Kitchen & Bath Design News

APR 2016

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

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With increasing numbers of older homeowners downsizing, combined with younger homeowners seeking active urban communities to call home, high-rise condominiums are presenting new opportunities – and design challenges. BY ELLEN CHEEVER, CMKBD, ASID High-Rise Design here's a new business opportunity for kitchen and bath designers familiar with single-family home design: creating living spaces in high-rise condominiums. It has been widely reported that inner-city and coastal high-rise living is increasing in popularity. Baby Boomers and Matures are downsizing and, rather than moving to 55+ golf communities, they are drawn to pedestrian-friendly, culturally rich urban neighborhoods. At the same time, younger home- owners – those Generation Yers and Generation Xers – are not nearly as interested in suburbia: They also want to live in an active community. Many are not even getting driver licenses! T For designers who have not planned kitchens, bathrooms or other living spaces in high-rise environments, there are spe- cial construction concerns, challenging design limitations and great business opportunities when working on such projects. Until recently, I had very little experience in the constraints of condominium design – and the challenges of downsizing. That all changed in 2015. Last year, I personally faced this challenge: My husband and I moved from a 4,500-sq.-ft. single-family home to a 1,400-sq.-ft. condominium – the frst step in our retirement plan! It was an adventure – let me share with you what I learned. Create a valance above windows so that LED strip lighting can be used in place of recessed or surface-mounted lighting. 40 Kitchen & Bath Design News • April 2016 DESIGNER'S NOTEBOOK

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