Housing for Older Americans

I found this great article in E Build - I thought my readers would be interested.


http://www.ebuild.com/articles/printArticle.hwx/Q/articleId.858159


Tips for Building and Remodeling Houses for Older Americans

Two pros provide insights into how to build profits by creating universally designed new homes andupdating existing ones.


The challenges of the current housing market are not going away any time soon, but builders and remodelers can thrive by crafting homes for people over the age of 50 using universal design techniques. Two pros provided dozens of tips during a session at the International Builders' Show titled "Universal Design Boot Camp."
The presenters were Christine Fortenberry, president of Fortenberry Homes in Power Springs, Ga., and Rebecca Stahr, owner of LifeSpring Environs, an aging-in-place design firm in Atlanta, Ga.
Stahr said there are four categories of 50-plus home buyers:

Baby Boomers -- born 1946 to 1964

Early Retired -- born 1934 to 1945

Retired -- born 1923 to 1933

Post Retired -- born before 1933
Although both presenters said that universal design benefits people of all ages, Stahr said it's best to select one category to target because the four 50-plus groups have different needs. She also noted that pros have alot of opportunities for retrofitting homes because a majority of the housing stock is more than 30 yearsold.


The two women provided numerous tips for making homes safe and accessible. They said to install:

appliances with digital controls that are large and easy to read

the washer, dryer, and dishwasher at an elevated height so users don't have to bend

side-by-side refrigerators that are easy to reach into

smooth electric cooktops because you can see when they are on

pullout faucets with high necks that are easy to maneuver

plenty of room in front of the toilet and vanity

grab bars, or reinforce walls in showers so grab bars can be added later

a fireplace higher off the ground so they are easier to clean

drawers in kitchen and bath cabinets that slide, glide, lower, and raise

C- and D-shaped door hardware because they are easy to pull

wider-width closet, entry, and interior doors that can accommodate
wheelchairs and the moving of big furniture

sloping exterior entries instead of steps

low thresholds between rooms and in doorways

windows that require less than 8 pounds of pressure to open

light switches at lower heights and electrical outlets at higher heights so they are easier to reach

different textured flooring in adjacent rooms for easier transitions

different colored flooring at the bottom of staircases

lots of bright lighting for older eyes

motion sensors
Fortenberry, who walks with a limp as a result of a car accident, noted she's made mistakes during her 30-
year career. She showed photos of several houses she built for herself that she said she had to sell within a
few years because they were not universally designed.
As for mixing green building with universal design, Stahr contended: "If we go to the effort to make it sustainable, but the person has to move because they can't live there anymore, that is not sustainable."


Stahr ended the session by saying if builders can deliver comfort and convenience to their 50-plus clients, they can expect profits even in this challenging economy.


© Copyright 2009, Hanley Wood, LLC. All Rights Reserved
http://www.ebuild.com/articles/printArticle.hwx/Q/articleId.858159


Joan Eisenberg, CMKBD, ASID
Joan is an Independent Kitchen and Bathroom Design and Training Consultant. She is both a Certified Master Kitchen and Bathroom Designer and a professional member of the American Society of Interior Designers.

www.mykitchenlady.com
www.kosherkitchensbydesign.com
www.jmeconsultinginc.com
www.jme-consult.com
www.mynutritionlady.com
http://mykitchenlady.blogspot.com

Designer's Roundtable Part 2

Designer Roundtable: Most-Used Kitchen and Bath ProductsFind out what products and materials designers love to use in their kitchen and bath designsBy Ellen Sturm NizJanuary 12, 2009 Reprinted from www.kbbonline.com

"I find the Hafele kitchen accessories an excellent source for high-tech, innovative and durable products. Their kitchen railing and pole-mount systems and the waste/recycling and interior storage options are some of the best in the industry."—Alicia Valair, CKD, Allied Member ASID, owner, Lifestyle Design Interiors, Slidell, LA.

Joan Eisenberg, CMKBD, ASID
Joan is an Independent Kitchen and Bathroom Design and Training Consultant. She is both a Certified Master Kitchen and Bathroom Designer and a professional member of the American Society of Interior Designers.
www.mykitchenlady.com
www.kosherkitchensbydesign.com
www.jmeconsultinginc.com
www.jme-consult.com
www.mynutritionlady.com
http://mykitchenlady.blogspot.com

Designer Roundtable: Most-Used Kitchen and Bath Products

I was interviewed for this article and thought my readers would like to see what the leading designers are saying. This is first in a series of posts. Watch for my favorite product!

Designer Roundtable: Most-Used Kitchen and Bath Products
Find out what products and materials designers love to use in their kitchen and bath designs
By Ellen Sturm Niz
January 12, 2009 Reprinted from www.kbbonline.com

"Tile! Ceramic tile, porcelain tile, glass tile, slate, onyx—as most people know, I could go on and on about the different sizes, colors, patterns and options. I like specifying things in a unique way to accent the various focal points in a bathroom [like in her bathroom design, pictured]. It is easy to pull everything together once the tile has been specified as well." —Melodie Schooley, AKBD, Allied ASID, owner and interior designer, Arrangements With Style, Pittsburgh, PA.

www.mykitchenlady.com
www.kosherkitchensbydesign.com
www.jmeconsultinginc.com
www.jme-consult.com
www.mynutritionlady.com
http://mykitchenlady.blogspot.com