Remodeling: Universal Design

Take the Lead and Help Your Clients Envision Their Future

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 05:19:07 EST

Oregon remodeler Clint Howes discusses how to start the conversation about preparing a client's home for their future.

37 Ideas To Help Clients Prepare Their Homes for Their Future Selves

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 01:45:49 EST

Universal design is all about things remodelers can do now to help clients prepare to live in their homes for years to come. Here are ways to do that.

How To Sell Aging-In-Place

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 10:45:18 EST

Owners who need their homes modified for infirmity or age fall into two broad groups: those who know and want those modifications, and those who do but aren't really thinking about it. Here are tips on how to sell to each of these customer types.

First Wave of Boomers Increasingly Likely To Age in Place--Survey

Tue, 4 Jun 2013 09:48:18 EST

A new survey of the oldest baby boomers--people born in 1946--finds this group even more likely than they were five years ago to keep living where they are rather than move as part of retirement.

Favorite Universal Design Features

Fri, 31 May 2013 06:49:10 EST

Dan Bawden of Legal Eagle Contractors, in Houston, and one of the first remodelers to get his Certified Aging in Place Specialist certification, lists his favorite universal design features.

Expanding a Ranch House With an Infill Addition

Thu, 16 May 2013 12:56:03 EST

Achitect Duo Dickinson's book "Staying Put" features this ranch house infill that offers a simple solution for a family that wants to make its "starter" home a residence for the long term.

Make Bathrooms Safer, Easier To Use for All

Fri, 10 May 2013 10:21:52 EST

Bathrooms can be hazardous places — especially for older adults — as slips and falls can be painful and dangerous. By including universal design, however, bathrooms can be made safe for people of all ages.

All Together Now: Providing Seminars About Multigenerational Living

Fri, 31 May 2013 09:35:47 EST

Seminars about options for combining households helps educate customers and positions this remodeler as an expert.

Universal Design Products Get Gorgeous in New Orleans

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 03:21:46 EST

Several new products from 2013 KBIS bring a more appealing look to universal design.

Universal Appeal: Merillat Universal Design Options

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 03:57:54 EST

Improve kitchen usability with new universal design accessories from Merillat.

Out in the Open: A Master Suite with an Open Toilet Tailored for a Client's Needs

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 03:52:22 EST

This bathroom layout provides a disabled client with some independence.

California Adopts New Building Standards

Mon, 4 Feb 2013 10:25:12 EST

The new code includes stricter energy efficiency requirements and more-straightforward rules for accessibility.

Granny's Out Back: Could Prefab Structures Affect the Universal Design Remodeling Market?

Fri, 8 Feb 2013 02:29:32 EST

A new form of prefabricated portable hospital room could meet some clients' needs better than remodeling a home with universal design features.

What I Like: Pneumatic Vacuum Elevators

Fri, 8 Feb 2013 02:29:23 EST

A high-end product for a particular client with specific needs.

The Scald Stops Here: Hot Water Safety Becomes More Affordable

Fri, 8 Feb 2013 02:28:34 EST

American Standard's Colony Soft collection features a hot-limit safety stop to prevent accidental scalding.

Deeper Insight: Working With a Registered Nurse on Aging-in-Place Projects

Fri, 8 Feb 2013 02:22:23 EST

This Q&A with David Bacon, a registered nurse who works with a remodeler, explores the role of how a medical professional can add insight to an aging-in-place design solution.

Read About It: Universal Design Book Addresses Accessibility & Aging-in-Place

Fri, 8 Feb 2013 02:22:13 EST

Architect and universal design expert Deborah Pierce offers accessibility advice in her book "The Accessible Home: Designing for All Ages & Abilities."

Sustainable Design: Think About the Future When You Design

Fri, 8 Feb 2013 02:17:36 EST

CLINT HOWES writes about how his company considers future owners and uses when designing a project.

AARP Survey Finds Baby Boomers Want to Remain in Their Homes

Fri, 8 Feb 2013 02:15:47 EST

While boomers want to stay in their current homes, they don't have a vision for how their home will look and accommodate them in the future.

Universal Design Resources

Fri, 8 Feb 2013 01:53:34 EST

Links to resources and organizations focused on accessibility and universal design.