High Access Home: Design and Decoration for Barrier-Free Living

Welcome to the home of the future, courtesy of Universal Design, a new movement that's helping the disabled, the aged, pregnant women, and children live with ease and comfort. Think of the automatic garage door, which originated out of necessity for a client whose condition prevented him from lifting a heavy door. Now just imagine if your home was as easy to operate.

"High-Access Home" redefines the standards for home design today. Conveniently positioned sinks, grab bars in the shower, properly illuminated hallways, and remote controls for the window shades, adjustable kitchen counters are just some of the improvements shown in this illustrated volume. You'll never have to reach for a light switch or bend for an outlet again.

At first glance, a home that follows the principles of Universal Design does not look any different from a traditional, well-crafted home. A connoisseur of the user-friendly Universal Design home appreciates its invisibility as much as its functionality. Subtle differences are its hallmark-with levers instead of knobs on doors, with wider hallways and doors, non-slip floors in the bathroom, roomier garages, elevators, and touch pads, Universal Design is a silent revolution in simplifying life.

"High-Access Home" tours the top of the line homes that follow Universal Design, featuring both revamped old homes and newly-constructed ones as well. Tour Franklin Delano Roosevelt's Top Cottage or visit the Carroll Center for the Blind, which happens to be a renovated stable that's ultra-chic. Following this tour is a room-by-room breakdown of how to create the ideal home to make living easier. This chapter focuses in-depth on the entry, the living room, the bathroom, the kitchen, the bedroom, and the home office, providing helpful tips on how to get started simplifying your home life. Additional resources for product manufacturers, non-profit organizations, and government organizations are provided in the appendix. If you are living with an aging parent, children, or you would like to "age in place," or have a disability, "High-Access Home" will provide advice, inspiration, and resources for barrier-free living.