Tag Archives: building

Home Maintenance Tips: Lighting Science!

Everything we know about lighting is changing faster faster. As of January 1, 2012, all light bulb packaging will be changing as we move from Watts to Lumens! Incescent bulbs will be unavailable in a couple of short years! As with other technologies, we have found ways to make better lights, with true colors, using […]

So, you think you’re a hoarder?

by Virginia Maddan, guest blogger A common conversation my new clients initiate when I arrive at our first appointment unfolds as follows: New client: “I just want to warn you that my place is a total mess.” Me: “That’s ok! That’s what I’m here for. I’m sure it’s not that bad, but don’t worry about […]

Bath Remodeling: Adding the Wellness Principle

Last night I attended our Nor Cal NKBA (National Kitchen + Bath Association) monthly meeting, up at the beautiful showroom DJ Mehler, hosted by the always-elegant Doris Mehler.  The talk by Henry Brunelle, President, Bain Ultra, was brief showed off some extremely high end solutions for creating a spa like experience in the bath. The […]

More on Aging In Place Remodeling

We’re not getting younger. How silly would it be if I had a surgery found myself a prisoner, not being able to use my own bathroom? That is EXACTLY what happened to me a year after we moved into the house we built ourselves. We had wide doors hallways, a barrier free shower with a […]

Aging Gracefully By Design

Who wants to age in an aging bath?? As a Designer for “Aging In Place,” if people never heard the expression before, you can observe their physical change as they begin to underst the idea. At the same time, it brings out other emotions, like fear, denial, anger, sadness or just plain surprise! The next thing they say is, ”That’s for other people, I’m not getting older!” NO MATTER HOW OLD THEY ARE! Everyone says the same thing. People are funny that way.

Aging In Place Step 3: Maintenance, Cleanliness, Safety

Maintenence is one the the most important tasks you should do on a schedule – why not make it out in advance of when certain inspections or tasks should be scheduled. Things like range hood filters should be taken down cleaned annually. Buy  replace your existing batteries in the smoke alarms. Make your bathroom kitchen maintenance-friendly easy […]

Aging In Place Step 2: Create a New Master Bedroom Suite

Now that the kids are really grown on their own, it’s time to take care of you make the home improvement you will need for aging at home. Whether you do a simple modification of an existing bedroom bath, or aim for something more livable by converting unused space to make it highly functional good looking, now is the time to start thinking about your options, or those of your parents.

Aging In Place Step 1: Entering+Exiting your Home

At the top of the list for people wanting to Age in Place is to prepare for the future – a future that may include difficulty climbing a flight of steps, negotiating home entries with several steps of the same color, or possibly even needing to use a wheel chair. Seniors fear Nursing Homes more than they […]

Aging In Place: Walk in Showers

Probably the best thing since sliced bread is the dawn of the age of the curbless shower. Not only do curbless showers make it easier for seniors to get in out of the shower space, with without shower chairs or walkers, they add value to your home beautify the room when done with style. When equipped […]