Aging in Place Kitchens

Your home is a place where you have made life-long memories. You have invested great time, energy, and resources making it the home of your dreams.  At Hatchett, we understand that there are many Hampton Roads residents who wish to stay in their home as they age. There is a growing trend to create homes planned to age in place and with a universal design. A universal design is a design that ensures the spaces in your home are safe and comfortable for people of all ages and abilities to utilize.  Making modifications and converting your home into a universal design enables you to extend the time you can remain in your home.

Kitchens are especially critical in designing a space to allow you to remain in your home for as long as possible. The kitchen is a part of daily living, where we spend much time. It can also be a space of possible hazards if not designed with a universal design in mind.  When redesigning your kitchen, if you are contemplating remaining in your home for years to come, you should consider an aging in place or universal kitchen design.

At Hatchett, we realize the need for Certified Aging in Place Specialists to assist with the growing concerns of residents, from Virginia Beach to Williamsburg and everywhere in between, who wish to stay in their homes as they age. For this reason, Hatchett has four Certified Aging in Place Specialists on staff to help you design your remodeled kitchen in a safe and aesthetic way to meet the needs each person living in your home. As a Certified Aging in Place Specialist, Hatchett Design Remodel, has the training and experience to design and execute the ideal kitchen to meet your needs for years to come. Our aging in place certified designs are suited to ensure that you can remain living in your home safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age, income, or ability level.

The Certified Aging in Place Specialists (CAPS) designers at Hatchett will assess your wishes and your requirements for a kitchen with a universal design. Our team will help you create the best solution to meet your needs as you plan to remain in your home as long as possible. Our CAP specialists take on the planning of future needs in your kitchen to accommodate your needs in the coming years.

When working with Hatchett Design Remodel to remodel your kitchen with an aging in place design, you will have a one of our four Certified Aging in Place Specialists as your main point of contact. After analyzing your existing kitchen space, and discussing your needs for the remodeled kitchen, your designer will work hand-in-hand with Hatchett’s construction and project management team. There are no sub-contractors working on your aging in place kitchen remodel. Having a local, completely in-house team from design to build ensures that your remodeled aging in place kitchen will be created swiftly and smoothly.

The Hatchett Design Remodel team is mindful of potential slipping hazards in our universal kitchen designs. An aging in place designed kitchen should be placed on the main level. We aim to eliminate stairs and floors that are not level between rooms. It is recommended that you refrain from using floor throws and mats that could become tripping hazards. The Hatchett Design team makes recommendations of ideal flooring options in the kitchen that are both slip-resistant and soft to the feet.

In addition to designing an aging in place kitchen with an eye towards preventing slips and falls, the Hatchett team will design your kitchen with a reduction in the need to lean or bend over. Planning key appliances such as wall ovens and dishwashers at a raised height can alleviate the strain of bending over. Additionally, placing your microwave at counter height and choosing a shallow sink will reduce the need for bending over and putting strain on your back.

A kitchen designed for aging in place includes selecting the best cabinetry and pantry designs. Kitchen cabinetry and pantries in a roll-out or pull-out style are easier to navigate and reduce the need for bending over than traditional cabinet doors. D-shaped pulls, levers, or pull handles are easier to use than cabinetry with knobs. Countertops should be designed with rounded edges to reduce sharp corners and at a comfortable height throughout the aging in place kitchen.

The kitchen sink is another element of a universal kitchen design that requires specific consideration. Selecting a faucet that is hands-free or a lever-style will be easier to turn on and off than a faucet with turn knobs. Designing a kitchen sink in close proximity to the stove is a safer option to reducing spills. It is also ideal in reducing the strain of carrying pots of water and other items from the sink to the stove and vice versa.

When creating your kitchen in a universal design style, consider your cooking range. Selecting an induction cooktop rather than a gas stove with an open flame is safer to use. Cooktops with knobs at the front versus back of the range reduce the need to reach over a heat source. Planning the stove near the sink helps reduce the need to carry heavy items from one to the other.

Explore options to consider in planning for your aging in place kitchen remodel by visiting one of Hatchett Design’s showrooms. Hatchett Design Remodel has two design studio showrooms conveniently located on the Southside and Peninsula areas of Hampton Roads. Visit either our Virginia Beach or Newport News showroom to get inspired. Open weekdays from 9am – 5pm, the Hatchett showroom is a place to dream ideas for your kitchen remodel. At our showroom you can sample flooring, cabinetry, tiles, and even hardware. Stop by or schedule an appointment with one of Hatchett’s kitchen showroom consultants for a fuller experience.

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