Page 41 - BusinessWest May 26, 2020
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 Colors such as gray translucent stain are appearing in more kitchens.
While the kitchen is becoming more of a gath- ering place and its form and function are chang- ing, Dave Lloyd, manager of Budget Cabinet, said every customer looking to remodel that space shares one objective: convenience.
“While new houses allow for bigger islands, we do a lot of remodeling projects where people are limited by the footprint of their house,” he said.
Whether incorporating an island or not, one trend that addresses convenience and improved function is what Lloyd called “drawers over doors.” Many cabi-
net designs offer wide and deep drawers to store bulky or heavy items. That way, instead of making someone reach overhead for heavy dishes in a cabinet, a waist- high drawer allows for easier access — which becomes more important as people age.
Aging in place also comes into play in bathroom design, said Lori Loughlin, manager at Frank Webb Home. These days, she noted, handheld shower heads are the choice of near- ly every bathroom renova-
tion. Also popular are shower fixtures that com- bine a handheld with a rainfall feature.
“We work with many people who want to age in place, so we stress that a handheld shower is more convenient to use and clean the shower stall,” she explained.
Converting old bathrooms to accommodate a lower-threshold shower for the aging or physi- cally challenged isn’t new, she added, but the styles are changing. “There are things we can do to make a shower safe and functional without it looking institutional. For example, there will be a seat and grab bars, but they are done with more
style, so the result looks more like a spa.” Aging in place also affects kitchen design, where islands are available in multiple levels,
with a lower level constructed to accommodate seniors or people in a wheelchair.
Because everyone is more aware of touch- ing surfaces, touchless bathroom faucets and a toilet that flushes by waving one’s hand over a
“We’re seeing less of a distinction between the kitchen and living area and more of a merger as the two morph into one space.
sensor are available as well. While once consid- ered gimmicky, sophisticated toilet seats that have a warmer built in, along with a bidet, are growing in interest. Loughlin noted that these more premium seats also contribute to aging- in-place considerations by allowing people who might otherwise need assistance to take care of themselves.
Such bathroom renovations might seem like an indulgence, Lloyd said, but the result is a space that provides easier access and conve- nience, again, allowing people to live in their homes longer.
During this boom time in home building and renovations, BusinessWest caught up with several professionals who shared what their customers are looking for in their kitchens and bathrooms — for both their present and future needs.
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