Think Safety in Kitchen Design
With all the new gadgets found in kitchens today, it’s important to design your kitchen to specifically fit the needs, and physical limitations, of those who will be using the appliances and cooking tools.
With our population changing, it is essential kitchen designers ask the right questions regarding age, height, and any possible physical limitations of the users. When interviewing clients on their initial visit, the first thing I notice is the height of my client.
Most people are taller than I am, but one lady who comes to mind is about four feet 10 inches tall, and requested a shorter island, with chair height seating.
To meet her needs, I made sure there were no appliances in the island, so we didn’t have to worry about others feeling awkward using either a cooktop or sink in the shorter island. The end result was wonderful. Preparation was easily done at the large island, which was table height.
When children are using the kitchen, we keep their needs in mind, but we also remember they will grow up. If they do like to help in the kitchen, it’s best to have one work area in an island that’s lowered to 30 inches high, instead of the normal 36 inches.
The level of the microwave should be adjusted for not only children, but also shorter users and for those in wheelchairs. Sometimes it does work to have it in the end of an island about 24 to 30 inches off the floor. This prevents lifting something hot out of the microwave when it may not be eye level and harder to manage.
Electrical needs to be thought about include using good lighting wherever possible in not only the kitchen, but also the bath.
In a bath, ample lighting around a mirror will help when it’s time for Mr. Homeowner to shave. This eliminates the shadows that so often occur in baths. Building codes require ground fault interrupt (GFI) outlets when they are within six feet of a water source.
Glancing through a bath fixture catalog, consumers can find a myriad of choices for sink and tub faucets that have anti-scald or pressure balance features.
There are also many wonderful products for putting together a handicap accessible shower with a hand-held shower, built-in bench, and grab bars. Countertop surfaces in kitchens and baths should have smooth edges and rounded corners wherever possible to prevent having a place to bump hips, heads, and elbows.
This is just a small sampling of the issues kitchen and bath designers need to keep in mind when planning out new spaces. Be sure to bring safety issues up with your kitchen/bath designer, so they realize the end result is a space you and your family feel very safe using. TPW
With our population changing, it is essential kitchen designers ask the right questions regarding age, height, and any possible physical limitations of the users. When interviewing clients on their initial visit, the first thing I notice is the height of my client.
Most people are taller than I am, but one lady who comes to mind is about four feet 10 inches tall, and requested a shorter island, with chair height seating.
To meet her needs, I made sure there were no appliances in the island, so we didn’t have to worry about others feeling awkward using either a cooktop or sink in the shorter island. The end result was wonderful. Preparation was easily done at the large island, which was table height.
When children are using the kitchen, we keep their needs in mind, but we also remember they will grow up. If they do like to help in the kitchen, it’s best to have one work area in an island that’s lowered to 30 inches high, instead of the normal 36 inches.
The level of the microwave should be adjusted for not only children, but also shorter users and for those in wheelchairs. Sometimes it does work to have it in the end of an island about 24 to 30 inches off the floor. This prevents lifting something hot out of the microwave when it may not be eye level and harder to manage.
Electrical needs to be thought about include using good lighting wherever possible in not only the kitchen, but also the bath.
In a bath, ample lighting around a mirror will help when it’s time for Mr. Homeowner to shave. This eliminates the shadows that so often occur in baths. Building codes require ground fault interrupt (GFI) outlets when they are within six feet of a water source.
Glancing through a bath fixture catalog, consumers can find a myriad of choices for sink and tub faucets that have anti-scald or pressure balance features.
There are also many wonderful products for putting together a handicap accessible shower with a hand-held shower, built-in bench, and grab bars. Countertop surfaces in kitchens and baths should have smooth edges and rounded corners wherever possible to prevent having a place to bump hips, heads, and elbows.
This is just a small sampling of the issues kitchen and bath designers need to keep in mind when planning out new spaces. Be sure to bring safety issues up with your kitchen/bath designer, so they realize the end result is a space you and your family feel very safe using. TPW