Hello. I was wondering if you have done a kitchen design video on the challenges of people who have “aging issues”? I’m not just referring to the issues of having to use a wheelchair in a kitchen but issues from having arthritis or failing eyesight. With arthritis people can have trouble operating kitchen faucets or grasping certain types of cabinet door handles. With failing eyesight I’ve read that you should have a high contrast between the countertop color and the base cabinet color because people can have difficulty discerning where the edge of the countertop is and they can hit the edge with a hot pot or dinner plate. Also, I’ve read that you should avoid a highly polished countertop because reflections from overhead lighting and glare from windows can make it difficult for people with failing eyesight to work safely. Do you know of any other design guidelines for people affected by “aging issues”?
One of my issues is poor balance. Make sure that lower cabinets do not have knobs or bar-type handles that can catch on clothes and throw someone off balance. Landing zones near every appliance (including the refrigerator) and work space are important so that I don't have to carry heavy things far. Lots of different lighting options with dimmers on some of them is also nice.
I am a certified Aging in Place Specialist and a licensed occupational therapist. If your vision issues are so severe that you cannot see the edge of the countertop or struggle to see accurately when encountering glare, your lighting choices are essential. Must come from both direct and indirect sources. Glare for most older adults creates visual fatigue rather than acuity issues. For grasp, choose handles versus knobs, larger diameters versus narrow ones, lightweight versus heavy, and touch-less faucets and soap dispensers. Hope that helps. AIPS are easy to find through the national builders association site.
I am worried about that, too. Thinking of skipping as it would interfere with the open feel and "clutter up" the line of sight. Any ideas/inputs appreciated 🙏
We use them on 8’ ceilings all the time! It’s just a matter of choosing the correct pendant- something that has less visual clutter. This could be an ‘open style’, small, or even glass. All depends on the design aesthetic, size of the island or peninsula, and floor plan.
In my opinion, white kitchens are great but all-white kitchens are not. If you have white walls and white cabinets, don't do white counter tops with a white backsplash! You don't want your kitchen to look like a pharmacy lab like @02:43 (I mean, some people do but for me it looks appalling and inhuman). It's just too much along the lines of all-grey everything which was bound to go out of style eventually.
Hello, I enjoyed the video but I must tell you that I had to pause it and go back to minute 5:17 in order to try and figure out what that metal pipe was on the upper left back wall. Is that a range hood? I suspected it might be but then I wasn’t sure since I couldn’t see a cooktop. And then I wondered, where’s the sink? The entire design seems to be focused on the dining table attached to the peninsula and the family room off to the right. Where did you find this picture? The layout and the fact that there appears to be only about 42” between the base cabinets on the left and the peninsula makes this the least functional and cramped kitchen I’ve ever seen.
Great topic! It’s been a pleasure working with you on our project, highly recommended! Best wishes all-
Hello. I was wondering if you have done a kitchen design video on the challenges of people who have “aging issues”? I’m not just referring to the issues of having to use a wheelchair in a kitchen but issues from having arthritis or failing eyesight.
With arthritis people can have trouble operating kitchen faucets or grasping certain types of cabinet door handles. With failing eyesight I’ve read that you should have a high contrast between the countertop color and the base cabinet color because people can have difficulty discerning where the edge of the countertop is and they can hit the edge with a hot pot or dinner plate.
Also, I’ve read that you should avoid a highly polished countertop because reflections from overhead lighting and glare from windows can make it difficult for people with failing eyesight to work safely.
Do you know of any other design guidelines for people affected by “aging issues”?
One of my issues is poor balance. Make sure that lower cabinets do not have knobs or bar-type handles that can catch on clothes and throw someone off balance. Landing zones near every appliance (including the refrigerator) and work space are important so that I don't have to carry heavy things far. Lots of different lighting options with dimmers on some of them is also nice.
I am a certified Aging in Place Specialist and a licensed occupational therapist. If your vision issues are so severe that you cannot see the edge of the countertop or struggle to see accurately when encountering glare, your lighting choices are essential. Must come from both direct and indirect sources. Glare for most older adults creates visual fatigue rather than acuity issues. For grasp, choose handles versus knobs, larger diameters versus narrow ones, lightweight versus heavy, and touch-less faucets and soap dispensers. Hope that helps. AIPS are easy to find through the national builders association site.
Great video!!! Do you have a favorite grout color that you like to use with white subway tile and white cabinets?
What is you opinion on pendants over an island with a standard 8ft ceiling? I’m worried about them looking like ‘too much’
I am worried about that, too. Thinking of skipping as it would interfere with the open feel and "clutter up" the line of sight. Any ideas/inputs appreciated 🙏
I was worried too with my 8 foot ceiling. I chose clear glass pendants and are happy with them.
We use them on 8’ ceilings all the time! It’s just a matter of choosing the correct pendant- something that has less visual clutter. This could be an ‘open style’, small, or even glass. All depends on the design aesthetic, size of the island or peninsula, and floor plan.
In my opinion, white kitchens are great but all-white kitchens are not. If you have white walls and white cabinets, don't do white counter tops with a white backsplash! You don't want your kitchen to look like a pharmacy lab like @02:43 (I mean, some people do but for me it looks appalling and inhuman). It's just too much along the lines of all-grey everything which was bound to go out of style eventually.
Hello, I enjoyed the video but I must tell you that I had to pause it and go back to minute 5:17 in order to try and figure out what that metal pipe was on the upper left back wall. Is that a range hood? I suspected it might be but then I wasn’t sure since I couldn’t see a cooktop. And then I wondered, where’s the sink? The entire design seems to be focused on the dining table attached to the peninsula and the family room off to the right.
Where did you find this picture? The layout and the fact that there appears to be only about 42” between the base cabinets on the left and the peninsula makes this the least functional and cramped kitchen I’ve ever seen.
Are you going to be making a video on the HOTTEST TREND in kitchen design - the Scullery Kitchen?
White kitchens, bathrooms are never going away. Nothing looks cleaner when cleaned.
Freak out moment! Kids on the stove??
Overrated and overused IMHO.
Way overused, like the subway tile.