13 Products for a Universally Designed Home

As research shows that more homeowners plan to stay in their homes into the aging process, manufacturers are stepping up to provide good-looking, accessible products that will help these individuals age in place.

Aging in place and universal design concepts are in high demand in homes, even if homeowners and buyers don’t know the terms. In its 2017 Aging in Place report, HomeAdvisor found that 46 percent of respondents had renovated parts of their homes in anticipation of getting older, though less than half of respondents over 55 were familiar with the term “aging in place.”

Industry experts are feeling this shift, too. Mary Jo Peterson, CKD, CBD, has been creating universally designed kitchen and baths for more than 25 years at her eponymous firm in Brookfield, Conn., and has been heartened to see the concept catching on. She believes there are a number of reasons for the current rise in universal design.

“The obvious thing of course is the Baby Boomers moving into a time of life when they don't want to be any less than they've ever been but it would help to have some support in their homes,” Peterson explains.

The other reason for the shift? Peterson says the Millennial mentality is changing the way we think about accessibility.

“It's a global society, and none of us are isolated from the differences in people,” Peterson continues. “As a result, our upcoming generations... have no reaction to diversity, they certainly accept and embrace diversity, and so for them these concepts are just matter-of-fact.”

It doesn’t hurt that today’s accessible products are good looking, in addition to being functional. The stigma associated with stereotypically sterile, hospital-style elements such as grab bars have made way for sleek, subtly designed accessible products with conveniences that can appeal to anyone, regardless of ability.

“Almost everyone is in the game,” says Peter Grant, CGR, CAPS, president of Grant Homes Remodeling in Tulsa, Okla. “[Manufacturers are] very much aware of what's going on, and they're tripping over each other to be the next in line to provide the newest, neatest, most convenient feature. Universal design is not the exception, it is the direction that this industry is taking.”

An added benefit of this movement is that the philosophy of universal design makes homes more convenient for everyone, not just those with disabilities or mobility limitations.

“The essence of it is making an environment intuitive, able to be fully utilized by people of all abilities with little physical effort,” explains Lisa Cini, ASID, IIDA, the owner of Mosaic Design Studio, a firm that specializes in senior living facilities, and author of several books on the topic of aging in place. “Make things open and easy to reach, let the young and old exercise their limits of independence.”

It’s not surprising that designers tend to primarily focus on universal design in the kitchen and bath, since, as Peterson puts it, in those rooms we “have jobs to do, so these considerations become even more important.” A hard-to-reach appliance or fixture can easily become an prohibitive obstacle for those with limited mobility. The products and design in these two rooms require extra attention to ensure that everyone in the home can access them.

In the kitchen, Grant says one of his go-to universal design tricks are multi-level islands that allow for both traditional countertop and table surface heights. In addition to providing counter access for those seated in wheelchairs, the table portion can also serve as a family breakfast table.

Another accessible trend noted by both Grant and Peterson is swapping doors for drawers, in everything from base cabinets to appliances to vanities. Peterson observed that the cabinetry accessories that are available today “help us not to ever have to crawl down in the corner to get in the back of the cabinet to get something. That corner comes out to us.”

Cabinet doors, as well as entry doors, more often feature handles instead of knob pulls, which are easier to grasp for someone with arthritis or other mobility limitations. Pocket door and barn door designs ensure that entryways are clear for individuals with mobility aids, such as walkers or wheelchairs.

In the bath, curbless showers and sleek, modern versions of the grab bar are universal design essentials. Also on the rise are things like touch faucets, bidet toilets, and motion sensor lighting, all of which help individuals maintain independence.

See below for 13 products that will add universal design elements to your next home.

1. Thermador MicroDrawer

In addition to drawered cabinetry, the presence of appliance drawers is also on the rise. The 30-inch built-in MicroDrawer from Thermador features 950 watts of power and can accomodate a 13-by-9-inch pan. It is also available in a 24-inch size.

“You hit a button and it automatically opens the drawer, you can reach down and easily access the items,” Grant says. “For some reason it's also one of the customer's favorite items.”

2. Fisher & Paykel Double DishDrawer

Dishwasher drawers keep walkways clear and prevent users from having to bend down to load and unload. The DishDrawer from Fisher & Paykel is available in ADA-compliant models and black, white, or stainless steel finishes. Drawers can be run separately to accommodate for smaller loads.

“Drawers in the kitchen in dishwashers and other appliances, that's a wonderfully accessible concept,” says Peterson. “[They] also allows us to not break up a countertop... which is easier and more functional no matter who you are.”

3. Monogram Refrigeration Columns

Monogram’s new line of freezer and refrigerator columns give homeowners the opportunity to mix-and-match size and panel design. Accent lighting ensures that all items are visible, and an antimicrobial nano-coating on shelves cause spills to bead, not spread, for easy cleanup, the company says. Connected features can notify the user when a door has been left open.

Peterson says she looks for “flexibility in appliances... the functional part of the appliance is accessible from a variety of heights.” For refrigeration, this means “a refrigerator that has some refrigeration and some freezer at many heights,” like in a side-by-side unit or column.

4. Brizo Artesso with SmartTouch Technology

“People's first reaction [to the concept of touch control] is ‘Oh, that's kind of gimmicky, I don't really need that,’” Peterson says. “But when one gets accustomed to using this it becomes a real blessing.”

The single-handle pull-down faucet in Brizo’s Artesso line comes with optional touch option that allows it to be activated by a touch anywhere on the faucet body, handle or articulating arm. It also features an LED light that indicates the faucet’s water temperature. Inspired by early 20th century metal works, the collection is available in polished chrome, Brilliance stainless, Venetian Bronze, Brilliance polished nickel, and Brilliance Luxe Gold finishes.

5. Hafele Magic Corner

Part of the company’s Fineline collection of cabinetry accessories, the Magic Corner option from Hafele gives users the ability to pull awkward corner storage within reach. The unit features a soft-closing door and is available with champagne or silver metal and five wood options.

“Our products help make things stored in the kitchen more accessible, provide needed visibility through well-placed LED lights and add to the overall beauty of design,” says Daniel Tripp, Hafele’s kitchen category manager of the company’s universal design philosophy.

6. Legrand adorne collection

“I love the Legrand Under Cabinet Lighting system,” says Cini. “It is a plug and play for your appliances and tablets while keeping the countertop and backsplash clear.” Cini, Peterson, and Grant agree that a smart lighting system can do wonders for convenience and accessibility. Motion sensor lighting can allow for worry-free nightly trips to the bathroom and smartphone and voice control allows for light even when switches are out of reach.

In addition to the cabinet system, the Legrand adorne collection includes motion sensor switches, under cabinet lighting, Wi-Fi control, and more. All Legrand products can be connected via the Legrand Hub.

7. Hewi hinged support bar

Distributed in the U.S. by Hafele, Hewi is a German manufacturer of grab bars and bath accessories. It can be folded up and flat against the wall to save space, or outfitted with a toilet paper holder to disguise its function as a grab bar. The stainless steel bar is available in many colors.

“[Hewi is] phenomenal for flexibility,” Peterson says. “They have every color in the rainbow, they have every finish in the rainbow, they do constant research to make the best offering and the greatest variety of offerings, they can be customized.”

8. Great Grabz Signature Series

The grab bar manufacturer, a subsidiary of CSI Bathware, features the Signature Series which allows homeowners to mix and match finishes, bars, and bar mounts for a custom look. Metal, wood, and acrylic options are available, and most configurations are ADA approved.

9. James Martin Vanities Brittany vanity

The manufacturer features a number of vanities that are ADA-compliant with space for a seat or wheelchair. The Brittany vanity comes with soft-close drawer glides and hinges and is available in a variety of configurations, five finishes, and 13 countertop options. The 48-inch single bathroom vanity is shown here in burnished mahogany.

10. TOTO Neorest AC

The wall-hung Neorest AC is a space-saving version of the manufacturer’s flagship toilet that can make maneuvering a walker or wheelchair easier in small toileting areas. The unit is ADA-compliant and may be hung at a standard or universal height, the company says. It also features an integrated bidet system with warm, aerated water, a warm air dryer, heated
seat, auto open/close, auto flush, in-bowl deodorizer, and more.

“Being able to have a washlet or a personal bidet system built into the seat of the toilet, that's a great idea for anybody,” Peterson says. Bidets can help individuals with limited mobility maintain independence.

11. Easy Drain Modulo

The Modulo linear shower drain from Easy Drain, a brand of the Dutch manufacturer Easy Sanitary Solutions, makes it easier to design curbless showers. The collection features eight models for different placements, tile thicknesses, and tile materials. The sleek drains are available in five standard finishes and six special finishes.

12. Walker Zanger Calacatta Porcelain

The hard surface of a porcelain or stone flooring may seem contradictory to universal design, but Peterson says it’s solidness makes it easy to slide a wheelchair or walker over it. But how do you prevent slips? “The more grout lines the less slippery it is,” Peterson says. “If there's a little bit of texture to the tile that's better. I don't ever do a polished stone for floor.”

Walker Zanger’s Calacatta Porcelain comes in a variety of formats, including smaller 3-by-12-inch and 2-by-2-inch sizes that allow the floor to have more friction. The marble-look tile is approved for all interior surfaces, exterior walls, and pool lines.

13. Jeld-Wen DesignGlide

Jeld-Wen’s DesignGlide system allows any standard 80-inch door to be turned into a barn door. Available in satin nickel and matte black finishes, DesignGlide hardware fits almost any architectural style, including contemporary, farmhouse, and modern Craftsman. The space-saving door alternative also features soft-close hinges.