KBB - February 2014 - 24

Universal Design

Hidden Treasures

Unknown accessibility opportunities in the kitchen and bath
Pictured is the home of Brian
McMillan, an architect who was
paralyzed in a motorcycle accident.
He designed and built his accessible
home and uses his expertise to work
with other architects and designers
on accessibility issues at www.
theaccessiblelife.com.
Photography by Dawn Conners
Photography, Olathe, Kan., www.
dawnconnersphotography.com.

The vast majority of your clients need accessible environments. This is the
result of a statistical perfect storm of simultaneous changes in demographics, lifestyles, healthcare legislation, disability codes and city community
planning. In addition, the consumer market that currently has the most
need for accessibility also has the greatest means, desire and plans to
spend their money on kitchen and bath remodels today.
But ask many a designer, architect, contractor or manufacturer, and
they will say that clients are just not calling for accessibility - even when
price is not an issue. Why is that? It's because most people associate
accessibility with ugly and institutional design.
The solution is to provide people with what they need and what they
want. Don't sacrifice beauty for function. By using any or all of the tips in
this article, you can create hidden accessibility opportunities - designs
that can work better for everyone with their current or future needs - but
isn't obvious. Even people in the most dramatic of situations don't want
a home that strips them of beauty, dignity and independence. Create
bathrooms and kitchens that make life easier and still meet the style and
budget of your client, and you will have those clients for life.
In this article, hidden accessibility is defined as what is accessible and
safe to the most members of the home - regardless of age, health, height,
weight, mobility or vision.

+
K BB

Universal design in this shower and bath area was accomplished through the
use of multiple grab bars, a zero-threshold shower and a double shower system
with a handheld and a fixed showerhead.

Counters
There is no perfect counter height for everyone, because not everyone
is the same size. The solution? Create work areas and storage units in the
kitchen and bath at different heights. Near the stove (induction is safest),
incorporate a heat-proof counter of the same height so heavy pots can
slide from the stovetop to the counter without having to be lifted. Add
flexible counter space with such tricks as hanging Murphy tables, rolling
kitchen carts that can be stored under a counter and open space under
the ends of counters.

Sinks
Don't fill the space under sinks with permanent cabinets. Instead,
be flexible with doors that fold in, open shelving, cabinets that can be
wheeled out to create additional workspace and curtains that cover

February 2014 / www.kbbonline.com / The Official Sponsor of KBIS www.kbis.com

http://www.theaccessiblelife.com http://www.theaccessiblelife.com http://www.dawnconnersphotography.com http://www.dawnconnersphotography.com http://www.kbbonline.com http://www.kbis.com

KBB - February 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of KBB - February 2014