Renovation Tips from an Expert
Creating a home where your parents can safely age in place is an amazing gift to give them. I promise you that doing the work yourself will result in an incredible feeling of achievement. But, that doesn’t mean you won’t make some mistakes along the way…probably a lot of them. And, that’s okay. That’s why … Read more
Take a walk around your parent’s kitchen. Peek inside a few cabinets, look under the sink, and notice what’s on the countertop. Are you bombarded by clutter? If you are, then you have some work to do. A cluttered kitchen makes cooking and cleaning more difficult if your parent can’t find what they need. And, … Read more
I talk to experienced aging-in-place DIYers all of the time, and they always tell me the same thing – kitchen renovations are the most overwhelming part of their aging-in-place home upgrade. Even during a traditional kitchen renovation, there are countless design options and decisions to make. When you add in the aging-in-place requirements necessary to … Read more
Anyone who’s lived with a deep pantry knows the struggle of losing cans and boxes to the back of the cabinet, never to be seen again. Pull out pantries are a great addition to any kitchen. They let you see everything and keep it all within reach. For an aging-in-place kitchen, I consider pull out … Read more
Our eyes go through a lot of changes as we age. Yes, older adults are known for turning the font size on their phones way up and holding books at arm’s length. The real challenges that aged eyes face, though, is in seeing small details, color contrast and the distinction between light and dark. Our … Read more
Reducing the likelihood of a slip or fall is aging-in-place design 101. In the kitchen, this means doing away with appliances that cause an older adult to reach or bend over. And, this becomes even more important when we’re talking about reaching over a hot surface where a slip or fall can result in a … Read more
Believe it or not, it is possible to find aging-in-place kitchen flooring that’s safe, cost-effective and easy to install. Helping my clients find the right kitchen flooring material that checks all of these boxes is a big part of my job. If you’re a DIYer, however, and you don’t have a professional contractor by your … Read more
Making decisions that impact the potential safety and wellbeing of your loved one as they age in place isn’t easy. When I talk with DIYers planning an aging-in-place home renovation, the stress of choosing the safest products seems especially high in the kitchen – a potentially dangerous room in the home where slips, falls and … Read more
Designing any kitchen – especially an aging-in-place kitchen – can be an extremely overwhelming task. Before you start sketching, shopping and comparing color swatches, keep in mind that there are really only three primary goals for an aging-in-place kitchen. Reduce Pain Increase Comfort Create a Safe Environment As you work through your aging-in-place kitchen plans, … Read more
Kitchens and bathrooms are notorious danger zones, but with the right type of flooring products, they don’t have to be. Here are four products that can improve your safety and elevate your quality of life in these rooms.
When approaching an aging-in-place remodel, it’s important that all homeowners take a look at their environment and identify potential obstacles that could impact their daily life. One of those obstacles may be the type of faucets and sinks around the home. Kitchen and bathroom faucets provide a unique challenge for aging adults. Limited dexterity, worsening … Read more
From holidays to birthdays to special occasions to the everyday meals you make for the ones you love, the kitchen is where the heart blossoms and memories are made. Choosing to age in your home does not mean these traditions need to be tossed aside. The right countertops can bring a lot of added safety … Read more
The kitchen is typically one of the rooms in which you spend large amounts of time, whether it be creating a meal for one, or inviting family and friends to join you. When adapting a kitchen for aging in place, it’s important for the kitchen to retain that significance, so that you may keep alive … Read more