Kitchen & Bath Design News is the industry's leading business, design and product resource for the kitchen and bath trade.
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Generational Design By Anita Shaw Accessibility and Value Top Wish List for Mature Homeowners Aging in place is a key concern for the over-65 crowd, and products that provide ease of use, minimum maintenance and beautiful design are in high demand. DESIGN FOR LIVING AT HOME One of the primary concerns of mature homeowners is living as long as possible in their existing homes, as they may already be feeling the efects of age and dealing with more limited mobility. "Staying in place is the new norm, so this group wants quality, dependable products that will last and be virtually maintenance free," offers Steve Livingston of Livingston Interiors in San Francisco, CA. Mature homeowners are gravitating toward the vast number of products now designed for the older purchaser, including ADA-compliant and handicapped-accessible items. "But these products are not the institutional-looking designs of the past," he stresses. For the bath, which is the numberone priority for this group, important © 2013 Samsung Electronics America, Inc. All rights reserved. W hen asked to conjure up an image of a home belonging to an older homeowner, ornate oak kitchens and cluttered, funky-colored baths may be the frst pictures that come to mind. Indeed, mature homeowners were once associated with these less-than-fattering styles. But not anymore. In fact, in a recent survey of more than 300 dealers and designers, Kitchen & Bath Design News found that mature homeowners – a group that encompasses people born before 1946 – are much more current than expected. "As we all have our 'comfort foods,' I'm fnding the mature homeowner is looking for their 'comfort kitchen' and 'comfort bath," comments Art Warren, CMKBD, of Gravelle Woodworking in Burlington, Ontario. "Comfortable, pleasant, unencumbered living is what is essential to seniors," states Joanna Barker, of Inspirations Interior Design Inc., in Laguna Niguel, CA. "Open foor plans and single-level living appeals to them." "They want to simplify, and choose quality over quantity," reports Dawn Zarillo of Custom Design Kitchens in New York. "Our 'Silver Community' wants everything bright and light, and timeless." • Streamlined cabinets that provide ease of cleaning, such as Wellborn Cabinet's Milan door style shown here, as well as pull-outs that provide easy access, are very popular with mature clients. • Older clients are asking for touch products like Blum's Servo Drive, which provides electronic touch-to-open access to cabinets. products include comfort-height toilets, grab bars, curbless showers, shower seats and faucets that are easy to operate. Low maintenance is also key to the successful design of the bath for these homeowners. "Universal Design is the answer for a lot of people who are wondering if they will be able to stay in their homes until they are ready to leave for whatever reason," explains Robert Getchell of S. Florida Arch Builders in Florida. "The bathrooms have become friendly instead of being the room that can end their freedom. Curbless showers, shower seats and easy-access tubs mean less chance of falling, and a custom cabinet with a sink at the height a client wants is making it easier for the person who is height challenged. And anti-slip foors as well as heating and cooling options in baths are giving mature buyers much more to choose from." Lynn Hegstrom of Bollinger Design Group in Denver, CO reports that mature homeowners are also getting rid of the master bathtub. "It has become something to dust," she remarks. "Instead, this group is asking for a roll-in shower without a curb or a walk-in tub, Samsung RF32FMQDBSR shown and always a bench on which to sit." As with the bath, the mature homeowner wants the kitchen to be more user-friendly, with a large, functional space with accessible amenities throughout. "It's all about function, function and function," reports Shirley Landels, of M N'M Cabinet Co., in Portland, OR. Among the items that pique their interest in the kitchen are convenience and accessible items, such as pull-out shelves, cabinet drawers, soft-close doors and drawers, and touch-sensitive faucets. "Mature homeowners are focusing on simple lines, with less places for dirt and dust to hide or settle," adds Trish Burgess, CKD, CAPS of Kitchen & Bath Concepts of St. Simons, Inc., in St. Simons Island, GA. "They want easy to use and easy to keep clean appliances, and are following the 'less is defnitely more' trend. But, this group also wants the space to be very attractive since they are continuing to entertain at home." October 2013 ForResidentialPros.com | 25 Introducing the next generation Refrigerator. Unique four-door design, with room for 32 bags of groceries1, and the most fresh food capacity in its class.2 A Convertible Zone that can change from refrigerator to freezer and back, so you're never out of space. Our exclusive Triple Cooling system maintains up to 4x higher humidity levels, keeping food fresher longer.3 Custom stainless steel resists fngerprints to keep your kitchen beautiful. 1. One bag of groceries is equivalent to 1 cubic foot; actual capacity is 31.7 cu. ft. 2. Fresh food capacity compared to current Samsung products. 3. Humidity levels compared to Samsung mono-cooling refrigerators. Circle No. 22 on Product Card