One Home. Two Households. Built to Keep Families Together.
Kainos Construction designs and builds multigenerational homes across Central Iowa — fully custom layouts with separate living spaces, private entrances, and shared areas built for the way your specific family actually wants to live.
Multigenerational living isn’t a compromise — it’s a decision. The homes that work long-term are the ones designed for it from the start, not retrofitted after the fact. We build for the full picture: privacy when you need it, connection when you want it.
Families Who Want to Stay Close Without Losing Independence
Multigenerational homes aren’t one thing. They mean something different to every family. Some are building for aging parents who need proximity but not full-time care. Some are young families who want grandparents involved in daily life. Some are adult children who moved back and need a real living situation, not a finished basement.
The common thread is this: two households, one property, designed so both can function independently — and come together as much or as little as the family wants.
Because every family’s definition is different, every multigenerational home we build starts with a conversation about how you actually live, not a floor plan we’ve already drawn.
Built Around How Your Family Lives — Not a Template
There’s no single multigenerational floor plan. Here are the design approaches we use most often — and what each one is suited for.
Attached In-Law Suite
A fully self-contained living space connected to the main home — private entrance, bedroom, bathroom, kitchenette, and living area. Close enough to check in easily. Separate enough for genuine independence.
Dual Primary Suites
Two full primary bedroom suites on separate levels or opposite ends of the home. Shared common areas with distinct private retreats. Works well for two generations who want to share a home without sharing a hallway.
Detached Accessory Dwelling
A separate structure on the same property — its own foundation, utilities, and living space. Maximum privacy, same land. Ideal when both households want true separation with the benefit of proximity.
Universal Design & Aging in Place
Wider doorways, zero-threshold entries, roll-in showers, accessible kitchens, and thoughtful layout planning for mobility needs now and in the future. Built to adapt as the family’s needs change over time.
You Can’t Adapt a Standard Floor Plan for This
Production builders offer multigenerational options. What they actually offer is a standard floor plan with a bedroom and bathroom added near the garage. That’s not a multigenerational home — it’s an afterthought.
A real multigenerational home requires thinking through entrances, soundproofing, utility separation, shared vs. private outdoor space, how the kitchen situation works, and a dozen other decisions that only matter once someone is actually living there.
We work through all of that before anything is drawn. The result is a home that functions the way you need it to — now, and ten years from now.
Talk About Your BuildCustom Home Building Across Central Iowa
We build throughout the Des Moines metro and accept custom home projects across Central Iowa. Primary service areas include Ankeny, Urbandale, West Des Moines, Clive, Bondurant, Altoona, Polk City, and Des Moines.
See All Service AreasWhat Families Ask Before They Build
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Do we need a larger lot to build a multigenerational home?
Not necessarily. Attached suites and dual-primary layouts work on standard residential lots. Detached accessory dwellings require more space and are subject to local zoning rules. We evaluate your site and municipality requirements early in the planning process so you know what’s possible before you commit to a design direction.
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Can the in-law suite have its own entrance and utilities?
Yes. We design suites with private exterior entrances as standard. Utility separation — separate meters, HVAC zones, laundry — is a design decision we work through with you early on. Full utility separation adds cost but gives both households genuine independence.
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What universal design features do you typically include?
Common aging-in-place features include zero-threshold entries, wider doorways (32″ minimum), roll-in or walk-in showers with grab bar blocking, lever door handles, single-level living options, and accessible kitchen layouts. We design for current needs and future adaptability — so the home works now and doesn’t require a major remodel in ten years.
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How much more does a multigenerational home cost than a standard custom build?
The cost depends on the scope of the secondary suite — a kitchenette and bathroom addition costs far less than a fully detached dwelling. What we can say is that building multigenerational from the start is significantly less expensive than adding a suite later. We build a full budget before any work begins so you can make that decision with real numbers in hand.
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Can a multigenerational home be used as a rental later?
Many multigenerational homes are designed with future flexibility in mind. If that’s a goal, we factor it into the design from the start — separate entrance, utility metering, and layout decisions that make rental use practical. Local zoning determines what’s permitted, and we research that as part of the site evaluation.