ICON - The magazine of the American Society of Interior Designers - (Page 56)

aging in style Comfort, Ease and Safety Make a House a Lifetime Home As they approach retirement age, what kind of homes are baby boomers dreaming about? They want practical luxury. They want the latest and greatest technology. They want rooms for entertaining and outdoor spaces with all the comforts of indoors. They want their home to be smaller, more functional and easy to maintain. They want the home to be more energy-efﬁcient and to incorporate “green” design. But more than anything else, they want a one-level ﬂoor plan and universal design features, so they can stay put and enjoy their dream home for the rest of their lives. Those were the ﬁndings of a survey commissioned by the publishing company, Hanley Wood LLC, earlier this year. If you tally this wish list, it becomes pretty clear that there are opportunities for interior designers who can draw on knowledge of green design and universal design to advise boomers on how to achieve the combination of aesthetics, comfort, function and safety that they want in their homes. “Design for an aging population is not a wholly different process,” says Louis Tenenbaum, CAPS, an independent living specialist and member of the ASID Aging in Place Council. “It is more about repositioning your point of view.” Of course, designers must know the principles of universal design and how to apply them in various environments in the home. They should also have some familiarity with the types of products and materials available. But the crucial difference is in the programming phase. “We have to frame the questions in a more personal way,” Tenebaum explains. “We have to ask clients more speciﬁcally about their health and any prognosis or likelihood of their condition changing in the future. Aging is a chronic condition, and it is progressive. Changes are going to occur over time.” Designers can help clients anticipate those changes and advise them on incorporating adaptable solutions that will make their homes livable for years to come. “By 2010, half of all homeowners will be age 50 or older. This is a group not to be ignored,” states ASID Aging in Place Council member Rebecca Stahr, ASID, CAPS, MCSP, CMP, CAASH. “The existing homes in our nation’s housing stock won’t serve clients who prefer not to bend, stoop, stretch, climb or squeeze through, 56 Top: The kitchen in this universally designed home in Hillsdale, Mich., features design elements such as a raised dishwasher, easy-to-open cabinets with roll-out shelves and a smooth-top range with controls on the front. Right: The home’s master bath includes a 60-inch shower with bench seat, a 36-inch high vanity, a comfort height toilet, and a stacked and raised front-load washer and dryer with shut-off controls near the door opening. ASID ICON | THE MAGAZINE OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF INTERIOR DESIGNERS PHOTOS: BLUE SKY PHOTOGRAPHY DESIGN: PAT ROWEN, ASID, CAPS

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of ICON - The magazine of the American Society of Interior Designers

ICON - The magazine of the American Society of Interior Designers Contents President’s Message Good to Know Innovations Breathing Life into a Building Designs for Senior Living On the Move Thinking Green Aging in Style Industry Inside ASID Grassroots ASID National Industry Partner Focus Showroom Advertisers Resource Guide Annual Articles Index

ICON - The magazine of the American Society of Interior Designers

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