One of the great puzzles for any modern architect is accessibility. As both a legal and moral imperative, ease of use for people with disabilities great and small is key to designing modern infrastructure.

Private residences lack the same legal requirement, but thinking about accessibility is still important for disabled residents or for preparing for the future, including old age. Here are some key considerations for ensuring your custom home is accessible.

Entry

The obvious method for disabled access to a home is to build a ramp, but some owners consider them unsightly. In a custom home, you have the advantage of designing around this problem from the ground up…literally. A zero-step entrance can allow door access without an unsightly ramp, but requires drainage and other considerations when building.

If you do go the ramp route, a landscaper can craft one that’s much more appealing than a hunk of wood and metal. Picture a flowing concrete pathway to your front door, lined with flowers or a water feature.

Bathroom

Given that many of its surfaces are wet, designing an accessible bathroom requires extra care. Toilets and showers are usually equipped with metal grab bars to make ingress and egress simple. A roll-under sink or vanity also makes access to a mirror much easier.

For the shower itself, functionality need not be unattractive. A fully tiled bathroom with a glass partition allows wheelchair users to easily roll in; alternatively, you can opt for a half-wall that keeps the shower separate from the rest of the room.

Kitchen

In a kitchen, ground level storage is probably the most important consideration. This extends to counters and other workspaces. Storage must be separate from these areas to allow wheelchair users to roll under the counter when using it. You’ll also want a sink that keeps plumbing close to the wall.

Are you looking for the custom home of your dreams? Tingen Construction brings proven experience, technical skill and a local reputation as one of the best builders in the North Carolina Triangle! Take a look at our available homes today, or contact us to learn about a custom floor plan.