With the continued interest in aging-in-place, manufacturers are pushing the envelope when it comes to product design. Traditional interior cabinet storage and standard appliances are getting dramatic overhauls, with technology and engineering advancing even the simplest items.
Obvious items for accessibility are coupled with the surprising and unusual, with designers incorporating a range of products that provide easy access and visibility. Creating kitchen designs that meet the needs of older and physically challenged clients continues to be easier, more creative and more beautiful with each new development.
Among the items in focus in the accessible kitchen are:
- LED strip, tape and puck lighting inside cabinets and drawers, in toe kicks, under cabinets and even in crown molding provide illumination for easier prep and viewing.
- Touchless and voice-command faucets allow users to tap, wave or speak to get faucets to not only turn on and off but fill exact measures for all types of needs.
- Undercounter appliances, such as refrigerators, dish drawers and microwave ovens, provide easy access to interiors for all members of the household.
- Advances in technology have delivered countertops and surfaces that provide depth and movement to aid those who are visually impaired.
- Cabinet pullouts and pulldowns deliver access to recessed corners, allowing for the use of every inch of space.
- WiFi-connected appliances allow for operation from cell phones and tablets, with homeowners using apps and voice commands to do everything from check refrigerator contents to preheating the oven.