A NEW KITCHEN
It for appearance started a wheelchair-bound with of universal a simple request: occupant—without accessibility. Create The a kitchen designers the obvious design at
Crown Point Cabinetry in Claremont, N.H., responded with a traditional space that meets all requirements. A chaircompatible island is centered between wide aisles. Ovens and refrigerator drawers are set into lower cabinets. Onehand faucets and a pot filler at the rangetop are easier for everyone to use. Toe kicks are higher than usual; one area incorporates a storage drawer that opens and closes with a tap.
Double doors with no threshold open to a hidden laundry.
for practical reasons involving long-term costs and comfort. Before you add on or undertake a renovation, you should include another category in your design approach: functional use for yourself and others, now and in the future.
Universal Design (aka inclusive design or lifespan design) doesn’t require ADA compliance or the costs that come with that. Few people will need to use a wheelchair long-term, but all of us have temporary or permanent challenges. (And, given an aging population, resale value of more accessible houses is sure to rise.) Universal Design principles and guidelines are as intuitive as they are practical. Basically, Universal Design allows for flexibility, is easy to understand, communicates necessary information to the user, lowers the need for physical effort without fatigue, and offers a tolerance for error—minimizing hazards and also the consequences of any accidental or unintended action.
Universal Design benefits everyone, not only the disabled, but also children, short people, someone recuperating from surgery, the mom who can never find her reading glasses and an active grandpa with diminished hearing. A curb cut mandated for wheelchair use also makes life easier for bicycle riders, parents pushing strollers, and delivery guys with dollies. The same holds true inside the house; well-lit hallways and a landing spot for hot food just out of the microwave are safer for all. Old houses offer some Universal Design solutions of their own: Colonnades and pocket doors already provide wider access between rooms. Mid-century ranches, now historic, have rooms all on one floor.
If you are adding on or undertaking a major renovation, it just makes sense to consider accessibility in the design. Often the adaptation is almost imperceptible and adds little or nothing to renovation cost. A wish list might look like this: one entry to be at grade and protected from the elements; a seated kitchen workstation; knee space at sinks; use of dishwasher drawers and pullouts/pulldowns; lowered electrical switches; wider openings or doorways; minimal level changes; full bath on the main floor; wood blocking in walls for future grab bars; light sensors.
Because the kitchen is all about function—and holds potential hazards—it’s an important room to make more universally accessible. The kitchen should be on the main floor, without thresholds. Flooring should be slip-resistant and easy on the feet. Multiple countertop heights accommodate taller and shorter people as well as those who use a chair. Go beyond minimum clearances whenever possible. Find a designer with ADA training or an aging-in-place certification.