Retire Within Reach

With their move to a retirement community, these repeat clients wanted both built-in flair and function for years to come. And they weren’t keen on the two-bedroom, two-bath floor plan. The couple imagined a spacious master bedroom suite, living room, office, and cozy library in their new forever home. So down came existing walls and up went new ones.

A double banquette of drawers—easily accessible from the kitchen and adjacent dining room—makes the case for abundant storage and opens up the space for improved light and circulation.

A tall pullout pantry keeps cooking supplies close at hand, while a convenient fold-down cutting board—designed for wheelchair use—mounts to the wall to keep everyone involved in food preparation.

A splash of color—in painted glass panels—really pops against this kitchen’s neutral palette. A smaller speed oven allows for a reduced-height counter while ample drawer storage and a bottom freezer make for long-term accessibility.

What’s missing in this picture? No threshold makes getting in—and out—of this frameless shower-tub suite pure pleasure. Textured floor tile, grab bars, hand shower, and an extra-wide bath deck complete the clean, seamless design.

A tiled platform customized to the height of a combination toilet-bidet allows for an effortless approach.

Keeping one vanity open—with no base cabinetry below—reserves available space for seated or wheelchair access to the sink area.

Retire Within Reach

Featured in Home & Design, Best in Show, May/June 2013NKBA Magazine, Unveiling the 2013 NKBA Design Competition Winners, Spring 2013, and Kitchen & Bath, NKBA Select's Year's Best Designs, April 2013.

Awarded the 2013 Chrysalis Award: Universal Design; 2012 National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) Capital CotY Awards: Merit Award Winner for Universal Design; 2013 National Kitchen & Bath Association Design Awards – Baltimore-Washington, DC Chapter: First Place for Universal Design, Small Kitchen.

Image 1, photography by Geoffrey Hodgdon; Images 2–7, photography by Anice Hoachlander