How I carry grandson upstairs
STEPHEN and Rebecca Flash don’t have mobility problems at the moment, but decided to future-proof the home they love with a stylish lift.
It means they won’t have to move if the stairs eventually become too difficult.
Rebecca’s elderly, disabled mum has a lift in her home — but the couple wanted a smaller, much more elegant model.
The one they found is compact and quickly installed, as it is self-supporting, without the need for load-bearing walls or bulky hydraulics.
It is powered by a very quiet, self-contained drive system that is housed out of sight at the top of the lift. And it plugs into a standard domestic 13amp power socket, just like any other household appliance.
Made from structural polycarbonate, it has a contemporary look and feel and has been designed to blend into any room’s decor. The couple decided that the downstairs hall was the perfect location for the lift, and it travels upstairs to the landing area, utilising space previously occupied by an airing cupboard. Rebecca says: ‘It is a perfect capsule — totally reliable, discreet and with lots of clever safety features.
‘It’s so useful for transporting items such as luggage or laundry — and for safely carrying my new grandson upstairs.’
n SOME people are put off buying a stairlift because they think it will look out of place in their home. It’s true, early types were no oil painting. But today’s models are not only efficient and reliable, but unobtrusive and easy on the eye.
Most people buy a stairlift to stay in their own home. Manufacturers know this and put a great deal of thought and effort into how products look.
So rails are slim and strong, the seat, arms and footrest fold away and a palette of neutral colours is used. Many buyers are pleasantly surprised by how well their stairlift fits in.