|
It’s
the center of the household, the place
where we eat our meals, do our
homework, discuss our concerns, and
plan our vacations. Forget
the living room — most families
really come alive in the kitchen.
It’s no
surprise then, that the kitchen
is often top priority when a homeowner
decides to
remodel. What
is desirable in a functional,
practical kitchen? Homeowners
should look for
the following:
• a
good working exhaust fan
•
adequate water flow in the sink
•
solid, unstained floors in the cabinets
•
the cabinets themselves should be in good
condition with doors and drawers that
are easily functional
•
properly-running garbage disposal, that has
no excessive rusting
•
ground fault interrupter protection for all
countertop outlets
• no
leaks in the pipes beneath the
sink
• a
dishwasher that drains properly, doesn’t leak,
and is in good condition inside and out. |
So what’s
the difference between accessible housing
and universal design? Universal design
refers to the standard that aims to create homes
that can accommodate people of various
sizes, shapes and abilities. In addition to
the standards set in accessible housing, universal design
may include other aspects, such as
countertops of varying heights to accommodate cooks
of various stature or levers instead
of knobs on cabinets or doors (which are
easier to manipulate for someone with arthritis
or carpal tunnel).
Those considering building their dream home should
consider their own aging, and design a home
in which they can comfortably – and happily
– grow old. Can he imagine living on the
first floor alone? Is the floor plan such that
someone using a walker or wheelchair can
move easily? Is there room on the wall for grab
bars?
Sure, this may cost more up front, but it will be
considerably less costly than remodeling that "dream
home" to accommodate "real life." |
