• Easy access to your home is important even when you have a sloped lot.  In order to accommodate strollers or wheelchairs, flat or gently sloping areas, walkways and large parking areas or garages should be created.  Try to reduce the need for stairs.
• A large covered porch combined with a large door and a spacious entry area are not only convenient, they provide flexibility in their use.  They meet the needs of a young family and for the elderly when accessibility becomes more challenging,
• The needs in the living areas change as the family matures,  Bedrooms that were once used for children can become a home office, a den or a large ensuite when the children move out.  The basement can be developed into a recreation area separated from the main living area for the older children.  That same basement can become a separate living space for grown children moving back home, a nanny or a nursemaid, all depending on the need at the time.
• A properly designed main living area of a home is important for comfort and convenience.  An open plan offers the most flexibility.  The kitchen is the heart of the home and life in the household is usually centered on this area.  It should be designed to meet the needs of the cook while at the same time accommodate interaction with children and guests.  The living spaces housld provide for the easy flow of traffic with enough space to acoommodate furniture and personal possessions.  It should also be designed to accommodate either a highchair or a wheelchair, whever the need is.
• Care should be taken in selecting hardware and accessories.  Locks and door hardware shold be easy to use for both small children and the elderly.  Windows should be easy to open and have easy-to-use latches or cranks.  Position electrical switches, outlets and mechanical system controls where they are easily reached from a standing or sitting postion.
• Lighting should be planned to provide well-lit work areas as well as adequate lighting for access and movement from one area to the next.
• In the bathroom, think safety for the whole family.  Reinforce the wallks for grab-bars in the shower and tub areas.  Install non-slip flooring and anti-scald showers.

Providing for the long term in your renovation plans give you greater value and satisfaction. 

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