Life, Styled
Accessible and Universal Homes are sweeping the home design industry! People are catching on to the IMMENSE VALUE of a home designed to make life easier. With all the challenges that life brings, the way you live in your home doesn’t have to be one. The techniques of Accessible and Universal Design can create greater ease and comfort right into your daily life before potential challenges become an issue.
Jenny Pippin of Pippin Home Designs learned the value of these remarkable forms of design firsthand while beginning her career in the 80s. In a nearly fatal car accident, Jenny’s back was broken, and she required a whole body cast for four months. She quickly learned her home did not accommodate a person with physical disabilities. Her bedroom required passage through a narrow hallway with a sharp 90-degree turn, which prevented a stretcher from gaining access to her bed. She was forced to rent a hospital bed and place it in the living room. Once she healed from the body cast, she found her kitchen cabinets were too high to reach without pain, bending over to unload the dishwasher was a struggle, and her bathroom was too tricky to navigate while wearing a back brace.
This experience inspired her to incorporate accessibility into each of her home designs, finding creative and beautiful solutions to potential future challenges and inevitable life changes.
Physical abilities can shift abruptly, as in the case of Jenny’s accident, but they also shift gradually in the continuous process of aging.
Things to consider for your home when planning for the future:
- Are you planning to retire and age in place in your home?
- Will your home still function for you when you retire?
- What if you suddenly require a wheelchair, crutches, walker, or body cast?
- What if one of your loved ones experiences any of these challenges?
- Will they be able to visit you?
What is Accessible Design?
Accessibility in home design is a term coined in 1990 with the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Accessible Design intends to meet the functional limitations of people with disabilities and other physical challenges, be they short-term or permanent.
Statistics on the disabled:
Data collected in 2018 by the CDC showed that 61 million adults in the United States live with some form of disability. That’s 26% of the population or 1 in 4 adults. Another statistic shows that 2.8 million kids aged 5-15 also have a disability. What these numbers show is the likelihood that we are all living with the need to accommodate someone with limitations in life.
What is Universal Design?
Universal Design is a broader concept using techniques that take into consideration EVERY possible challenge and limitation in life. A Universal Home is designed with spaces and products that are readily usable by all people; healthy and ill, able-bodied and physically challenged, young and old, tall and short, male, female, and everything in between.
Universal Design is inclusive design!
Regardless of individual abilities or circumstances, Universal Design empowers homeowners and their visitors to carry out routine household activities with ease and without the need for adaptation.
Concepts of Accessible and Universal Design:
Equitable Use:
These homes consider people with diverse abilities. They are designed to be accessible, appealing, and accommodating of all people at all ages.
Intuitive Appliances:
Intuitive and straightforward appliances include right- and left-handed usability, easy-to-use fixtures, low physical effort required for operation, minimized hazards, appropriate space for approach and use, and located at proper heights for the intended users.
Solutions to Aging:
Design solutions to many common aging challenges can extend your quality of life far into the future.
Visitability:
Design plays a big role in how comfortable others feel in your home. Homeowners may not initially believe their home needs to be accessible; however, visiting family and friends with additional needs should be considered.
Beauty and Function Unite
A functional home is a beautiful home. Skilled Residential Design Specialists and Interior Designers can create stunningly gorgeous accessible homes that enhance aesthetics with intelligent design.
There are countless creative aspects to Accessible and Universal Design. The following are a few of the most popular:
Modified Appliances
Simple modifications to appliances can turn a mediocre kitchen into a showpiece. Cooktops with front-mounted controls eliminate the need to reach over a hot burner to adjust the heat. Raised dishwashers, washers, or dryers minimize the need to bend over. Refrigerators, freezers, and dishwashers with drawers, as opposed to traditional doors, provide easier access to the items inside.
Modified Cabinets
Drawers, as opposed to traditional cabinets, eliminate the need to bend down and dig through to find items. Touch latch cabinets are easy to open without the need for grasping.
Kitchen Countertop Adjustments
Modifications to countertop heights, making them slightly taller or lower to accommodate the height of inhabitants, is a simple adjustment that significantly enhances the usability of a kitchen. A seated prep work area in the kitchen can provide comfort for anyone who doesn’t want to be on their feet for long periods while cooking. Rounded corners and countertops reduce the incidence of bumps and bruises.
Bathroom Shower Modifications
Curbless showers eliminate the need to step over a threshold, making wheelchair or walker accessibility beautiful and straightforward. Single shower handle valves are easy to turn on and adjust the temperature. Shower and bathtub valves can be intentionally designed at heights appropriate for the specific occupants of the home.
Bathroom Sink Modifications
A roll under sink that can be accented with cabinet doors is a beautiful and functional option for making a bathroom wheelchair accessible. Raised vanities reduce the amount of bending necessary to use the sink. Wall-mounted vanities open up more floor space and can also be more accessible for people with wheelchairs.
Cost of Accessibility
Accessible and Universal homes are NOT necessarily more expensive than standard homes; they’re just smarter! Many elements are simply about placement or product selection. Incorporating these forms of intelligent design increases the value of your home and offers long-term cost savings.
Incorporating elements of ease into the plans for your home before it’s built is the best option for long-term comfort and usability. However, if you’re renovating your current home into your forever home, working with a skilled and forward-thinking designer can help you make wise decisions for the best ways to ease into your long-term homelife.
Will kitchen islands go out of style? The answer is no. The kitchen island is often the focal point in the kitchen and one of the most sought-after features in a kitchen renovation; in fact, it is one of the most versatile areas in the kitchen. Need a place to do some homework? How about a family dinner or brunch? Looking for a surface where you can spread out when cooking? Some extra storage for large pots and mixers would be nice, too. All of this and more can be accomplished with a kitchen island; some might even call it a mini kitchen within the kitchen. This flexible workstation can be created to reflect any style, accommodate any size, and suit any need. Today, we want to answer some common questions about the kitchen island, explore the benefits, and explain why it will never go out of style.
As the COVID-19 pandemic slowly comes to an end, you may be ready to update your home and make a few changes. Perhaps being stuck inside during lockdowns gave you time to identify areas that needed cleaning, upgrading, or other home improvements. If you want to start rebuilding your house but aren’t sure how to get started, see how these tips can help, brought to you courtesy of Greenbrook Design.
Walker Woodworking When space is limited, it is valuable and greater thought is invested in creating a design that maximizes square footage to provide a functional space for the homeowner. Both manufacturers and designers alike are continuously thinking of new ways to give their clients the things they need, but using less space. One such item is the Murphy bed, yes, the one used in multiple comedy routines, but it has evolved into a stylish piece, yet remains as functional as ever. It is also comparable in price point to a traditional bed. Could the Murphy bed be the solution to your limited space problem? Let’s unpack exactly what it is and how it can help give you additional room in your home.
Walker Woodworking What to do when you don’t have the luxury of square footage? How can you create storage when there is not a lot of room, to begin with? Can you make small spaces work for you? These are good questions that we have helped our clients answer numerous times. While it may present more challenges than a larger home, it is possible to have the necessary storage for you to keep everything you need on hand. Small is not bad; in fact, it comes with multiple benefits, and a good design can help you maximize the space you do have to build a home that is exactly right for you. Let’s talk about some creative storage solutions for small spaces.
Walker Woodworking We always say details matter, and that goes beyond a project. Your home is filled with details that tell your guests who you are and what matters to you. Artwork, pottery pieces, and furniture are just a few things that give homeowners a chance to show off their style. Another area is hosting, and tablescapes have become a beautiful, fun way to share your own unique design choices with family and friends. Whether it is for a small gathering to enjoy time with those you love or to celebrate a special occasion, there are many ways to create the perfect look. By combining different colors, patterns, or materials, you can create a tablescape that will dazzle your guests, whether you prefer an elaborate or simple design.
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