The Adaptable Kitchen—Kitchen Design for the Boomers

1. Side by side refrigerator/freezer makes portions of both available to standing & seated users.
2. Install integral or undermount sink to aid in cleanup & allow sliding of heavy objects.
3. Mount ovens so that the bottom rack is close in height to adjacent transfer surface.
4. Install adaptable and adjustable lighting, such as glare free task lighting.
5. Built-in pullout cutting boards near sink & pullout hot pads near the oven.
6. Open area with fold-away doors at sink for seated users.
7. Use appliance garages to put heavy objects at countertop height.
8. Lever style sink faucets & pull style cabinet hardware.
9. Consider touch latch cabinet doors instead of cabinet knobs and pulls.
10. Use pull out pantries and lazy susans for maximum accessibility.

The role of the interior designer is to assure that design solutions anticipate the clients short term and long term needs so the value of any design adaptation is money well spent.

Step lightly when choosing Floor Covering

It simultaneously adds color, texture & variety to a room. It accounts for about 25% of a room’s surface and can represent one of the largest investments you will make in your home design. We are talking about your floor covering decision. Despite its importance, many homeowners mistakenly separate the floor covering decision from other interior design considerations.

“Going it alone”, has two major concerns. First, the dizzying array of textures, colors and designs gives you ample opportunity to use floor covering as a major part of your interior design selection. Second, with so many options, it can be an extremely confusing and stressful decision process.

A successful floor covering project can involve three major players. The carpet retailer is the link between you and the carpet mills. The dealer will be able to recommend the right type of covering and appropriate fiber or fiber blends based on your budget, use, lifestyle and tastes. The next major player is the installer. Most reputable dealers have their own in-house installers or a team of contract installers. As these are the people who actually install your carpet, it’s important to have qualified, experienced installers.

The third ’player’ is your interior designer. As a frequent purchaser of carpet, your interior designer has a good sense of who the quality carpet retailers and installers are. Also an interior designer can add a few simple touches that will make a major improvement in a room’s appearance. These touches can include beveling, custom installations, special cuts, or even a blending of two different types of carpeting. Another dramatic effect is achieved by blending hardwood floors with carpeting. Custom flooring doesn’t necessarily mean expensive. A collaborative approach with your ’team players’ can enhance your home. Make your choice carefully and you’ll enjoy the dividends for a long time.

The Orchestration of Lighting

Lighting is the most elusive part of interior design. It is difficult to explain even from a technical standpoint. We need to see and understand the various levels of lighting that enhance a space in every way.

There are three spheres of lighting: Ambient light illuminates the interior and makes one aware of the shape and dimensions of the space. Task lighting is the light by which you read or sew and allows you to see the controls on your audio equipment. Accent lighting is the third type. It can be directional lighting in the ceiling that bathes a painting or an up-light hidden behind a plant to cast a wonderfully lacy shadow on the ceilings and walls.

John Saladino a national renown interior designer states, "What I seek in the design of ambient lighting is ethereal, if not spiritual quality. Lighting should never confront you, it should be hidden and beautifully orchestrated." "If you think of light not as the buying of lamps, but rather as the complex orchestration of levels and kinds of light, you will become the conductor who gives direction to the theater that is your home"

Lighting when properly executed will enhance a space in every way.