Hi Reader,
We’ve spent the last few weeks talking about some of the changes I’ve seen in residential construction over my 40 years in the business. We talked about how choice has exploded and HGTV has divorced design from cost (not good when you have a budget to stick to).
A more positive change I’m seeing is a focus on aging in place.
Age in place is when someone says, “Instead of me moving to another spot or downsizing, what I'll do is rework my house so I can continue living here as I age. I'm comfortable here! I don't want to leave this space because I've got my friends down the street, my community around me.”
This mentality shows up in very specific design choices. Here are a few from the kitchen that I see happening all the time:
- Choosing handles rather than finger pulls — they’re much easier to grab onto as your fingers become stiffer.
- Upgrading your kitchen door and drawer systems to be able to open easily with minimal effort.
- Rethinking upper and lower cabinets — Everything below the countertop always pulls out. There's never a static shelf that you need to reach into — everything pulls out and is easier to access. Anything above the countertop becomes secondary space because it’s harder to reach.
- Moving surfaces — We’re increasingly seeing countertops and cabinets that raise and lower with hydraulics or a motor. This accommodates situations, for example, where somebody's confined to a wheelchair, but there's two people in this kitchen.
When I’m talking to clients who are deciding whether to downsize or age in place, I usually ask them, what are your considerations now? Is there something about the space currently that is not working that you deem unfixable — that is forcing you to move? Or can it be modified to suit your current and projected future physical needs?
This is a conversation I have with young families, too. Johnny needs a spot for his toys now, but 10 years from now they’ll be gone. What’s there instead? A game console, a desk for schoolwork?
The reality is that your home will continually transform as people’s needs for that space change. The more you can anticipate those changes and design for them in advance, the more longevity you’ll get from your renovation.
Have you updated your home to accommodate aging in place or other changes that have affected how you use a space? What worked well… or what do you wish you had done differently?
Have a great weekend,
Gerald