Kitchens
A. Counter Culture
Varied height counters are inclusive, but some people prefer to slide items from place to place. Another option: attach together cabinet, backsplash, and counter above a kick space with a removable drawer so you can one day lower the counter.
B. Light It Up
Use recessed LED or other energy-saving lights for task areas, pendants over islands, and under- and in-cabinet lights. Color temperature should be between 2,700 K and 3,000 K to look warm and natural. Lower rocker switches and raise plug heights.
C. Floor Them
Contrast floor and counter colors for those with poor eyesight. Floors should be level, have “rollability,” and be slip-resistant. Try rubber, quartzite, or unglazed ceramic tile. For wood, try Bona’s Traffic Anti-Slip finish or something finished with
Polyx oil.
D. Let the Sun Shine
Design to bring in as much natural light as possible. The ultimate
accessible window is motorized, but casement, sliding, and awning styles all have positive attributes with hardware installed to aid those with fine motor difficulties.
E. Handling It
Many manufacturers are making universally designed cabinets including those that can be removed to accommodate a wheelchair user. Use
easy-to-grasp handles; knobs may be difficult for those with arthritis or issues with fine motor skills.
A. Rack & Roll
Use the back side of cabinet doors to increase storage.
Pull-out racks make it easier to access stored items, and shelves made of Plexiglas or wire make it easier for anyone at any height to see what’s inside a cupboard.
B. No Troubled Waters
Retractable spray and pot filler faucets eliminate the need to lift heavy pans of water out of a sink. A
hot-water dispenser, which uses less energy than a 40-watt light bulb, can be used for sterilizing.
C. Open-Door Policy
A
side-hinged oven eliminates the need to reach across a hot oven door to remove food. Install the oven low enough for kids or those in a wheelchair; include a slide-out heat-proof shelf underneath for resting hot items.
D. What You See
A good rule of thumb is that 50% of a kitchen should be reachable from a seated position. A side-by-side refrigerator allows children and those in wheelchairs easy access to both refrigerated and frozen foods.
E. Lean on Me
Pull-out breadboards can be an easy way to “lower” a countertop and provide the flexibility of different counter heights. They also increase usable counter space without permanently affecting the floor plan or traffic flow.