Most of us want to stay in our homes until the very end. In other words, none of us wants to go to a 'rest' home or skilled nursing facility. Unfortunately, the biggest obstacle to remaining in your home, Is Your Home. As interior designers, we have both the knowledge to design safe environments as well as the aesthetic talent to keep your home looking sophisticated as opposed to clinical. Almost of all of our suggestions can easily be incorporated into your current remodeling projects. It just makes sense to plan for your future.

There are quite a few opportunities to create safe healing environments so I will start off with a basic challenge:

BARRIERS. Look at the picture above - this is one example of a curb less shower. It is not only barrier free, but it looks great! While we are looking at it, notice the hand shower and the built in shelving for toiletries. Other barriers in a home include doorways that are too narrow for a wheel chair to pass, unsafe or non existing transfer seats to safely enter a bathtub, and regular stairs. Stairs to get in the house, stairs or level changes to move from room to room, etc. For small elevations, ramps can safely be installed. For a flight of stairs, there are chair lifts available that can move you from floor to floor. If you have a 'vertical' home, consider adding an elevator during one of your remodels. A typical closet or powder room is often located directly above/below another closet or powder room, making it the perfect location for your elevator!

Other 'sustainable living' issues that I will address in future blogs are safety and healing environments.

Keep safe! Christine