I recently gained heightened awareness of the importance of universal design and aging in place through the travails of a loved one. Although I've designed numerous kitchens and baths with handicap access and other universal features, the importance of these features really hit home when I cared for my mom, who sustained a vertebral compression fracture and recuperated at home. Pain from her injury limited her mobility for many weeks.

 

Simple construction details such as thresholds and door swing directions were suddenly obstacles, and basic items such as throw rugs became hazards to be navigated and ultimately moved. After a long walk to the bathroom via a lengthy upstairs hallway, Mom was faced with the challenge of stepping into the shower, and then keeping herself upright with the help of a shower chair and temporary grab bars.

 

I wished every day that she had a bedroom suite that included a bathroom, to facilitate night time bathroom use, reduce the walk to the bathroom, and to make life easier for her in general. I also wished she had a built-in shower seat that would have provided a secure and stable place to rest.

 

A comfort height toilet proved much easier to use than a standard height toilet, as did a 34" high vanity that allowed for less bending and less pain.

 

Stairs were at first impossible, and then a huge challenge until Mom was stronger and steady enough to take them on. This was a big change for someone who had mowed her own lawn with a push mower right up until her injury. Although she did not use a wheelchair at home, use of a walker brought our attention to the value of adequate door widths to enable ease of movement, and to the fact that even the lowest of thresholds can seem like an obstacle lurking to trip someone up.

 

Fortunately, all of the medical offices and facilities we visited were well designed for handicap access - we found that almost all of her medical appointments were quite easy to handle due to thoughtful and practical design features. We did use a wheelchair for medical appointments to make getting around easier. One doctor's waiting room was very small and provided challenges for navigating with a wheelchair, but that was the exception.

 

Here are some important universal design features:

For more information about universal design, I highly recommend the North Carolina State University's Center for Universal Design web pages.

 

Built-in Shower Seating with a Handheld Spray Unit

Quite a bit of the design consultation and services that I now provide involve use of the internet and email. I regularly email product description links to clients, send project specifications to clients and builders rather than personally presenting or delivering them, and scan and email drafted floor plans. I probably do at least half of my shopping for furniture, art, and accessories online nowadays. And my clients can often view products online just as easily as I am able to.

 

Retail stores and "to the trade" sources have made ever increasingly useful product views and specifications available on their websites, creating a convenient way to shop for or to preview products.

 

Of course, there are pros and cons to the online approach. The advantages are fairly obvious:

Some of the disadvantages include:

• Lack of one-to-one contact, less personal.
• Email can potentially convey an unintended tone or can be misinterpreted more easily than a face-to-face conversation or presentation.
• The lapses between sent emails and replies can sometimes be less productive than a phone call or meeting.

I find myself frequently phoning clients to be sure they've received my emails and to follow up on information that I've sent and which might require a timely response.

 

There's even a trend to offer complete design consulting packages online. Based entirely upon the exchange of photos, specs and ideas via email and phone conversations, designers assist clients without ever physically viewing the client's home or office. A Washington Post article suggests that eDecorating seems to be working for a certain sector of the design community.

 

Although I may email links to illustrate options or selections, I always arrange for clients to view items in person before making purchases, and I always present fabric choices in person for custom furniture and window treatments. If a client is asking for advice on a retail product, I encourage him or her to obtain fabric or finish samples to confirm quality, color, etc.

 

Online services can work for designers as purchasers, too. I'm very accustomed to shopping for and ordering samples of fabrics and wallcoverings online. Sometimes, it seems like a new package from Kravet Fabrics arrives every other day! I frequently "pre-shop" online for furniture styles, plumbing fixtures, and appliances before I visit a showroom or make actual recommendations to clients.

 

And I nearly always verify availability for marble, granite and stone, ceramic tile, special lighting, and similar products by checking the manufacturer's or distributor's website. Doing so not only saves me time and travel, but it also helps me avoid recommending an item that may not be readily available to my client or a builder I may be working with.

 

While the internet has helped to add efficiencies to the interior design business, designers still must be adequately compensated for projects based upon the designers' time and resources used. Typically, it makes sense to work off a flat fee to avoid having to keep track of every minute spent shopping online, emailing the client, and the like. If billing hourly, an up-front budget target should be agreed upon, and designers should be sure to keep meticulous accounting of their time spent on projects.

 

The personal touch that's achieved by face-to-face meetings may not be possible through "e-design," but enthusiastic clients and designers can still allow their personalities to shine through and can still achieve fine results together, provided of course that project expectations are well defined from the very beginning.

 

Two of my very favorite books on architecture come from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

 

Master Builders - A Guide To Famous American Architects and What Style Is It? A Guide To American Architecture are both easy-to-read, informative guides on American architects and architecture, with excellent photos, illustrations and diagrams. Both are terrific resources for those who have studied or are studying architecture and design. Individuals with interest in architecture, but with no formal training, will likely also find the books to be very enjoyable and informative.

 

The National Trust for Historic Preservation was founded in 1949, and is dedicated to "saving historic places and revitalizing America's communities".

 

The organization's website offers some excellent resources, including e-newsletters and blogs, a calendar of events, volunteer and advocacy opportunities, green / sustainable information, and info about historic destinations and tours.

One can also sign up to receive the "Preservation" print magazine when joining as a member. Definitely an organization worth our time and attention..