Our home has become our sanctuary, not just a shelter to protect us from the elements. It is a place that can nurture, heal, support and inspire occupants. With thoughtful universal design features and material selections, a home can do all of that and more – through all stages of life.
Above photo: In this accessible and attractive bathroom, Molly Erin McCabe incorporated Dura Supreme vanities (one with a roll-up Decolav sink), single-lever Graff faucets and decorative grab bars from HealthCraft and Moen. Photo credit: Tammy Dwight Photography
As the adoption of biophilic design has shown, our physical and mental well-being are directly impacted by our physical environment(s). To that end, it is important for designers to create remodel and new construction project designsthat deliver intrinsic value via UD – regardless of the age and/or health of their clients. You never know when you are going to need a grab bar, zero-threshold shower or bidet-style toilet … no one plans to have an accident or serious medical issue.
When one experiences a home where UD principals have been incorporated, they are likely to feel a sense of peace and belonging. Occupants don’t instinctively know that the doorways are 36 inches wide, but they do sense that the home is easy to use and navigate, which subtly imbues a welcoming feeling. Including human-centric lighting, accessible storage in kitchens and/or bathrooms with intuitive easy of use and attractive finishes is at the heart of good design, not just UD. When done properly, the design features and materials are an integral part of the whole, blending in seamlessly, providing safety and support hidden in plain sight.
Designing for Access & Aesthetics
To avoid an institutional look when designing and specifying materials for universal design projects, the goal is to focus on comfort, ease of use and natural high-quality materials such as textiles, leather, wood and stone with low-sheen or matte finishes.
- Stylish, coordinated, decorative hardware for bathrooms, cabinetry and doors allows seamless integration of grab bars, lever handles and more. A beautiful example is the exquisitely designed Life Valet’s Vibe Grab Bar. The ability to inlay wall and/or shower surround finishes into the Vibe grab bar means your only limitation for creating a beautiful space is your imagination.
- Specifying real wood handrails or lever door handles offers beauty and warmth to the space and user.
- Incorporating high-contrast, colorful materials is great for wayfinding and creating visual interest in any space.
- In kitchens and bathrooms, using pull-out convenience hardware allows seated and standing users equal access by bringing the content of the cabinets into easy reach for all users.
- Stylish, knurled D-pull cabinet hardware can enhance one’s grip when opening cabinet drawers and doors.
- A shampoo shelf by Invisia that doubles as a grab bar is perfect for providing stability and function, especially if the long wall of a shower is on the homes’ exterior wall where installing a shampoo niche should be avoided.
- Fully assembled, out-of-the-box bidet toilets ensure full functionality for all users, without exposed power/water supply lines.
- Thoughtfully located appliances such as wall ovens with side-hinged doors and microwave drawers can make access safer and easier for users of all abilities.
The importance of incorporating high-durability, low-maintenance products cannot be overemphasized when designing attractive accessible spaces.
- Mobility assistive devices can dent and scuff millwork, door frames and walls. To maximize ease of cleaning and repair, specify paint-grade or stainable real wood for millwork rather than MDF – and specify a wood hardener for extra protection. Additionally, washable paints and non-vinyl wallpapers along with flooring materials such as tile, linoleum and solid hardwood floors with an oil finish (which can be spot-refinished), are good durable choices and available in a wide variety of attractive styles, colors and finishes.
- Lack of mobility, body strength or impaired vision can impact one’s ability to clean their home. By choosing durable, low-maintenance, engineered stone countertops, skirted toilets and LED lighting, a designer can reduce repair and maintenance requirements for the client, and the project will likely look beautiful for years to come.
When designers choose to integrate UD principles and materials into a space, the outcome will be projects that will function for all, with a sense of beauty all their own.
