Aging in Place…. Let’s grow & design a safe home environment
I recently had the wonderful opportunity to speak to my fellow colleagues on “Aging in Place.” It was a brunch & learn through ASID and Francis King graciously hosted us. It was empowering and scary for me at the same time for this was my first speaking event. Let’s just say it went amazing 😍. I was overjoyed with the positive feedback. We even had an ASID member join through Zoom from Brainerd.
This presentation just made me realize that maybe I should inform my readers about “Aging in Place”. No, it’s not what you think. We are all getting older daily. It’s about how can we incorporate function into our homes.
As a Certified Interior Designer & Certified Aging in Place Specialist, I want to design a safe home environment for you. It starts by me asking the questions & incorporating accessibility features into the design. These accessibility features could be placing the microwave at a height your children can use, maybe on the countertop. It could be incorporating a drop zone (a place to put your phones, paper, pens, pencils, mail, etc..) vertically into your redesigned kitchen space, instead of horizontally. I want to discuss ways to include “Aging in Place” into your home. So, you can stay there for many years to come. Let’s Begin…
TECHNOLOGY
Are you a tech savvy person? If you are not, don’t worry. Your home can be as technical as you want it to be. Here are some ways I would incorporate “Aging in Place”.
Appliances – a refrigerator that can provide you a grocery list.
Programming the lights – movie time, reading, entertaining, and when you are on vacation.
Window treatments – to be opened/closed with an app or programmed when you are away on vacation.
Motion sensor – Yes, we all know about motion sensor faucets. My clients that have this type of faucet will never go back. I would like to put in motion sensor lights in the bedrooms and bathrooms for I am stick of turning off these lights. It would save me time when we need to leave. How about a motion sensor door 😀? This door is perfect for a public restroom.
KITCHENS
If you are doing a remodel or a makeover, here are some ways to incorporate “Aging in Place” into your design.
Countertops – easy to clean.
Cabinetry Hardware – touch latch or pulls instead of knobs. Our hands vary in size and with larger hands it’s harder to use a knob to open a door.
Contrast between surface levels – when we age our eyesight changes. We do not notice low contrast anymore so if our countertop is close to the same color as our flooring, we might miss placing the item on the countertop and it will land on the flooring.
Incorporate lights – add lighting to the toe-kick for a nightlight & ambient, under wall cabinets to have light so you can accomplish the harder tasks (cutting/chopping items), and motion sensor lighting in corner base cabinets or wall cabinets with glass doors. That way you will always find what you are looking for quickly and easily.
Appliances – the French Door or Armoire Refrigerator (freezer mounted on the bottom), a microwave to be placed depending on the height of your family members, and a raised dishwasher.
Concealed Storage & Appliances – a corner cabinet that looks like a lazy-susan but has fixed half shelves instead to make storing pots/pans easier, incorporating your mixer into a base cabinet, and using a spice rack to store your vitamins & medicine.
CORNER CABINET WITH HALF FIXED SHELVESBATHROOMS
If you are doing a remodel or a makeover, here are some ways to incorporate “Aging in Place” into your design.
Cabinetry Hardware – touch latch or pulls instead of knobs. Again, our hands vary in size and with larger hands it’s harder to use a knob to open a door.
ADA Comfort Height Toilet – this toilet is wonderful because it’s the perfect height to get on/off with ease.
Using a balance bar (grab bar) for a towel rack – just make sure it’s reinforced.
Adding a bench in the shower – I love using this foldable teak shower chair. When you don’t need it, you can easily fold it up.
Adjustable hand-held shower – every family member will not be the same height. My husband is 6’0” & I am 5’4” and our younger children are around 4’4”. This would work great in our household because it would empower my children to not be afraid to use the shower. They would be in control of setting the height so it would not be blasting at the face but instead on their chest.
Slip resistance flooring – for the bathroom floor.
Smaller tiles for the shower floor – it’s the grout that prevents you from slipping. I used to be a LifeTime member and when it came to their shower area, they used 2x2 tile with grout to prevent you from slipping.
The above list is not inclusive. There is so much more I can talk about but, that’s not what CW Design is all about. I am here to solve your dilemma. To fix the thing that is broken and to make it function for your family & lifestyle.
If you are currently struggling with your kitchen remodel, bathroom remodel, countertop redo, trying to decide what colors to paint your home, or purchasing new furniture, it’s time to work with a professional. To take the heartache, struggle, and stress away and to bring love, joy, and function back into it.
CW Design was created to bring beautiful, functional, accessible design to your lifestyle. My design services are based on empowering and collaboration with you. I am here to listen and give you permission to like what you like. Making your home beautiful and functional is my passion.
CW Design – Rising together with you
