Universal Design Ideas for Style, Comfort & Safety

If you're building or remodeling, it's a great time to incorporate Universal Design, an approach that helps people of any age and physical ability safely enjoy their homes. Whether you're the parent of young children, an active baby-boomer, or a less mobile senior, Universal Design gives you more freedom by maximizing comfort and accessibility.

A beautiful home is a top priority of Universal Design, so you can put to rest any idea that accessibility is unsightly or institutional-looking. Universal Design Ideas for Style, Comfort & Safety shows how features such as pocket doors and chair-rail molding that double as hand-rail support can be artfully blended into attractive homes. You'll learn about specialized products like adjustable counters and chair lifts, as well as simple, inexpensive ways to enhance your home safety and comfort.

The  color photos and expert guidance cover every area from kitchens, baths, bedrooms, family rooms, and garages to yards and patios. You'll get professional design ideas for room and furniture arrangement, lighting, and materials. Experts include certified kitchen and bath designers, aging-in-place specialists, and a licensed occupational therapist. Budget estimates give you an idea how much these projects will cost.

Click here to purchase "Universal Design Ideas for Style, Comfort & Safety"

Residential Design for Aging in Place

Consult Residential Design for Aging In Place, the key reference for designing homes for aging people, if you seek to understand how to create effective spaces for the elderly. Interior designers, architects, and homebuilders are increasingly asked by clients to design homes to allow for adaptation over time, and this is the definitive guide, endorsed by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID). Find case study examples of good design solutions for designing for aging in place from two authors who are highly respected fellows of the ASID, Drue Lawlor and Michael A. Thomas.

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Accessible Home Design: Architectural Solutions for the Wheelchair User

What must I do to install an elevator in my two-story home? Can I retrofit my master bathroom to include a spacious roll-in shower? How can my flower garden be made more accessible? The architecture staff of the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) has been solving these and other issues related to accessible design for decades.

Accessible home projects have always involved intricate planning and design, but their construction is often compromised because builders are unfamiliar with the specialized concepts and techniques. The need for expert information on this area of design is critical, and in response, PVA offers this revised and expanded second edition of Accessible Home Design.

Each chapter addresses accessibility related to specific building components. Subjects include entrances, residential elevators and lifts, kitchen design, bath and toilet room plans, plumbing fixtures, grab bars, doors, windows and outdoor rooms, and garden paths.

With careful planning and Accessible Home Design as your guide, you can develop attractive and functional designs that not only improve accessibility, but also increase the comfort and enjoyment of your home.

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Inclusive Housing: A Pattern Book

The Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access (IDEA Center) has produced the publication Inclusive Housing: A Pattern Book. This is an invaluable resource for designing communities that accommodate social diversity and provide equitable opportunities for all residents. The book was developed with contributions from Edward Steinfeld and Jonathan White.

Focusing on housing that provides access to people with disabilities while benefi ting all residents residents and incorporates inclusive design practices into neighborhood and housing designs without compromising other important design goals, Inclusive Housing recognizes that to achieve the goals of urbanism, we must consider the total picture. The house must fit on the lot; the lot must fit in the block; and the block must fit with the character of the neighborhood.

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Access to Medical Care for Individuals with Mobility Disabilities

The US Department of Justice has developed a new technical assistance publication, Access to Medical Care for Individuals with Mobility Disabilities, which provides guidance to medical professionals on the ADA's requirement to provide accessible health care to individuals with these disabilities. The 19-page publication includes an overview of ADA requirements, commonly asked questions, and illustrative examples of accessible facilities, medical equipment and exam rooms.

Click here to see a full copy of the guide.