How do you create a home that will work with you through the various stages of life? Ergonomic and Universal design helps everyone transition from being young and agile to being a little older and more fragile!

1. WELCOME!!!
GOOD MORNING!
THANKS FOR COMING!!!

2. Designing to Stay:
Transitional is not just a
style choice
September 19, 2015
Terry Kenney - Presenter

3. Transitional design and Transitional living – to me they seem to go hand in hand.
You can’t really have one without the other in this day and age.
Transitional design is one that is between traditional and modern. It’s between heavily
ornamented and really sleek. Transitional design now provides cleaner and simpler lines
without a lot of fuss.
Transition is a, passage, or change from one position, state, stage, subject, or concept,
to another; Transition is in between two spots. Transition can be active as in a movement from one
place to another or it can be an adjective that describes how things are slowly changing.
Every Season has a transition – we are transitioning now from summer to fall. We transition
in life from infant to toddler, teenager to adult, and so on.
We transition in our jobs – promotions are transitions. Retirement is a transition.
Technology provides us with opportunities to transition from being uninformed to being over
Informed.
But, that same technology provides us with opportunities of comfort and safety as well

4. Manufacturers have been looking at ergonomics and ease of use for years.
Lever and cross handle faucets are just a small result of the ergonomic studies. Further in
the transition is the touchless and motion sense faucets.
Office furniture and chairs provide support and ease of use – while not transitional in
the sense we are talking today, it is still about ergonomics, universal design and accessibility.
Even the apps for our cell phones provide a larger icon if we can’t see the small icons!
Today we’ll talk about many things that we as designers already use to provide proper access
throughout the home – these options are kind of a common sense approach to living life now,
but with an eye towards the future for everyone.

8. BENEFITS TO TRANSITIONAL LIVING AND
DESIGNING TO STAY:
There are many benefits to living in familiar surroundings, for as
long as you are able.
There are psychological effects of being uprooted from your
community, neighbors, friends, and familiar rituals.
The majority of us will benefit from living in our homes
independently as long as steps are taken to make our homes safe,
low maintenance and more barrier-free.
There are many modification options that can be made to your
home that will make staying put possible, some are easier (ie less
expensive ) to achieve than others.

11. BEFORE STARTING ANY RENOVATION PROJECTS –
CONSIDER THE LOCATION AND OVERALL CONSTRUCTION
OF YOUR HOME!
• IS MY HOME IN A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT IS WALKABLE?
• DO I HAVE EASY AND CLOSE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE? SHOPPING?
• CAN YOU GET SAFELY AND SECURELY INTO AND OUT OF YOUR HOUSE?
• IS THERE AN ENTRANCE TO MY HOME THAT HAS ZERO STEPS?
• IS THE ENTRANCE WELL LIT?
• ARE THE HALLWAYS IN MY HOME WIDE ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE A WALKER OR WHEELCHAIR?
• IS THERE AN ACCESSIBLE PATH OF TRAVEL TO MY HOME?
• IS THE MAIN LIVING AREA ON A SINGLE STORY INCLUDING A FULL BATH?
• ARE THERE FEW OR NO STAIRS BETWEEN ROOMS?
• IS YOUR HOMES EXTERIOR AND LANDSCAPING LOW MAINTENANCE?

13. Some lower cost and relatively quick/easy changes:
-Toss out or secure all area rugs
-Arrange furniture to eliminate obstructions
-Put a seat near the entrance for package drop off and to take off your shoes
-Install a motion activated light at your homes entrance
-Add handrails to any stairs
-Install a faucet with lever handles or that is touchless
-Install better, brighter lighting everywhere, as we age we need up to 50% more light
than we used to
- Install larger easier to use cabinet pulls, interior and exterior door handles

14. Touchless
Kitchen
faucet

16. A 2015 Houzz survey found :
The two most popular rooms
in the home to remodel are
kitchen and baths

17. IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING A KITCHEN REMODEL AND WANT TO
INCLUDE SOME TRANSITIONAL LIVING FEATURES, HERE ARE
SOME SUGGESTIONS:
• INSTALLING OVENS WITH FRENCH DOORS OR A SIDE HINGED DOOR
• INSTALLING A MICROWAVE DRAWER BELOW THE COUNTER
• UNDERCOUNTER REFRIGERATOR/FREEZER DOORS OR DRAWERS
• SEATED WORK AREA AT ISLAND
• CABINET DRAWERS FOR DISHES
• PULLOUT STORAGE FOR POTS AND PANS AND OTHER HEAVY ITEMS
• WALL CABINETS LOWERED OR BROUGHT DOWN TO THE COUNTER
• REMOTE CONTROLLED HOOD/FAN
• REMOTE OR IPAD CONTROLLED WINDOW BLINDS, ALARM SYSTEMS & LIGHTING

18. French door ovens
Allow better access
To oven interior

19. Side hinged ovens make it easy for accessing the interior of the oven
Height of the oven off the floor adds ergonomic access to wheelchair

20. UNDER COUNTER ACCESS TO THE MICROWAVE = SAFETY AND EASE OF USE

21. Space under the sink allows for feet & knees to get closer – easy access for walker or wheel chair
Lower sink height makes it easy to pull a chair up and sit at the sink as well.

23. Refrigerator and Freezer
located under counter
is point of use and makes
sense for everyone who
needs to get in to the
refrigerator or freezer.

24. Under counter
refrigerators
are easy access
for everyone
of any age

27. Dishwasher drawers
Dish storage in drawers
Wall cabinets on the
counter with lift up &
out of the way doors.

28. Pullout pot &
pan storage

29. Pullout pot & pan storage

30. Pocket doors
below sink to
allow for
Wheelchair access

31. DRAWERS MAKE
CORNERS
MORE
ACCESSIBLE

32. Sliding cabinet
doors

33. Pull down for closets –
Easy access in the kids
room or the master closet

34. This pullout pantry makes accessing
pots and pans or bowls, canned
goods or pantry items like flour
and sugar so much easier and it’s
beautiful!

35. There are so many cabinet accessories that can enhance the storage capability of your
kitchen or your bathroom. Plus, there is such a positive effect on accessibility! The key
is to identify what makes the most sense for your needs.

36. Motorized doors and drawers – just touch or
push and….TAA DAA!

37. MOTORIZED LIFT FOR APPLIANCE STORAGE
ELIMINATES THE NEED TO LIFT HEAVY
APPLIANCES IN AND OUT OF CABINETS
JUST REMEMBER - THESE TYPES OF LIFTS
REQUIRE A GOOD
DEAL OF UP-FRONT PLANNING TO INSURE
THERE IS CLEARANCE.

38. MOTORIZED LIFT
FOR COFFEE MAKER AND
UTENSIL STORAGE

39. ANOTHER EXAMPLE
OF MOTORIZED
STORAGE SOLUTIONS

40. WHAT ABOUT DOORWAYS, HALLWAYS, STAIRS, AND ELEVATORS YOU ASK?
* INSTALL HANDRAILINGS ON BOTH SIDES OF ALL STAIRWAYS
* NEW CONSTRUCTION OF A MULTI-STORY HOMES COULD BE DONE TO ALLOW AN ELEVATOR TO
BE INSTALLED EITHER IMMEDIATELY OR IN THE FUTURE. HOWEVER, THE COST TO INSTALL AN
ELEVATOR CAN RANGE FROM $18,000 - $65,000 DEPENDING ON THE SIZE AND CONSTRUCTION
MODIFICATIONS NEEDED
• WHERE POSSIBLE, DOORWAYS CAN BE 36” WIDE - WIDENING EXISTING DOORWAYS CAN BE
CHALLENGING IF THERE IS EXISTING ELECTRICAL OR MECHANICAL SYSTEMS IN THE WALLS
AROUND THE DOORWAY, I.E. SWITCHES & DUCTWORK
* ENTRYWAYS SHOULD BE WELL LIT, WITH A PEEP HOLE VIEWER FOR SAFETY
A COVERED ENTRY IS PREFERABLE
* FOYER FLOORS SHOULD BE OF NON-SLIP MATERIALS AND FREE OF THROW RUGS
A SHELF OR BENCH IN THE FOYER FOR DEPOSITING PARCELS IS ALSO HELPFUL
* FLUSH THRESHOLDS ARE IDEAL BETWEEN ROOMS TO REDUCE TRIPPING HAZZARDS

41. IN THE BATHROOM:
• WHAT ABOUT WALK IN TUBS? WELL, THEY HAVE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES.
A WARM BATH CAN HELP RELIEVE MUSCLE PAIN AND INCREASE
BODY TEMPERATURE , AS WELL AS RELAX MUSCLES AND ALLOW YOU TO FALL ASLEEP MORE
EASILY.
ENTERING OR EXITING A BATHTUB ARE TIMES WHEN MANY MISHAPS CAN OCCUR.
WALK IN TUBS CAN INCLUDE JETS, HANDRAILS , ADJUSTABLE SHOWER HEADS AND INTUB
SEATING.
WALK-IN TUBS REQUIRE PROFESSIONAL INSTALLATION AND BECAUSE THEY ARE LARGE,
MIGHT REQUIRE A NEW WATER HEATER TO HANDLE THE WATER VOLUME.
ADDITIONALLY, WALK-IN TUBS CANNOT BE OPENED UNTIL THEY ARE BELOW THE DRAIN
LINE, SO YOU HAVE TO SIT IN THE TUB WHILE IT DRAINS –
BRRRR….
COST OF WALK-IN TUBS CAN RANGE FROM $2,500.00-$10,000.00

42. WALK-IN TUBS
THE BIGGEST DISADVANTAGE TO THESE TUBS IS THE WAITING TIME
FOR THEM TO FILL AND EMPTY. ALSO, THEY HAVE A CURB TO STEP
OVER IN ORDER TO ENTER THE TUB, WHICH CAN BE A HAZARD.
THE KOHLER RELEVANCE TUB ALLOWS THE BATHER TO SIT AS THEY
WOULD IN A STANDARD TUB WITH LEGS FULLY EXTENDED. BUT YOU
NEED TO BE ABLE TO STEP OVER THE LOWERED DOOR.

43. REPLACING A TUB WITH A WALK IN SHOWER IS BECOMING A MORE POPULAR OPTION. WALK
IN SHOWERS DO NOT LOOK LIKE THEY WERE INSTALLED FOR SOMEONE WITH MOBILITY
ISSUES - THEY APPEAL TO EVERYONE AND ARE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL ABILITY AND AGE LEVELS

45. WITH NEW SHOWER PAN SYSTEMS ALMOST ANY BATHROOM CAN HAVE A CURBLESS OR WALK-IN SHOWER
KOHLER HAS CREATED A NEW LINE OF DECORATIVE GRAB BARS FOR THE SHOWER THAT ARE
MORE LIKE A DECORATIVE SHELF.

46. Attractive grab bar
Designs –
If you don’t want to install
a grab bar when you are
remodeling, at least let
your contractor install the
backing in the shower/tub
area that will allow for the
future installation of that
grab bar without worrying
about where the studs are
in the wall.

47. TOUCHLESS or MOTION SENSE FAUCETS ARE ALSO
AVAILABLE FOR THE BATH WITH PRESET TEMPERATURE
TO AVOID SCALDING

48. REFRIGERATED
MEDICINE CABINET
BY ROBERN
FOR MAKEUP,
MEDICATION
OR JUST COOL DRINKING
WATER

49. CONSIDER NEW
AND BETTER
LIGHTING IN
SHOWERS, AS
WELL AS OTHER
AREAS OF THE
BATHROOM

50. ACCESSIBLE STORAGE
OPTIONS ARE ALSO
AVAILABLE FOR THE
BATHROOM OR DRESSING
ROOM.
SOME OF THESE CAN
INCLUDE PLUGS INSIDE
THE DRAWER OR PULL
OUT SO THERE ARE NO
CORDS ON THE
COUNTERTOP OR OPEN
PLUGS AT THE SINK.

52. COUNTERTOP STORAGE
WHERE HAIR DRYERS, ETC.
CAN STAY PLUGGED IN AND
EASILY HIDDEN BEHIND
A LIFT UP DOOR

53. A FLOATING VANITY THAT IS
OPEN BELOW HELPS TO MAKE
A SMALLER SPACE FEEL LARGER
AND PROVIDES A VERY CLEAN
LINE AND AN AESTHETICALLY
PLEASING SPACE – BUT, IT ALSO
MAKES ACCESS EASIER FOR
SOMEONE IN A WHEELCHAIR OR
WALKER!
BEAUTY AND FUNCTION – THAT’S
WHAT I’M TALKIN’ ABOUT!!!!


54. HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE LOST SOMETHING IN THE WAYBACK OF YOUR
SINK CABINET? I CAN’T BE THE ONLY ONE!! HERE WE HAVE USED
U-SHAPED DRAWERS THAT WORK AROUND PLUMBING GIVE ACCESS
TO OTHERWISE WASTED UNDER SINK STORAGE IN THE BATHROOM

55. In Conclusion:
Believe it or not, you have probably already started planning for your later years
without even realizing it –
The “nice to have” accessories in our kitchens or laundry room or bathroom will
eventually become the “need to have’s”!
There are many financial, physical and emotional benefits to remaining in our familiar
Surroundings as long as possible. I have already seen this first hand in my own family.
Fortunately, there are many options that provide both the flexibility and beauty that will allow
us to transition our lives within the space that we are most comfortable!
Our kitchen and our bath are the two most obvious areas that could require additional accommodations
but can also provide the most enjoyment in our homes.
As design and remodel professionals, we are here to help you navigate the changes to necessary for
YOUR transitional space.