A woman builds a shared household with her partner and adult daughter

Samantha Priestley and her partner moved into a four-bedroom Edwardian terrace house in the United Kingdom to live with her 30-year-old daughter.

The arrangement began in 2017 after the daughter returned home following her studies and the partner began staying over frequently. The three adults moved into the new home to establish a space of their own after the mother and daughter had already settled into a routine of living together.

The transition required several adjustments regarding household habits and personal space. The daughter had to account for three people's schedules in the bathroom, while the partner adapted to the tidy standards of the two women. Priestley also had to manage her time to ensure she did not leave either person out, such as maintaining her cooking routine with her daughter while creating a new weekend breakfast tradition with her partner.

To manage the friction of cohabitation, the trio prioritizes individual and separate time. The daughter and mother take vacations together three times a year, while the mother and partner go on date nights. The home includes private rooms and offices to ensure everyone has a space to retreat to. Priestley encouraged her partner to view the daughter as an adult roommate rather than a child, which helped the two develop a friendship.