To make your home accessible, experts typically recommend widening doorways, adjusting the height of countertops and switches, and adding safety features like lever handles and anti-slip flooring. But if you’re specifically looking to improve the accessibility of your kitchen, there are a few design principles to consider. These characteristics are also essential for remodelers to determine an accurate kitchen quote for you.
Convenience
Standard cabinets and drawers can be too deep for wheelchair users to reach into, so you might want to consider custom cabinetry to ensure that all items have a specific place where they can be reachable. Roll-out cabinet drawers are usually a good option for pans as they allow easy access and full use of the entire depth of the cabinet. As a general rule, it’s best to roll stored items out rather than digging for them. Consider this when selecting cabinet designs and mechanisms.
A Barrier-Free Layout
Mobility remodeling ensures that there are no barriers within a particular space. This allows people in seated positions as well as those with limited reach and hand strength to be able to navigate the kitchen with ease. That said, your kitchen design should be customized according to your needs so that the entire space works for you.
If you’re a wheelchair user, it could be smart to lower your countertops by two inches. You don’t necessarily have to adjust the height of all the countertops in your kitchen, especially if you are living with other family members. Tall people will find lower countertops uncomfortable to use. As a compromise, you can install countertops of varying heights to accommodate the needs of each family member.
The Right Appliances
Apart from the usual design elements and accessibility guidelines, you should also carefully choose the appliances that you’ll include in your kitchen. Typically, accessible appliances aren’t advertised as such, so it’s important that you know what to look for when shopping for kitchen appliances.
For instance, it’s best to have your cooktop separate from the oven as this will keep the space underneath open for legroom. For your oven, you might want to go with a wall oven since it can be installed at a custom height. Side-hinged ovens are a great option for wheelchair users. For the refrigerator, you should look for a unit with a bottom pull-out freezer or a side-by-side model. Ensure the controls are low enough to be reached from a seated position.
Let’s Start a Conversation!
DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen of Southern Rhode Island is a trusted “kitchen remodeler near me” that can help you plan your dream accessible kitchen. Call (401) 399-3917 to start a conversation with our team. We serve customers in Hopkinton, Jamestown, Kenyon, Newport, North Kingstown and many other communities.
