Tag Archives: aging in place kitchens

Our July 24 #KBtribechat Topic – Designing for Living In Place

A design discussion

Sponsored and Hosted by Rev-A-Shelf

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The discussion questions:

Q1. How many of you are currently designing with Living In Place in mind? Share a few of your favorite designs!

Q2. How do you bring ‘Living In Place’ into discussion with your clients? Share your talking points and tips!

Q3. Living In Place design increases accessibility and eases strain. Share your favorite kitchen and bath products that help achieve this!

Q4. Are there any products, technology, etc. that you wish existed that would benefit your Living In Place clients? Why?

Q5. Lighting is an important part of Living In Place design. Give examples fo how you incorporate lighting into your designs.

Join this Twitter conversation
on Wednesday, July 24
from 2 to 3pm eastern
by adding #KBtribechat to your tweets!
Here is where you’ll find the transcript for this KBtribechat.

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March 20 at #KBtribechat – Aging in Place

A Design Discussion

Hosted by John Kelsey

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We all look forward to living a long life. Not many of us look forward to growing old. For those of us in our 50’s and 60’s, we being noticing small changes in our bodies and mind. Activities and tasks that were simple and easy, even enjoyable, become annoying, too much, tiring and difficult to perform. The risk is home ownership begins to become a burden instead of a pleasure.

 

John’s KBtribechat Questions:

1.) In general terms, what are the biggest challenges will a client have to address who chooses to live/age in place into their later years?

2.) Functionality in the kitchen is a major aging/living challenge. How can we minimize bending, reaching, stooping, even getting burnt or scalded as we plan a kitchen?

3.) Functionality in the bathroom is a major aging/living challenge. How can we minimize bending, reaching, stooping, slipping, even getting scalded as we plan a bathroom?

4.) Slipping and falling is the leading cause of injury or death among older adults. What flooring solutions in the kitchen and bath can we provide that will help minimize this risk?

5.) As we age, our eyesight changes. Small print becomes impossible to read, as does that menu in the candle lit restaurant. What lighting solutions will make life easier for someone to use the kitchen or bathroom?

6.) Technology offers the potential of being a great enabler in four categories for those who opt for a living/aging in place lifestyle. Communication/engagement, Health and Wellness, Learning/Contribution and Safety/Security. How can it help? What are the risks?

 

7.) What features in the home would help facilitate a good aging in place environment?

Join this Twitter conversation

on Wednesday, March 20

from 2 to 3pm eastern

by adding #KBtribechat to your tweets!

Here’s where you’ll find the transcript for this KBtribechat.

John wrote a comprehensive recap with MANY take-aways from this KBtribechat. Find it here.

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October 24 at #KBtribechat – Adding Character + Style to the Kitchen

A design discussion! 

Sponsored and Hosted by Elmira Stove Works

Designing the perfect kitchen is always a challenge. With so many options, it can be tough to settle on a specific look. So, how do you create a kitchen that’s not only stylish and functional but that will be relevant five, 10 – or even 15 – years from now? Let’s take a look at some of the most popular trends in kitchen spaces. 

While white and neutral hued cabinetry are still popular, there is a move toward incorporating more colorful cabinetry in the kitchen, particularly rich blues and greens. This infusion of color feels fresh and can create a sense of desired contrast. For those who still lean toward a more neutral look, dark gray cabinetry provides a subtle, yet sophisticated touch. 

In regard to surfaces, natural stone and quartz remain solid choices. However, materials like concrete, wood and stainless steel are gaining traction, as are countertops made of recycled materials. Integrated sinks, in which there is no visible seam between the sink and countertop, are also popular and offer a clean, streamlined look, making them a great option for more minimalist kitchens. 

Elmira Stove Works - composite image

When it comes to appliances, matte black stainless steel continues to be on trend and provides a dramatic counterpoint to lighter colored cabinetry and accents. On the other hand, many designers and homeowners are opting to forgo stainless and instead are choosing colorful mid-century style appliances. These appliances combine nostalgic style with modern features, making them well-suited for a wide range of decor styles and kitchen spaces.

Antique-inspired appliances are also getting the attention of both designers and homeowners. These timeless appliances can be paired with elements such as a farmhouse sink, exposed wood beams and vintage accents to bring classic style and authentic character to Victorian homes and cottages and cabins.

One thing is clear – no single kitchen style rules the day. In fact, there are virtually limitless ways to add character and style to kitchen spaces. Let’s get the design conversation started!

Our KBtribechat discussion questions:

Q1:  A recent study reported that homeowners are moving away from all white kitchens toward more colorful cabinetry and wood finishes. Are you seeing more colorful looks in the kitchen? Show us!

Q2:  With ‘aging in place’ and more people choosing to stay in their existing homes, many homeowners are opting to remodel their kitchens. What’s trending now in kitchen remodels? Share images.

Q3:  Many homeowners are moving into older neighborhoods and restoring Victorian and other period homes. Share photos of your favorite Victorian or farmhouse kitchens.

Q4:  What interesting ways have you seen antique and retro style appliances incorporated into kitchens? Images, please!

Q5:  Cabin and cottage style kitchens encourage a range of styles – from rustic to contemporary. What design trends are you seeing in these types of kitchens?

Q6:  What are some creative ways to add character to a kitchen – e.g., accessories, appliances, cabinetry, countertops, etc.? Photos, please!

Here’s a link to view the transcript for this KBtribechat.

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Improving on Good Design to Age in Place

A Kitchen and Bath Design Discussion during Aging in Place Week

In June, we at AFriendlyHouse asked the KBTribeChat community, Can safety be sexy? The response was a resounding yes… if you know how to sell it.  We then followed up with a conversation on the sexy, sleek, European-style wet room, which was again a spin to sell great design that was also safer. Now, with the start of Aging in Place week, we want to know what can we do to improve on good design to make it age-ready and what is our role as designers in getting our clients onboard?

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We use our expertise to advise our clients on products and design trends. Do we also have a role to play in steering them towards designs that will be friendly to their changing needs, like with the universally designed bathroom pictured above? In what ways can we contribute to the longevity of our designs (and maybe to our clients) by making them age-ready?

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At AFriendlyHouse.com we promote aging in place by showcasing projects that are both beautiful and age-ready.  We report on design success stories that have enabled people of all ages get around better in their homes and in their communities.  We hope to be a source for inspiration for your future projects by walking you through our own, like AFriendlyHouse founder Lynette Evans’ work on the interiors for her parents’ last home, where added details like a cleverly placed step within the toe-kick (below) provided stability while putting more storage in reach and a pull-out rolling cart could be loaded while hands were left free for balance (above).
Kitchen toe kick

We’d like to continue the conversation on Pinterest! Follow and pin to our Improving on good design to Age in Place board leading up to and after the chat. You can also find us on Google+ and Facebook.

We hope you’ll join us for this kbtribechat discussion!

#kbtribechat on Twitter ~ Wednesday, October 23 ~ 2 to 3pm eastern time

Here is the transcript for this Kbtribechat.

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Universal Kitchen Design

This Wednesday, August 15th, we will be discussing  kitchen design with aging-in-place in mind. Pease join our Twitter discussion from 2 to 3 pm eastern time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are our discussion questions:

1.)  Are you getting client requests to incorporate universal design principles?

2.) What are the key elements in a thoughtfully designed universal kitchen?

3.) How do you create a stylish kitchen but also make the space universally accessible ?

4.) Are there certain materials and finishes that are more #UD friendly than others?  Please share product finds!

5.) What kitchen cabinet storage solutions help in creating a universally accessible space?

 

For the transcript to this chat – click here.

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