Making Your Home Work Better Now and Later
Austin interior designer Amity Worrel explores the reality of aging, and how preparation is everything.
Many accomplishments come down to planning and persistence
I am a planner.
I am a planner. I plan everything—trips, dinner parties, errands, even the route I take to work. Thinking ahead makes life feel more manageable, and at Amity Worrel & Co., we know that planning typically helps ensure a better outcome. A lot of what I’ve accomplished comes down to planning and persistence. Lately, I’ve found myself planning for a new, uncharted phase of life: aging in place.
The Value of Design for Longevity
I’m the youngest of nine, and at 55, I’ve watched my older siblings move into a new stage of life. Many are making thoughtful decisions about how and where they want to live, embracing design for longevity so their next chapter still feels entirely their own.
Life evolves, and our needs change—but being caught off guard isn’t inevitable. More people are choosing to stay in their homes longer, making strategic adjustments along the way. A little anxiety about the future often pushes us to take action, giving us options so we aren’t forced to compromise. As my siblings enter this phase, I realize I’ll hit it eventually too, and I want to plan for it now.
More and more, people are choosing to stay in their homes longer and make adjustments along the way.
Options don’t happen by accident
A little bit of anxiety about the future isn’t a bad thing. It often pushes us to take action. And that action is what gives us options and ensures we’re not forced to compromise.
As my siblings have been entering this new chapter in their lives, it’s made me acutely aware that I’m going to be hitting that phase eventually. And I want to plan for it now.
Age in Place in Style: Our Austin Design-Build Service
That mindset led to the next step for our firm. We’ve partnered with Texas Construction Company to launch Age in Place in Style. This premier Austin design-build service was created for homeowners who want to renovate thoughtfully for the years ahead.
At some point, most of us notice our home isn’t working the way it used to. It might be a space that feels harder to move through, or lighting that leaves a hallway feeling too dark at night. When this happens, some people immediately think about moving.
We don’t think that should be the default. You don’t need a different house; you just need your house to work better. Our accessible interior design approach focuses on living well in your current space.
When your home starts to feel off
At some point, most of us notice our home isn’t working the way it used to.
Nothing dramatic. Just small things.
A space that feels harder to move through. Lighting that isn’t doing you any favors, especially at night when a hallway feels darker than it should.
When these things start to happen, some people’s immediate response is to think about moving.
We don’t think that should be the default.
Most people don’t want a different house. They just want their house to work better.
The goal is to live well in the space you’re in. That often comes down to how your environment supports you day to day, not just how it looks.
Making Your Home Work Better Now and Later
Our work is about making changes that genuinely improve how you live. We improve flow so spaces are easier to navigate, rethink kitchens and bathrooms for daily function, and make adjustments now that prevent bigger issues later. All of this is done while ensuring the space still reflects your personal aesthetic.
The goal is to start future-proofing your home today, rather than scrambling to fix a problem under pressure. Our clients care about how their homes look and how they work, and they refuse to give up one for the other.
Whether you need it now or a few years from now, the goal is simple: stay in the home you love.
Frequently Asked Questions: Aging in Place
- What exactly does aging in place mean? Aging in place refers to safely and comfortably modifying your current home to accommodate your changing physical needs as you get older, allowing you to avoid moving to an assisted living facility.
- When is the best time to start future-proofing my home? The ideal time to start is before you actually require the modifications. Planning ahead allows you to seamlessly integrate accessible design elements into your home during routine renovations, rather than making stressful, reactive changes during a health crisis.
- Will accessible interior design make my home look clinical? Not at all! With our Age in Place in Style service, practical modifications—such as curbless showers, widened doorways, and enhanced lighting—are integrated beautifully. The goal is to enhance your home’s aesthetic while discreetly improving its safety and function.
Ready to start future-proofing your home? Contact Amity Worrel & Co. today to learn more about our Age in Place in Style Austin design-build service and schedule your initial consultation.
Amity Worrel
Amity Worrel is an award-winning interior designer based in Austin, Texas. She has worked on high-end interior design projects for tastemakers coast-to-coast. In 2008, Amity decided to bring her passion for personal design back to her hometown of Austin. Her spaces pull from timeless design concepts and are rooted in her principle of design for better living. Her work has been published in national and local publications, including The Wall Street Journal, House Beautiful, HGTV Magazine, Better Homes and Gardens, and Austin Home. In her free time, she loves perusing estate sales and diving into design history. Learn more about Amity.