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 more fully and 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. The book shows how features (such as pocket doors and chair-rail molding that doubles as hand-rail support) can be artfully blended into the most attractive homes. You ll learn about specialized products like adjustable counters and chair lifts, but also simple, inexpensive ways to enhance your home safety and comfort.

The book s 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; materials; and comfort, safety and ease of use. Our 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.

You ll learn how to:

• Make your home entryways and hallways welcoming and accessible.
• Design a flexible, fun family room and inspiring dining and living areas.
• Set up the ultimate user-friendly kitchen, storage areas, home office, and garage.
• Create a luxurious, comfortable master suite.
• Plan an easy-to-maintain, curb-appealing, accessible landscape and much, much more.

Adding universal design now helps avoid rushed and expensive retrofits later or possibly even a disruptive move. And you ll find these features bring you immediate benefits making life easier at any age.

This relatively inexpensive book is an extremely well illustrated guide to design of single family homes. While primarily directed to home owners and home buyers, it will also be useful to contractors and architects. The chapters of the book cover entrances & floor plans, kitchens, bathrooms, living spaces, bedrooms, and laundry, garage & utility spaces, and much more. Many flexible design ideas are provided along with the estimated cost. Whether you are building or designing homes, or seeking to have one built, this book will be a worthwile addition to your library. --International Cost Engineering Council, February 2009