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about making a home safe, accessible and comfortable for everyone. That means making it easier for kids to work along- side mom in the kitchen. It's also about giving Aunt Sue a place to sit so she feels included." "There is a lack of public awareness about Universal Design," adds Tammy Kaplan, CID, CAPS, Images in Design, in Cranford, NJ. "People often think it's only for those with disabilities. But that isn't what it's about. It's about having a home you don't ever have to change, no matter your age or abilities. If, from day one, your home is equipped with Universal Design principles, you won't ever have to make it adaptive because it already is. Universal Design is about good design…for everyone. It's smart design, common sense design, and it's important that our industry talk more about it." Klappa agrees. "Universal Design is in its infancy," he says. "Not many of my clients are educated about it because no one seems to be marketing it." That means designers typically broach the subject first. Clients who may initiate the conversation are typically older, al- though p eople of any age who need assistance also ask about it. The latter was the case for Cook, who recently remodeled the kitchen of a young mother who is losing her eyesight. "The wooden stairs leading to the kitchen became a blank slate of one color, so we painted the bullnosing a different color, which then became an accent," she says. "Now, when she comes down the stairs, she can see the treads. They are actually very pretty, and the color has become a design element." Robin Amorello, CKD CAPS, Atmoscaper Design, in Topsham, ME, is also currently working with a relatively young woman with lower back issues. "She has asked me to design with cabinets that are 1.5" taller than standard because she is tall and hunching over is a problem for her," she says. "For all consumers, it's about throwing the standards out the door and realizing they can have something customized to their specific needs." Varying countertop height, as well as vanity heights in bathrooms, is a popular Universal Design element that is be- ing mainstreamed into many spaces. "We set up vanity height based on needs," says Klappa. "Sometimes we make them higher, sometimes lower." Functionally, this accommodates people of varying heights and abilities. "If someone likes to bake, kneading dough on a 36" counter is just too high," says Kaplan. "Instead, I'll do something at 30". The low counter is great for kids who now don't have to climb onto a chair to reach the countertop. It's also great for someone who might be in a wheelchair. The low- er countertop accommodates many different people…a child, a baker and a disabled person. It's good design for everyone." It can also be beautiful design, Kaplan continues. "You can easily turn a variety of countertop heights into a design feature," she says. "You can make a portion of the countertop butcher block or other material that identifies it as a specific work space." Nowicki generally fields more requests for Universal Design from older clients. "They are thinking about staying This master bath, designed by Genie Nowicki, includes a curbless shower with built-in bench and a roomy 60" diameter that allows for wheelchair turning. Sinks are accessible from a standing or seated position and faucets feature lever handles. Wide, 36" doorways are combined with good task and ambient lighting – beneficial to all. This homeowner needed a bath that functioned as a powder room when entertaining, a convenient bath for a tall family, a guest bath for a short mom who visited often, and a five-year-old nephew. As a solution, Genie Nowicki included a motorized vanity that adjusts counter height for standing and seated users. Other Universal Design features include a hands-free automatic faucet and comfort-height, wall-hung toilet. In this kitchen, Genie Nowicki included a 'roll-under' sink with flipper doors that conceal storage and allow use by a seated user or someone in a wheelchair. A raised dishwasher allows for better ergonomics with less bending. Photo: Emerald Light Photography Photo: Emerald Light Photography September 2016 • KitchenBathDesign.com 39 UNIVERSAL DESIGN