Kitchen & Bath Design News

OCT 2015

Kitchen & Bath Design News is the industry's leading business, design and product resource for the kitchen and bath trade.

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Market Pulse { Readers' opinions on industry-related issues } 6 | Kitchen & Bath Design News | October 2015 W hen designing a bathroom that young children will use, I am mindful of selecting fooring that will not be slippery, faucets that have one lever rather than hot and cold levers, bathroom sinks that are deep enough to avoid splashing and showers with handheld showerheads on a slide bar. When designing a kitchen for a young family, I like to incorporate a snack area that can be accessed by kids, an area where homework can be completed while parents are preparing meals and ample storage to avoid clutter. Lisa O'Brien, interior designer 3W design, inc. Concord, NH I n the bathroom, I may reverse a drawer with a 1/2" bottom and use locking hardware so that a child may use it as a step until he or she is tall enough to comfortably reach the faucet. I may also suggest a touch-free faucet and thermostatically controlled shower valve for both young and old. I always use a low- or no-threshold shower with one adjustable-height, hand-held show- erhead. Slip-resistant foors and fxtures that double as grab bars are also useful for everyone. A moisture-sensing ven- tilator also adds value for the whole family, especially when a child forgets to turn it of. Barry Tunbridge, owner/designer Du-Craft Kitchen & Bath Design LLC Wall Twp., NJ A bsolutely! The frst appliance most children will cook with is the microwave, and therefore, it wouldn't do to have it located over the range. We should try to have it either in a base or tall cabinet so that it can be safely accessed without scald hazards. Lowered counter heights also are more child friendly. Drawers that hold their items in base cabinets keep plastic cups, plates, water bottles, etc. convenient and within easy reach to help children en- gage more autonomously and safely in the kitchen. Maria Stapperfenne, CKD, CBD, manager Tewksury Kitchens & Baths Whitehouse Station, NJ I have created child-friendly fea- tures in my designs, including lower counter heights that give chil- dren a comfortable area to help with prep work and snacks and/or refrigera- tor drawers on the end of cabinet runs for ease of access so they don't need to wander into the main work zones. I've even allocated base cabinets specifcally for kid's dishes. Mary Skurecki, kitchen & bath designer Maclaren Kitchen & Bath West Chester, PA I n the kitchen I do recommend islands rather than a bar height for children. You can pull a highchair up and the shorter bar stools are less dangerous to climb up on. Islands are family friendly for cooking projects as well as arts and crafts projects. I plan a base cabinet so that they can reach their cups and plates. Using rounded corners on countertops is an obvious choice. In a bathroom I recommend a shorter-height vanity than the kitchen height. I recommend bathtubs that are not too high, and a standard-height toi- let for easier access. Nance Arce, president/interior designer Naturally Creative, Inc. Oakland Park, FL I always try to design with all of the residents of the home in mind, whether very young or very old. One of the kid-friendly elements I would include would be table-height seating instead of counter stools (mostly for safety – taller stools can be harder to clamber up on and can also tip). Micro drawers with locks are easy to reach and easy to se- cure if necessary. Ice/water dispensers on the fridge allow kids to grab a drink as well. I have designed a home with an island that featured refrigerator draw- ers just for kids' drinks, deep drawers specifcally for snack items, drawers for lunchboxes and plastic storage con- tainers, and a built-in banquette with storage and outlets for doing homework. Amy Britton CKD, owner Artisan Kitchens Inc. Osterville, MA I believe that all kitchens need to be designed for the safety of small children. A family may not have any children at the moment, but homes get sold, grandkids and visitors come over, etc. Never having a range or a cooktop on the end of a run and having enough countertop in back of a cooktop on an island are the most im- portant safety features. Fixing ranges with anti-tip devices is also important. Microwave hoods can be dangerous for young kids trying to use the microwave over cooking surfaces, so we do keep this in mind. And, microwave drawers can be destroyed quickly by an inven- tive two year old putting a toy truck in the 'science oven.' Paul McAlary, president Main Line Kitchen Design Narberth, PA I always like to see young children in the home when I go out to look at a client's kitchen. I always ask if they want to consider a special place for the children to eat, do homework, work on projects, etc. Most, if not all, of my cli- ents who have young children want a special space devoted to the kids. Brad Crandall, sales & design consultant All Pro Kitchen & Bath LLC Troy, MI I always try to build in Universal Design elements so that [the space] works both for the young and the young at heart. When there are small children in the home, I try to put some low storage in for them so that they can help themselves. I also try to incorporate a space for them in the kitchen so that they can get their own snacks and drinks. This area has a small undercounter fridge as well. This allows them to be in the kitchen but not under the cook's feet. It is safer and easier for all. Jane Montgomery, president Jane Allyson Design Enterprises Spring Hill, KS Professionals Discuss Safety and Child-Friendly Design Elements Kitchen & Bath Design News recently asked dealers and designers in the kitchen and bath industry: "When designing a kitchen or bath for a family with young children, do you incorporate specifc child- friendly elements or safety features into the project? If so, what do you incorporate to make the space safer and more functional for young children and their parents?" What do you think? E-mail your feedback, contact information and the subject line, 'Market Pulse' with your message to Janice@SOLAbrands.com.

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