Vancouver Sun

FRIENDLY HOME

Designing for accessibil­ity

- CHANTAL EUSTACE

Smart home edits and simple solutions mean you don't have to sacrifice design for function in order to make your home more accessible right now and for the future.

“I love transformi­ng spaces to make them more functional but also more beautiful,” says Brandy Kawulka of Wood Be Art Renovation­s in New Westminste­r.

This includes making a home more accessible for someone with mobility concerns, as well as changes so a homeowner can age in place with comfort.

“To be able to function in your own space, just as you always have — maybe just in a slightly different manner,” Kawulka says. “I think that's a really important thing.”

Even if you're not ready to implement a structural change quite yet, consider planning around it if you're already doing a renovation.

That way, you won't have to invest in renovating twice. “Good planning never goes wrong, like good manners,” she says.

For instance, you could factor in space for an elevator or personal lift. Or expand the width of door frames throughout a home to create a more open feel while making an interior much easier to navigate for someone with a walker or a wheelchair.

When choosing new flooring, she says, look for anti-slip surfaces to make rooms such as bathrooms and kitchens safer for everyone.

There are ways to improve accessibil­ity just by reorganizi­ng, she notes, and removing extra furniture and clutter. She also recommends removing area rugs since they can be tripping hazards.

“Move things that might be an obstructio­n,” Kawulka says.

And if possible, she recommends creating a living situation where you can access key areas of the home on one floor, including the bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom.

In the kitchen, swap shelves for pullout drawers that are more user-friendly, she notes, along with lower countertop­s.

And consider moving things like dishes to a lower level where they're easily accessed and tucking items you rarely use out of the way.

“It comes down to rearrangin­g how you can populate your space,” Kawulka says.

Install easy-to-use D-shaped drawer-pulls or handles on kitchen and bathroom cupboards.

Also, in your sink, consider adding touchless faucets or lever handles instead of twist options since they're better for people who might have grip issues.

Plan a bathroom layout with ample room around a toilet to allow for greater accessibil­ity and movement.

Kit out your bathroom with contempora­ry-looking grab bars in key locations for safety, like beside the toilet and in the shower. Or if you're not ready for these just yet, Kawulka says, ensure your walls have sufficient backing now so that you can add these without fuss in the future.

Replace your bathtub for one with a built-in seat. She also recommends installing a transfer bench, where a person can more easily sit and lift one leg at a time into a tub.

Or replace your bathtub with a walk-in shower and attach discreet flip-down seats to the wall without taking up too much space.

And Kawulka adds, brighter lighting is a must.

“As we age, our eyes get worse,” she says. “Make sure you have appropriat­e lighting so you can see what you're doing.”

Finally, says Kawulka, consider replacing twist doorknobs throughout your home with easyto-grip levers.

Even minimal changes can significan­tly impact someone's experience in a home, whether it's for themselves, a loved one, or a guest.

“Your home is your sanctuary,” Kawulka says. “We want people to feel welcome and included.”

 ?? ??
 ?? ?? New Westminste­r renovator Brandy Kawulka suggests replacing shelves with pullout drawers in the kitchen to make it easier to access items, including appliances and other things people use more often.
New Westminste­r renovator Brandy Kawulka suggests replacing shelves with pullout drawers in the kitchen to make it easier to access items, including appliances and other things people use more often.
 ?? ?? Drawer dividers are a simple example of a way to improve accessibil­ity and function just by reorganizi­ng what you have.
Drawer dividers are a simple example of a way to improve accessibil­ity and function just by reorganizi­ng what you have.
 ?? ?? There are many ways to make a bathroom safe without sacrificin­g style, including grab bars.
There are many ways to make a bathroom safe without sacrificin­g style, including grab bars.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Canada