Designing A Space For The Ones You Love

Contributed by Barb Cook, Interior Designer & The Hive Overland Park Member

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As women in the middle-stage, we often find ourselves caught between two generations; our young adult children and our parents.   As we watch our parents age, we might question “How can we create a safe place for them and ourselves in our homes without sacrificing style?” I have found over the years, that no one likes to talk about aging, but in reality, life happens; an accident, a disease and then of course the reality that we too are aging. It’s a fact of life. How we approach living in a safe and comfortable design that takes into consideration your unique design aesthetic may seem overwhelming.  After all, we really don’t want to create in a cold, institutional setting. You may have heard the terms Universal Design, Aging in Place or CAPS. As society has aged, many architects, designers, builders and occupational therapists have embraced this trend and incorporated CAPS (Certified Aging in Place) certification and training as part of their toolbox.  I refer to this as smart design, because I think it is smart to incorporate these principals into my practice and the reason, I became certified. It is critical when designing a space for the ones you love.

When approaching a design for anyone, I would incorporate these principals for clients of all ages. Including these ideas into your design plan can be completed by the homeowner if they are handy, or can be done by professionals. I have used many aging in place principles into my own home as we have updated spaces, and they came in quite useful when my husband had unexpected foot surgery and was non-weight bearing for 6 weeks. He was able to move about the house without any obstacles to prevent him from completing the everyday tasks we take for granted.   

To begin, take a walk through your home paying close attention to anything that might cause a problem for anyone with mobility or diminished eyesight issues.   Remove any trip hazards like floor rugs that may move or bunch up. Create clear walk ways so someone can easily maneuver throughout the room, and add lighting that will illuminate the space where it’s needed. Consider installing lever door knobs for anyone with arthritis in place of the traditional doorknobs. They are easier to operate and open doors when your hands are full. In addition, the choice of color can be critical. Because of changes in the rods and cones of our eyes, as we age, we do not see the color blue as well and we have more difficulty seeing the transition from walls to floor when there is low light and little contrast.

BATHROOM:

When people think of the bathroom, no matter the ability, they want to feel luxury.  When designing bathroom spaces, the right flooring is a major consideration. When using natural stones and travertines, although a polished surface can be beautiful, they can be very slippery when wet. A great option is a brushed surface on the stone. If you are looking at a mosaic tile floor in the shower, the increased number of grout lines that create the beautiful pattern is less slippery. All tile is rated with a DCOF (dynamic coefficient of friction) - the measurement of the force necessary to keep a surface already in motion sliding over another surface, and is likened to the frictional forces a person experiences when walking.   A DCOF rating of <.42 is recommended in any areas that may be wet.  If you don’t see it marked on the label, ask your designer to get the information for you so you can ensure that the bathroom floor won't be too slippery.  

In addition, comfort height toilets have replaced “handicapped” toilets. Zero entry or a shower entrance with a lower threshold and a built-in shower seat make showering safer. There are also very small ramps that can be place at the shower entrance if needed. A hand-held shower head that is mounted on an adjustable bar and can also be stationary, with controls that can be accessed from outside the shower, is also a great addition. An added bonus is that the hand-held shower wand makes cleaning the shower effortless!

Grab bars that have style, not the institutional type you see in commercial applications, are now available for home use and lever handle faucets are easier to operate for anyone with hand-use issues. 

KITCHEN:

In the kitchen, keep countertops a light color to be able to see items that are placed there. Incorporate under-cabinet lighting to illuminate countertop surfaces.  If someone needs to sit to do food prep or other kitchen tasks, an area with a lower counter may be in order. Microwaves placed as a lower cabinet allow someone seated to access and operate them more easily.

There is also interior cabinet shelving that can be pulled down to the countertop level to allow a seated person access to items stored in the upper cabinets. Lower cabinet pull-out shelving also adds to improved functional use. Use lever handles and cup pulls on all cabinet doors and drawers for easier grasp.

GENERAL HOME:

If you are building a new home, talk to your builder/architect about framing interior doors for a 36” minimum opening which will allow a wheel chair to pass through and stacking closets to allow for an elevator to be installed at a future time if needed.  Installing pocket or sliding doors are also a good option. Installing rocker light switches at 36 inches to allow easier access.

Outside ramps can be incorporated into the landscape to allow for the elimination of steps and create a zero entry to your home.

Hopefully the included design principles will give you a head start, but there are many other options and considerations to take into account when designing for accessibility that won’t make you compromise your personal design aesthetic. My wish is that this gives you inspiration, and a begins a vision to move you toward a safe space for the one you love.