Let the drafting begin!

After many bubble diagrams to map out the space, I have a design in mind. The hardest challenge was trying to give the family seating for 6 as well as the large laundry list of other wants/needs. I ended up designing an island with seating on two sides so that they can face one another somewhat. It may end up ovular on one side to provide even more face to face seating(sitting in a single line is not very conducive to conversation). The island will also include the sink and dishwasher. I initially wanted the range there, but realized that then there would be a large range hood over the island. I have to make sure that this would not in fact impede Steve's caretakers from a clear line of sight into the living room. I may end up switching back as I'd like to put in a nice sized window looking out into the yard and if I put the range on the yard side it's going to be tough to also fit windows and some wall cabinets.

In order to give the most room for their bulk storage needs I am fairly certain I'm going to have to scrap the separate wall ovens in favor of a duel fuel range (induction top). This will allow plenty of tall pantry storage where the wall oven/microwave would have gone.

The children will have their own 'prep' area near the door to the garage. An under counter refrigerator and counter top microwave will be within reach so that they will be able to prepare their school lunches at night and not be in Marilyn's way as she's preparing dinner. I want to make the back splash in this area either a chalkboard or cork board so there is a message center to help this busy family without taking way too much wall cabinet space.

All the work aisles are 48" with the exception of the kids prep area, where I hope to have 60" to play with in case someone is in a wheelchair they can at the very least have enough room to turn the chair around.

Head is spinning...

I just spent an hour on the Hafele website. Amazing products, but so many! I like that most of their inserts come with a quiet close feature - so no slamming drawers. They also have amazing cabinet inserts to make reaching and storage easier and more accessible. This one below is a great pull down for wall cabinets for those of us who are vertically challenged (no more stools to trip over!))

The next time you are designing for a client (or yourself) make sure you visit their site for inspiration.

Childproofing for special needs....

I was trying to find the best cabinet locks for the King's kitchen and came across this article. So helpful as it comes from a parent's perspective. I never would have known which ones work best!

It also gives great sources for door alarms, and motion sensor alarms to let parents know when their child is in an area in the house where they need added supervision (Kitchen & Bath).

I'm not a mom yet, but....

I was checking out the featured products for the upcoming Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) and found this really fun bath insert from Safety Tubs. I think it's a great example of really fun Universal Design.

Last night in class, we were going over client surveys for each of our respective families. One of my classmates has a pregnant mother of one and the issue of where to bathe her children came up. Never having given a child a bath, I was not aware (but not surprised) that kneeling by the tub is not exactly a happy experience for your knees. This insert (it just fits over your current bathtub and can be put away should you have ample storage) solves the kneeling issue by raising the seating up to a 'comfortable level'.

Because the actual bathing space is reduced, it saves filling an entire tub with water. It also claims to reduce slips and falls and eliminates hazards such as scalding hot water (I'm honestly not sure how it does that - I'd stick with an anti-scald tub fixture).

I can't find this product on Safety Tubs website, but maybe it's too new. I was hoping to see what the tubs for girls look like!

Peace and quiet - please!

So, I've mentioned that I am thinking of using cork for its sound absorption ability. This got me thinking of other ways to reduce sound in the kitchen, where there is typically a lot of banging, clanking etc. A quick search on the internet has lead me to the following products:

• Sound absorbing artwork (!) - Actually made of recycled cotton, these art panels are useful in both commercial and residential applications.
• Ventilation is super important to your health and to the contents of your home. Many people don't turn oven ventilation on, because oftentimes they inherit super noisy systems. My bath fan, for example, sounds much like a plane taking off. To someone with Autism, this might be unbearable. Make sure that you carefully look at the sones reading on any ventilation apparatus you choose. The lower the number the less noisy (conversation for example is rated at 1-4 sones).
• Appliances - So you've put in softer flooring and a quiet vent hood, but your dishwasher is so noisy you have to yell to talk over it. If I type 'quietest dishwasher' into Google, I get a couple of sites that rate dishwashers (just be sure you're using one that is a third party not trying to sell you something, a la Consumer Reports). Be prepared to spend more for peace and quiet: Bosch claims that their 800 series is the quietest dishwasher in the US and it comes with a $2100 price tag.
• I've mentioned drawer slides that self close and also anti-slam apparatus for doors - no more drawer/door slamming!
• Lastly, dishes in the sink are another big offender. Many sinks by Kohler have 'SilentShield' which claims to reduce the noise from dishes, running water and the disposal.

Please feel free to share any ideas you may have - I'd love to update my library!