Personalizing your space may involve photos you love including friends, family trips, favorite mementos and colors that make you feel glad to be home! BUT these can be added in a manner that allows the next owner to make the space personally theirs!

Luxury homes and aging in place are very compatible from a design standpoint!  We all want our kitchens to be welcoming gathering spots in our homes. 

• First address lighting – Use under-cabinet and in-cabinet to highlight details then recessed ceiling cans and pendants over the island to create layered looks that can be individually switched on.
• Drawers in cabinets or banks of drawers make access and visibility easier.  I have three banks of drawers and pull out drawers behind doors, including the recycling drawer, 3 office drawers (It would be better if one of these was a file drawer for kitchen related appliances and recipe info.), spices, baking, pots and pans.  
• A lazy susan in the corner is another convenience.
• Set 48”  paths in kitchen walkways wherever possible.  If there isn’t enough space for 48” on all sides then it is fine to use 36” in combination.  They don’t all have to be the same, ask a designer to help with the balance.
• Lever handles are easier than knobs. Now the touch-activated faucets offer another easy option.
• Grab bars can double as towel bars.  There are pretty options!
• Areas lowered to chair height also work for wheelchairs.

Visit my Ageing In Place board at Pinterest!

These pictures show flexible duct running through the crawl space in a remodel.  If there is enough room for the duct, the low ceiling areas can be raised.  If you want higher ceilings than this allows then the roof in those sections is typically removed. Most homeowners start with the living area or a new addition.  All of the electrical lines coming from the main breaker box or boxes are extended to the new height and the new duct work added.  During the recent recession, it was typical to “make do” but with the improved economy more homes are being totally remodeled or torn down.  Building permits are needed for this extensive work.  A contractor oversees the work with drawings from an architect or architectural designer.  Interior designers do the best space planning with furnishings in mind and colorization!

Dreaming of a kitchen remodel? And you’re a serious cook? Maybe your caterers need extra space when you’re entertaining? A Wall Street Journal article recently discussed the appliances in three southern California homes. Let’s see which ones you need!