UNIVERSAL DESIGN & LIFE-SPAN DESIGN

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Design Your Home to Last a Lifetime....

 

Your Home Is More Than A House!  It should follow you through the stages of your life.  Each and every one of us is a unique expression of life and abilities. No matter what our age or ability, we all want to be surrounded by beauty and to be able to flow through our daily chores with as little effort and thought as possible. By successfully applying Life-Span Design principles, with aesthetic design, quality materials, and workmanship, Franklin & Associates  will ensure your home will be a place that generations will enjoy. 

 

 

What is Design For A Life Span?

 

• A residence created to be used by all family members, regardless of age, size, health or physical ability

• It’s not just about decoration and aesthetics, good design affects the quality of life

• A practical and safe environment for all stages of life:  Senior-hood , Adulthood and Childhood

• It allows for personal independence

• Thoughtful product design, so that it can be used by anyone to its greatest extent possible

• A home that is safe, comfortable, adaptable & accommodating to all who live and visit it

• The ability to remain living independently in a residence without need for assistance or relocation during the age continuum

 

Everyone can use Life-Span design! It doesn't matter if you are young or old. You could be short or tall, healthy or ill. You might have a disability. Or you may be a prize-winning athlete. Because of Life-Span home design, people who are very different can all enjoy the same home. And that home will be there for all its inhabitants even when their needs change.

 

Here are some of the more common life-span design features that are also incorporated into aging-in-place remodels:

• No-step entry. No one needs to use stairs to get into a life-span design home or into the home's main rooms.

• One-story living. Places to eat, use the bathroom and sleep are all located on one level, which is barrier-free.

• Wide doorways. Doorways that are 32-36 inches wide let baby strollers and wheelchairs pass through. They also make it easy to move big things in and out of the house.

• Wide hallways. Hallways should be 36-42 inches wide. That way, everyone and everything moves more easily from room to room.

• Extra floor space. Everyone feel less cramped. And people in wheelchairs have more space to turn.

 

Some life-span design features just make good sense. Once you bring them into your home, you'll wonder how you ever lived without them. For example:

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• Floors and bathtubs with non-slip surfaces help everyone stay on their feet. They're not just for people who are frail. 

• Thresholds that are flush with the floor make it easy for a wheelchair to get through a doorway. They also keep others from tripping.

• Good lighting helps people with poor vision. And it helps everyone else see better, too.

• Lever door handles and rocker light switches  are great for people with poor hand strength. But others like them too. Try using these devices when your arms are full of packages. You'll never go back to knobs or standard switches

  

 

Want to talk to us about Life-Span Design Building?   Contact Us Today!