Builders' Show: Universal design that's good for everyone

Fancy and functional aren't necessarily the adjectives that come to mind when you think of universal design, but they should be according to architects, designers, remodelers, builders, and manufacturers at the 2011 International Builders' Show in Orlando. Universal design makes homes easier for everyone to use and enjoy, not just those with disabilities.

Thanks to many new products, universal design has lost its institutional look. Kohler, for example, introduced its Rising Wall Bath at the show. Unlike other accessible tubs it features an extra wide opening with a chair-height seat. You get in and raise the wall of the tub. It's part of a suite of full access products.

Some universal design features, such as rocker switches for light fixtures and lever handles instead of round door knobs, have become so common that people forget that they started as universal design products.

And universal design doesn't have to be costly. But it does need some forethought and planning. When you're remodeling your kitchen, for example, use kitchen cabinets with self-closing or soft-close drawers, says Brookfield, CT-based designer Mary Jo Peterson. "It could be a plus for someone with painful arthritis, or for anyone who's ever bumped into a drawer that was left open by mistake." Soft-close drawers are now widely available.

Another thing to plan for when remodeling a bath is to add blocking for grab bars, even if you don't install them now. "Grab bars have gotten so decorative-looking that I install them instead of towel bars," says Binghamton, NY-based remodeler Mike McGowan. "So many people slip in the shower or bath and reach for the towel bar, which then can give way," he explains. "So it makes sense to just install the grab bars in the first place."

Here's an easy change that anyone can make: Add a shelf by your front door or door from your garage into your home. It costs just a few dollars and then you have somewhere to rest groceries while you open the door.

 --Celia Kuperszmid Lehrman