Kitchen & Bath Business - November/December 2017 - 17

Trends

Accessible storage is one easy inclusion that
benefits everyone. Lift systems give users full access to the interior of a cabinet without having to
dodge doors. Cabinets that slide out also eliminate
straining to reach an item, and new technology
allows the homeowner to simply bump the front
of a cabinet to release the drawer.
"It's also important that projects include drawers and organization systems in base cabinets," said
Karen Smith,brand communication coordinator for
Blum USA. "Ergonomic tests show that it's challenging to get items out of a base cabinet with doors,
especially for people with mobility impairment."
When multiple generations are living in the
same home, items like knives, heavy pots and
medication need to be accessible for adults but out
of reach of children. Glass doors on upper cabinets
can keep these items safely away from kids but
make it easy for adults to see what they need.
SAFER BATHROOMS

"Homeowners are most worried about slips and
falls in the home," said Greg Wells, director of
marketing and communications for Bestbath.
"They want to ensure their space is safe and accessible now and in the future."
While kitchens can create risks with mobility
and sharp items, bathrooms are often considered
more problematic spaces for the majority of the
population. According to the Center of Disease
Control, roughly one in four people over the age
of 65 falls every year, and among older adults, falls
- often in the bathroom - are the leading cause of
both fatal and non-fatal injuries. These accidents
are not exclusive to the elderly; approximately
235,000 people over the age of 15 visit emergency rooms because of injuries they suffered in the
bathroom, with the majority of injuries surrounding the shower and tub incurred by those aged 15
to 24. Accidents that happen near the toilet are
more likely to happen to those older than 85.

To reduce the likelihood of falls, designer Alisa Hofmann of Oakland,
Calif.-based Design Set Match recommends several elements in all of her
bathroom projects.
"Visible Changes.There should be a distinct difference in transitions, such as
at the doorway and at shower curbs; this can benefit both the poor sighted
and those who are just tired in the morning. A curbless or low-threshold
shower variation is even better because it eliminates a step.
"Good Lighting. Hofmann recommends using recessed LED fixtures on a
dimmer so that light can be easily adjusted depending on the time of day.
Light fixtures at the mirror are best around 54 to 68 inches high, which
reduces shadowing under the chin line where most men cut themselves
shaving and women need to see for makeup application.
"Grab Bars. At least one - preferably two - horizontal grab bars should be by the toilet. There
should be a vertical one in the shower that will
ABOVE LEFT KRAFTMAID offers
also act as a hand-held shower slide-bar, as well
a Base Cleaning Storage
Cabinet that keeps paper
as a horizontal one or two along the back wall
towels and cleaning supplies
of the shower and at a shower bench.
within easy reach yet out of
"The grab bar with the handshower helps my
sight. This unit slides on fullextension, soft-close runners
soon-to-be seven-year-old take a shower withand is available in 9- and
out feeling like she's drowning in a waterfall,"
12-in. widths.
said Hofmann."They help her step in and out of
BELOW The Concetto Faucet
the bathtub without me needing to pick her up
Collection features GROHE's
and hurt my back, and they also prevent me from
SilkMove Cartridge that
catching my ankle on the sliding door track."
enables smooth handling
for effortless precision. The
faucets are also both WaterSense and CEC certified to
meet the most stringent water
conservation needs of 1.2
gallons per minute.

CONSIDERING AGE IN DESIGN

The loss of mobility, sight, touch and hearing are
all issues that naturally occur with aging. These
factors are important to consider when planning
a space that's usable for a lifetime, no matter the
current age of the homeowners.
"The need for accessibility and safety is for
every home, not just for older adults or those
with a disabling challenge," said Erik Listou and
Louie Delaware, co-founders of the Living In
Place Institute. "If we only fix homes for those

TOTO expands its line of Con-

nect+ high-efficiency toilets
and washlet combinations
with its new MH Connect+
Wall-Mount, High-Efficiency,
Dual-Flush Toilet and DShaped Washlet. This new
addition combines powerful
Dual-Max 3D Tornado flushing performance with an easyto-use bidet function.

The Ashby Collection from
AMEROCK features an innovative sculpted edge on
the underside, which provides
a comfortable fingertip grip
that is easier to grasp. For
retrofits, every Ashby cup pull
supports both 3- and 4-in.
installations and is available
in a variety of finishes like
polished nickel, golden champagne and gunmetal.

The Edgemere HighEfficiency Toilet from
AMERICAN STANDARD is now
offered in a taller 16 ½-in.
rim height to provide a more
comfortable experience. The
toilet also uses 20 percent
less water on each flush than
standard 1.6 gpf toilets.

Kitchen & Bath Business - November/December 2017

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