Remodeling Your Home for Ease of Use

by | Sep 4, 2013 | 2, 3, Articles

<h2 style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt"><font size="3" color="#990000">Remodeling Your Home for Ease of Use</font></h2><p><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt">(ARA) – If you are among the one in five Americans who has arthritis or know someone who does, home improvement takes on a whole new meaning. Tasks such as bending, reaching, grasping and stretching to do household tasks can be especially difficult for people living with arthritis and chronic joint symptoms, as well as for anyone who wants to live at home as long as possible.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt"><div style="text-align: center"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,29,0" width="425" height="282"><param name="movie" value="../images/banners/3a.swf" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="menu" value="false" /><param name="wmode" value="" /><embed src="../images/banners/3a.swf" wmode="" quality="high" menu="false" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="282"></embed></object></div></span></p><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt"><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">May is National Arthritis Month and a good time to start thinking about making your home easier to live in as time goes by. There are many simple ways to make a home more functional, livable and easier to use, even as one’s physical strength, mobility and eyesight decreases over time. Builders and remodelers are incorporating subtle designs and materials that can make homes usable for all people, regardless of age or ability. This building trend is known as universal design.<span>   </span></p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Universal design can be as simple as choosing easy-to-use levers for doors and cabinets instead of doorknobs, installing a no-curb shower; or creating kitchen counters of varied heights, which not only creates an on-trend look but also provides access for wheelchair users. These adjustments can be made subtly, stylishly and well ahead of when they may be needed, allowing the home to "age gracefully" along with you.<span>   </span></p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Manufacturers also are building accessibly, visibility and flexibility features into kitchen and bath cabinets. For example, Diamond Cabinets’ Logix organizational cabinets are designed to eliminate awkward arm movements, aching knee bends and the strain of hard-to-reach items. The Arthritis Foundation has given several of these cabinets its Ease-of-Use Commendation, indicating they have passed independent laboratory testing and are designated as favorable for people with physical limitations due to arthritis.<span>  </span></p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Among the cabinets deemed easier to use is the SuperCabinet, which makes storage and retrieval easy with large capacity pullout shelves and wire baskets that hold up to 45 pounds of food, as well as exterior doors that open wide so you can see and reach what’s inside. Another, the Pegged Dish Organizer, is a drawer with a removable pegboard and posts so you can lift plates up instead of stretching overhead to bring plates down from an upper cabinet.</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Also consider outfitting your kitchen with such cabinetry solutions as a pantry with roll-out shelves; a lazy Susan with segments that pull out toward you; easy-access wall cabinets; and multi-purpose drawers with sliding accessory shelves.</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Ease of use remodeling also can extend to the bathroom. For example, Diamond’s Vanity Linen Closet has earned the Ease-of-Use Commendation, and can provide easier access to towels and bath supplies. It has deep shelves and swing out door racks so you can see and grab anything from a big fluffy bath towel to a small bar of soap. It also has a fully extendable laundry basket that can ease the trip from the bathroom to laundry room.<span>  </span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span><div style="text-align: center"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000&quot; codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,29,0" width="425" height="282"><param name="movie" value="../images/banners/2b.swf" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="menu" value="false" /><param name="wmode" value="" /><embed src="../images/banners/2b.swf" wmode="" quality="high" menu="false" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="282"></embed></object></div></span></p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">As you remodel your home for ease of use, look for building materials that require minimal upkeep and that are safe to use. Aim for the simple and practical, versus the elaborate or intricate. Choose products that alleviate pressure on joints, arms hands or back. With a few well-chosen adjustments, you can design your home for the way you really want to live, not only now but later.</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">For more information, visit <a href="http://www.diamondcabinets.com/afp">www.diamondcabinets.com/afp</a> .</p>  <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt">Courtesy of ARAcontent</span></p></span>