving when Maris Grove started calling me," Kate explains. "Everything I looked at before wasn't right for me, but when this new concept came up, it intrigued me."

She ended up reserving the custom "combination" two-bedroom, two-bath residence.

Elegant home upgrades

But it underwent significant upgrades to transform it into a space that perfectly suits her lifestyle. She chose luxury vinyl flooring throughout and upgraded the kitchen with a tile backsplash, under-cabinet lighting, and raised cabinets extending to the ceiling. 

Other features that add to the charm of her new home include custom closets and crown molding in the hallway, kitchen, and living and dining areas. 

The bathrooms received substantial upgrades as well, with recessed lighting and floor-to-ceiling tile showers complete with pull-down showerheads. 

"Working with the design center at Maris Grove was a fantastic experience," Kate says, mentioning Becky and Michele, two team members who played significant roles in making her vision come to life. 

Despite the extensive renovations, the residence was move-in ready by March 2024, perfectly timed for her to return from her annual Florida visit. "My house sold the day I put it on the market, and we settled on April 30. I took my keys on May 15," she recalls.

More outside your door

Now comfortably settled, Kate enjoys hosting friends and family in her spacious home. In fact, she invited a group of 12 friends from Traditions at Longwood over for a game of Bunco. 

"It's big enough to have a group here," she says. 

With a seamless move, detailed upgrades, and a vibrant social life, her new home at Maris Grove is more than just a place to live--it's a perfect fit for her new chapter.

To learn more about finding the perfect home, request your free brochure to get the scoop on amenities, floor plans, and so much more.