Universal Design
- Simply stated it’s about how your home functions around the people that live there.
- It’s not just for seniors or people with handicaps, it’s for everyone. Think of it in terms of comfort and safety. It’s all about easy to use products that make your life convenient without forfeiting style.
- Universal design is about accessibility, wider doors, level walks, wider hallways, counters with better access heights, lever handles on fixtures, grab bars, non-slip surfaces, just to mention a few.
- Lights controlled by motion detectors help when carrying large bulky packages. Simply changing light bulbs from incandescent to compact florescent lamps can increase the lumens (light) and decrease your electric bill.
- Universal design is also environmentally friendly because you build a place that you will be able to live in for the rest of your life. Or if done right, universal design will add significantly to the resale value of your home. Planning ahead will allow you to adapt your home to your needs now, and not be caught off guard, during a crisis, when rash decisions can have an unhappy result.
- Better space planning and design can add features that are attractive and practical, saving time and money.
- The bathroom seems to be the most dangerous room in the house. Generally small and narrow, with slippery vinyl floors, poor lighting, low toilets, showers with high curbs or tubs with poor access. Sinks that are low and too narrow and, if in a wheelchair, unusable. Planning ahead and installing curb-less showers with removable or fold down seats, hand held showers, taller toilets with grab bars, wall mounted sinks and lever handles on fixtures, is a great start. Pressure balanced shower valves prevent scalding.
- A simple shower modification for your aging parents, higher or lower work stations in the kitchen for tall or short individuals, low open counter for wheelchair accessibility, movable counters, microwave at countertop height or lower, are just a few ideas.
- Planning and designing now is a good investment in your future, and will allow you to meet your retirement goals and objectives. It will allow you to remain in your home well into the future instead of going to the expensive retirement home sooner than you had planned, if at all.
See what our clients have to say-
“There were virtually no worries…”
“My husband and I were thrilled with our total kitchen remodel that included new hardwood floors throughout. John Drew takes the time to listen to you which shows in the plans he presented for our project. Once we had chosen everything and put our project in John’s hands, there were virtually no worries.”
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