High Access Home: Design and Decoration for Barrier-Free Living - Hardcover

Riley III, Charles A.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0789310252 ISBN 13: 9780789310255

Publisher: Rizzoli Universe Promotional Books, 2003

Synopsis

Welcome to the home of the future, courtesy of Universal Design, a new movement that's helping the disabled, the aged, pregnant women, and children live with ease and comfort. Think of the automatic garage door, which originated out of necessity for a client whose condition prevented him from lifting a heavy door. Now just imagine if your home was as easy to operate.

"High-Access Home" redefines the standards for home design today. Conveniently positioned sinks, grab bars in the shower, properly illuminated hallways, and remote controls for the window shades, adjustable kitchen counters are just some of the improvements shown in this illustrated volume. You'll never have to reach for a light switch or bend for an outlet again.

At first glance, a home that follows the principles of Universal Design does not look any different from a traditional, well-crafted home. A connoisseur of the user-friendly Universal Design home appreciates its invisibility as much as its functionality. Subtle differences are its hallmark-with levers instead of knobs on doors, with wider hallways and doors, non-slip floors in the bathroom, roomier garages, elevators, and touch pads, Universal Design is a silent revolution in simplifying life.

"High-Access Home" tours the top of the line homes that follow Universal Design, featuring both revamped old homes and newly-constructed ones as well. Tour Franklin Delano Roosevelt's Top Cottage or visit the Carroll Center for the Blind, which happens to be a renovated stable that's ultra-chic. Following this tour is a room-by-room breakdown of how to create the ideal home to make living easier. This chapter focuses in-depth on the entry, the living room, the bathroom, the kitchen, the bedroom, and the home office, providing helpful tips on how to get started simplifying your home life. Additional resources for product manufacturers, non-profit organizations, and government organizations are provided in the appendix. If you are living with an aging parent, children, or you would like to "age in place," or have a disability, "High-Access Home" will provide advice, inspiration, and resources for barrier-free living.

About this title

Review

Proving that accessibility and elegance need not be mutually exclusive, High-Access Home is filled with high-end interiors embodying the best of barrier-free living. Aimed at minimizing the effort needed to accomplish everyday tasks, Universal Design strives for buildings and products that can be used by the broadest possible range of people. Rather than such using obvious hallmarks of accessibility as a conspicuous ramp shooting straight up to the front door or the stainless-steel grab bars reminiscent of a hospital, Universal Design overlays the user-friendly with the stylish, melding aesthetics and practicality.

With beautiful photos and intelligent text, the volume analyzes what makes these spaces so successful and offers suggestions for incorporating the ideas into your own home. Most of the dwellings featured here are fairly luxurious, with elaborate decor and extensive renovations beyond many budgets, but there is also much helpful information for countless adaptations, such as shower seats, door levers, easy-access cabinets, and much more. This creative and carefully planned approach goes beyond Universal Design to become plain-old good design from which anyone can benefit. --Amy Handy

Edition details

• Publisher: Rizzoli Universe Promotional Books
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 0789310252
• ISBN 13: 9780789310255
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 160