Universal Designed Smart Homes for the 21st Century

 

Be Happy & Healthy in your Accessible Forever Home.

 
 
 

Accessible Home Plan Bk.

UD Kitchens, Safe-Rooms

Articles by CM Schwab

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Universal Designed "smart" kitchens. 

Cheers to you and your families good health. Materials and systems is another component in our UD and healthy home plan designs.


This plan has in floor radiant heat and open spaces for wheelchair use.
This open plan has in floor radiant heat and bright natural light throughout.
This plan is designed for wide open space between furniture for wheelchair and mobility devices.
The serving bar is open to the informal dining area for efficient service and dining. Notice the clear space for mobility device use.

The best universal designed kitchens provide usability for everyone for life-time living.


This kitchen is fully accessible and designed for four wheelchair users.
All of these fixtures and appliances are designed to be used from a seated position. Notice also how the upper cabinets are lowered so seated people can even use them. Notice the undercounter microwave and oven.
This wheelchair accessible kitchen has multiple height countertops and lowered fixtures for wheelchair user use.
This kitchen is usable by everyone for a life span but does it really look any different or stigmatizing? You'd love it when your 90...and you will be!
Sample thumbnail plan of a UD Kitchen and a few features. Read below for a list.
2005 Copyright Charles M. Schwab, all drawings and photos on this page.You may not reuse digital or printed versionswithout permission from Charles. I've seen them on other peoples sites without permission, please contact me if you have.

Universal Design Kitchen Numbered Checklist with Features (what) and Benefits (Why)

As mentioned the plan book features a  list of Universal Design (UD) home items with usable dimensions ( both in feet/inches and SI/metric units) that are included and have been found to be of immense help with kitchen remodels and home additions. My clients have confirmed this! Remember this is an abreviated list. 

1. Every Kitchen has a minimum 60-inch circular turning and double use diameter space within.

2. Space between opposing counters and walls is a minimum of 48 inches (1220 mm)

3. There is a min. 30 x 48 inch (762 x 1220 mm) clear use space in front of all appliances and use areas for seated use if preferred.

4. There are no more than 26 feet (7.93 Meters) measured from center to center of all 3 major appliances. This is known as the kitchen work triangle. No leg in the kitchen triangle is less than 48 inches (1220 mm) or longer than 9 feet (2743  mm) for maximum efficiency.

5, Some kitchens are designed with two work zones for multiple users.

Varying Counter heights range from 30-34 inches (762-864 mm)  for sitting, to 36-42 inches  (914-1067) at a serving bar. Most product lines offer a UD product line that sets the counter at 34 inches (864 mm) when finished. This was not available not to long ago, showing growing popularity of Universal Design that allows living in place, some time called Aging in Place.

6. Serving counters (or bars) may have dual heights for standing and seated users.This is a fun option so kids and grandparents can sit and prepare meals together.

7. Counter edges can be beveled and have with contrasting color for visual edge definition.This makes them both safer and easier to tell where the edge is.

8. Color contrast around the perimeter of the kitchen space defines “rooms” in open spaces and provides a visual edge for space definition at the floor.

9. Twenty nine, (29 inches: 737 mm) of clear space under the counter provides knee space underneath the sink. That, along with a shallow sink provides space when one wants to sit down.

10. Cabinet doors are either removable or feature pocket hardware that slides back underneath or hardware that swings open 170 degrees.

11.Optionally adjustable sinks can be selected that raise and lower at the touch of a button.

12. Upper cabinets are also available with optional automatic or manual up/down operation.

13.Typical upper cabinets are located 15 inches (380 mm) above the counter rather than 18 inches (457 mm)  so they are more easily reached from a seated position. 

14. Cabinet door hardware has "D" shaped pulls and /or magnetic "touch latch" hardware.

The above noted kitchen features and benefits are a small portion of all that are available. More are listed in the plan book and of course I will explain all in detail with you if and when I work with you. 

To obtain the full list of items as well as home plans that can be ordered and all with UD kitchen design, You can order the plan book here.


This kitchen has open knee space for wheelchair users.
The open leg space under the sink and casual computer work area allow seated people to use the kitchen.
This serving bar is designed for wheelchair use and has multiple height seating and bar serving areas.
This serving bar has multiple heights for all users. Behind is a full wall salt water fishtank that was not yet completed.
This plan section shows a laundry utility rm with adjacent kitchen access.
All of the cabinets have full extension hardware for elderly and wheelchair access.
All of our kitchen designs feature full extension accessible hardware.
The lowered micro wave and storage is wheelchair accessible.
At least 50% of all storage is accessible.The way our kitchens really look in day to day use. Notice lower height Micro wave and easily obtainable cabinet storage.
This accessible searving bar is wheelchair accessible and is in the sunny game room.
This serving bar is in the 4 season game/card room. The elder gentleman uses mobility devices and is the owner and bartender!
This smooth floor surfaced gameroom is wheelchair accessible.
This is the owners sunny game room where they are avid entertainers and card players. Notice the smooth floor surfaces without any bumps or transitions.
This picture shows lowered cabinets for people who use wheelchairs or are seated.
Notice the lower upper cabinets so people who are seated can use them.
This kitchen and dining area was designed for a family that has 4 kids that use wheelchairs.
Notice the multiple height serving counters adjacent the dining table.
Many of the home include storm or panic safe-rooms. The original premise was that a person who cannot evacuate quickly due to any physical limitation can benefit greatly from having emergency provissions built right into the home. These are always an option and not required.

Since this plan book was published ,I have designed several safe-rooms, even with full sleeping quarters. Many have found this as a great advantage, especially in the high tornado areas.

This plan shows an accessible safe room house floor plan
click on image above to enlarge.
This storm safe room is also a wet room and accessible bathroom. A floor plan is shown here.
Many of the second bathrooms are designed to double up as storm safe-rooms. They are actually undettectible.
This wheelchair accessible bathroom is shown doubled up as a storm safe-room
This bathroom and closet doubles up as a safe-room.
Universal Designed Smart Homes for the 21st Century.by Charles M. Schwab, Publisher:Schwab Publishers,  https://www.universaldesignonline.com/ibookintroorder.html