Modern living: Re-thinking the future of home design 

Article content

If you hear the words accessibility, aging in place and universal design and immediately picture awkward ramps and walk-in bathtubs, renovators and interior designers would like a word. 

These days, fold-down shower chairs, adjustable-height kitchen counters and easy-open cabinet doors are among the innovations making homes more functional for more people—without sacrificing style. 

Article content

“There’s a real push towards really stylish accessible design,” says Kyla MacGinnis, co-founder of Ottawa’s BuildAble Design + Renovations with her husband Sean. “It doesn’t have to look like a hospital anymore.”  

When they launched their company 11 years ago, they expected most of their clients to be people planning ahead for aging in place, but that’s not how things panned out. “The majority of the people that we work with are actually younger clients with newly acquired disabilities,” says MacGinnis.  

Design for everyone 

The term “universal design” encompasses a range of architectural choices, structural adaptations and fixtures intended to make spaces functional for everyone. For instance, wide doorways make it easier to navigate around the house with a stroller as well as a wheelchair. A pull-out cabinet drawer that doubles as a step (the Space Step, manufactured by Blum) helps children reach kitchen counters and bathroom sinks, as well as helping adults reach upper cabinets.  

“If it’s really thoughtful design … anyone can visit you and not know that they’re in an accessible space,” says MacGinnis. “The whole concept of universal design is that anyone could use it.” 

Article content

The mechanics of mobility 

Necessary mechanical devices such as stairlifts can detract from a home’s look, so BuildAble often suggests installing a vertical platform lift in an attached garage instead. That allows a wheelchair user to move easily from their vehicle to their home, while avoiding the need for an entrance ramp or stairlift. 

However, mechanical devices don’t have to be hidden. In an ultra-modern, four-storey house in Westboro, BuildAble installed an elevator with elegant glass doors. 

Spa-like bathrooms 

Anyone who has ever tried to clamber into a bathtub while wearing a cast can appreciate the value of accessible bathing fixtures. 

“Every new home should have a barrier-free shower,” says interior designer Angie Aspeck, owner of Ottawa’s Accessible Design Group. In fact, she strongly prefers them to walk-in tubs, because they’re more useful to more people. Most people using a walk-in tub require help from a caregiver to get in and out of it, she notes. On the other hand, someone using a walker, wheelchair or crutches can enter a barrier-free shower unassisted. 

Article content

An elegant towel bar structurally engineered to double as a grab bar can make the shower safer while maintaining a spa-like bathroom vibe, Aspeck adds, as can stylish, non-slip tiles. 

Don’t forget tech 

Technology is one often-overlooked aspect of universal design, Aspeck says. Smart-home systems can be set up to lock the front door at night, switch off the stove after a set period, or ensure that heating and cooling systems switch on when needed. 

Even something as simple as voice-controlled lamps can make a difference for many people. “If they’re getting up at night because they have to use the washroom or they’re in pain … they could just ask [the system] to turn the lights on, rather than walking through a dark room and falling,” Aspeck explains. 

Comfortable kitchens 

Kitchens can be a major pain point—sometimes literally—for homeowners. One typical renovation involves installing counters fixed at a lower height for people who use a wheelchair. However, Aspeck says a countertop that can be raised and lowered for users with different needs is more practical for the whole family, particularly in a small kitchen. 

Article content

Typical cabinet doors that open outward are also problematic for many users, says Lucy Traetto, a marketing representative for Blum Canada Limited, a fittings manufacturer. 

Blum’s Aventos lifts for upper cabinet doors swing upward, rather than outward, Traetto explains. “If you’re bent down unloading the dishwasher and you forget that that door’s open, you’re not going to bang your head on it.” 

People with dexterity issues, such as arthritis, can find it hard to manipulate door handles, so Blum makes handleless cabinet doors that open and close electronically or with a soft touch. The company also makes pullout shelves, so you don’t need to climb on a ladder or get down on your knees to see what’s at the back of your cupboard.  

A worthwhile investment 

Following universal design principles when building or renovating a home will add to the cost. Barrier-free showers require more expensive sealing techniques, for instance, and wider doorways usually need custom-made doors. Ergonomic kitchen fixtures are more expensive than their basic counterparts, too.   

However, accessibility advocates point out that such accommodations, when done well, can increase resale value by making your home more appealing to a wider range of buyers. “It’s not really thinking only about the aging population,” Traetto says of Blum’s approach. “Everything that we’re doing is going to work for every age group.”  

Article content

But a house isn’t only an investment; it’s also a place to live. And making your house more functional can change your life, says BuildAble’s MacGinnis. “There’s such a huge psychosocial factor to these home modifications.” 

She tells the story of a client who had lost a leg in a motorcycle accident. After spending his recovery in a retirement home where he couldn’t reach the bathroom sink from his wheelchair, he returned home, where BuildAble had installed an accessible vanity. When he realized he could easily brush his teeth, it instantly boosted his morale. “It was amazing,” Kyla says of that moment. “We were all crying.” 

Article content