Kitchen & Bath Business - July/August 2016 - 54

Universal Design

A Comfortable
Retirement

A couple plans for the future with
smart safety and convenience choices

ABOVE Prior to construction,

the team pre-ordered all of the
cabinetry for an eight-week
delivery time. The thermofoil
kitchen cabinets are from
Holiday Kitchens and feature
soft-close door hinges.
RIGHT A third sink in the vanity
is mounted low for safe and
easy wheelchair access.

ENTERING YOUR GOLDEN YEARS doesn't necessarily mean losing your independence. When
Marc and Marlyn Spivak downsized from their
large single-family home into this Lincolnshire,
Ill., condominium, they were determined to spend
their retirement in the comfort of their home for
as long as possible.
Knowing the kitchen and bath needed serious
updating and planning for potential health issues
in the future, they retained the services of architect
Michael Menn of Michael Menn Ltd. and kitchen and bath designer Nancy Jacobson of Kitchen
Design Partners - both located in Northbrook, Ill.
Both Menn and Jacobson are Certified Aging in
Place Specialists who are trained in designing safe
and secure living spaces for older adults.

so everything was pre-ordered, and everyone followed a predetermined order."
In addition to the tight schedule, the design team dealt with the numerous
regulations involved when initiating construction in a multi-unit dwelling.
"It's a challenge to complete a project within a condominium board's
restrictions and to not disturb or inconvenience the building's residents, but
we succeeded," said Menn.
Those challenges included removing debris and old appliances, scheduling
elevators and plumbing shut-offs,parking for contractor vehicles,keeping noise
and dust to a minimum and bringing in new building materials and products.
"We communicated consistently with the building's management company, scheduled water turn-offs one week in advance and placed floor protection over the entire length of the hallway," said Menn.
After the renovations were complete, Cambria - a brand specified in the
project - helped the team host an open house in the renovated condo as part
of the company's marketing strategy. According the Menn, the homeowners
were permitted to invite whomever they want, and in this case they invited
all of the building's residents.

CHALLENGES MET AND CONQUERED

BY DAVID LEWIS,
a publicist and features writer
based in Morton Grove, Ill.

Menn and Jacobson had just a three-month window of time to complete the remodeling of the
kitchen and bath.The homeowners chose to reside
in a long-term hotel while the condo was being
remodeled since the wife was on summer vacation from her teaching job during that time frame.
"We are very good at what we do, and we preplan," said Menn. "We also created a chart schedule to send to all of the trades a month in advance

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Kitchen & Bath Business - July/August 2016

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