Cleary Company: Design Build Remodel

Tag: living in place design

  • Planning a Bathroom Remodel for All

    Planning a Bathroom Remodel for All

    Designing and building with regards to Living in Place and using Universal Design principles means that the home is suitable for the needs of all the individuals aging independently as possible. As you look around your home, what jumps out at you? Are your living spaces functional for aging gracefully and safely for the rest of your life? Are there modifications and changes you need to make while keeping a beautiful aesthetic that functions for your family?

    The Cleary Company’s Remodel Design Build Team in the Columbus area has the experience and expertise to create a functional plan for your home to Live in Place. We have helped many families create spaces that are accessible and beautiful.

    Universal Design isn’t something most homeowners think about when building or remodeling a home, but it is something we discuss frequently with our clients. Living In Place or Universal Design, both used interchangeably, is simply defined as a home designed and built to be used and accessed easily by all people no matter their age, size, or abilities. This universal approach to design and construction is all about planning and details. What products, features, and space planning considerations need to be in place for the space to function for all?

    Living in Place design elements for the bathroom

    Your bathroom is your private sanctuary but it’s also the most heavily used space in your home. Spending time discussing all of the details needed for a safe and functional space is time and money well-spent! Our Design Team reviews and recommends the following to all our bathroom remodeling clients.

    • Zero-entry or low threshold shower wide enough to accommodate two adults (should a caregiver be necessary)
    • Handheld showerhead and moving the shower controls closer to the entry part of the shower
    • A shower seat that is movable (there are some gorgeous teak options available!) or one that is permanent and folds down
    • Faucets and plumbing fixtures with lever handles, anti-scald controls and pressure balances are preferred for ease of use as well as safety
    • Comfort height toilet preferably (with a bidet seat!) and if possible reposition the toilet to allow for wheelchair transfer
    • Grab bars in the shower and beside the toilet
    • Bathroom vanity style with a counter that is accessible for a wheelchair, a seat, or small children
    • Mirror placement that allows everyone to use it
    • Flooring throughout with slip-resistant qualities
    • Accessible storage – drawers and shelves at varying heights
    • Pocket or barn door entry
    • Lever-style door handles

    Additional changes to consider for all of the main living spaces

    While incorporating all of these updates can be extensive, they are the recommendations we routinely discuss with all of our clients.

    • Widening entryways and hallways to allow for walkers, wheelchairs or scooters
    • Opening up the floorplan for traffic flow and visibility
    • Using countertops of varying heights in the kitchen & as well as bathrooms
    • Moving switches and outlets for easier reach
    • Replacing carpet with hardwood, vinyl or tile flooring that is easier to navigate
    • Adding a bedroom/bathroom to the main floor if one doesn’t exist (or planning for a future need)
    • Limit or eliminate the steps needed to enter the home when possible

    Your entire home can be improved to allow for you or a family member to Live in Place regardless of age or ability. Beginning with your bathroom is a great place to start! Planning now for long-term function means you don’t have to scramble to do it when you really need it should an unexpected medical issue arise.

    Read more about Designing for Accessibility in Your Home on our blog!

    Universal Design Certified Professionals (UDCP)

    Laura Watson, ASID, UDCP – Design Manager
    Katie Florjancic, UDCP – Designer

    If you’re ready to discuss any Living in Place updates in your home please give us a call at 614-459-4000 or visit the contact page on our website to schedule a phone call with our Client Relations Coordinator.

  • Designing for Accessibility in Your Home Remodel

    Designing for Accessibility in Your Home Remodel

    There are many reasons why you may be ready for a remodel. Do your dated rooms feel old and tired? Does your home function for your current lifestyle? Or maybe you’d like to create a more accessible home to accommodate different life stages and abilities.

    Our Design-Build Team at The Cleary Company in Columbus, Ohio takes our remodeling designs seriously and wants to be sure they are accessible for all. We collaborate with our clients to create a design plan that considers these and other accessibility challenges in their home.

    3 Types of Accessibility Issues to Consider:

    • Visual — Use color to highlight or complement what is already visible but also ensure sufficient contrast. Paint door frames and doors a lighter color than the walls.
    • Motor/Mobility — Choose solid surface floors throughout like wood, tile or vinyl and minimize the number of transitions between materials. Eliminate or reduce the use of rugs or carpets. Wider hallways, doorways and traffic flow for accommodating wheelchairs, walkers, etc.
    • Auditory — Creating a more open concept floor plan allows for unobstructed sight lines for easier communication. The arrangement of the room can also make a significant difference for those who use lipreading or sign language. Circular or horseshoe seating layouts work best.

    Design Features to Consider:

    • Single story living
    • Limited steps inside and outside
    • Wider hallways and entryways
    • Open floor plans
    • Low maintenance exterior and landscape
    • Varying height countertops
    • Easy-to-reach work and storage areas in the kitchen and bathrooms
    • Walk-in or zero-entry showers

    Terminology used for Accessibility in Home Design

    Living in Place or Aging in Place — Both used interchangeably have become more popular as people want to stay in their homes longer. This means the home needs to be safe, healthy, and comfortable for everyone in the household, no matter their age or accessibility. Are there hazards, barriers, or floor plan issues that need to be rectified to create a design that all people can use, especially those with memory, cognitive or physical challenges?

    Universal Design — Sometimes used interchangeably with the previous two terms. This approach to home design is to meet the needs of everyone. Regardless of age, size, ability or accessibility, a design is created, understood, and used by everyone, as much as possible. Read more about Universal Design on our blog.

    An excellent example of such design exists right here in Columbus! This 3,500sf ranch home was built in 2009. It is not only the private residence of Rosemarie Rossetti, Ph.D and her husband, Mark Leder but also a one-of-a-kind national demonstration home called the Universal Design Living Laboratory. Our Team had the privilege of touring this amazing home in 2015. We appreciate our conversations with Rosemarie, whose personal work in Universal Design has been instrumental in educating home industry professionals.

    Universal Design Living Laboratory – 6141 Clark State Road, Columbus, Ohio 43230

    ADA Compliant — This term refers to actual code compliance rules included in the American Disabilities Act Standards for Accessible Design. An ADA-compliant home follows these codes entirely.

    Visit-ability — This one is interesting because it isn’t so much about who lives in the home, but who is visiting. How will they navigate throughout your home if they are wheelchair-bound or have other mobility issues?

    Areas to consider:

    • Entrances and exits of the home
    • Bathroom accessibility
    • Bedroom access for those who can’t use stairs
    • Hallways should be wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs or motorized scooters

    Adaptable Design — This realizes an important middle-ground area in the designing of homes, putting it somewhere between full accessibility and a home filled with accessibility challenges. Creating a remodeled home that can easily be adapted to accommodate changing needs can save money over time if it is thought of now.

    Are there products or design elements that can be put in place now, that can be used later? You may not want a walk-in shower now, but will it be needed down the road? Does the structure behind the walls need to allow for grab bars to be added beside a toilet or in a shower? Does the island have an area that is lower, allowing a wheelchair to be rolled up to it?

    NARI UDCP – Universal Design Certified Professional

    The Cleary Company Remodel-Design-Build in Columbus, Ohio is proud to have several Team members who’ve earned accreditation in Universal Design from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry!

    Laura Watson, ASID, UDCP – Design Manager
    Katie Florjancic, UDCP – Designer
    Emily Perebzak, UDCP – Designer
    Shannon Tannehill, UDCP – Design Consultant

    The UDCP program addresses the key concepts of Universal Design as applied to residential remodeling:

    • Conducting client needs assessments
    • Universal design applications used in residential remodeling
    • Construction techniques used to implement universal design to a remodeling project
    • Plumbing and electrical systems unique to universal design
    • Differences between model building codes and ones described in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

    No matter what accessibility, aging challenges or planning for the future you might be doing now — our Design Team is here to collaborate with you to create the vision you need for your home.

    Ready for a Home Remodel?

    Get started today by calling our Client Relations Coordinator @ 614-459-4000 or by visiting our website.