Friday, January 27, 2012

   

Meet our Winners: two families who will receive aging-in-place makeovers

 

   A 32-year old kitchen in Rancho Bernardo and a bathroom in a 1917 craftsman home in Golden Hill have one thing in common: Both are out of date and are not serving the needs of their current homeowners.

 

     But the troublesome kitchen and the inadequate bathroom will soon be a thing of the past, thanks to ReVisions Resources and its Designed for Life partners, AARP San Diego and the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) San Diego. Through the contest, owners of a Rancho Bernardo home will get a kitchen remodel worth up to $50,000 and owners of a home in Golden Hill will receive a bath remodel worth up to $31,000.  The public will have an opportunity to see both makeovers during the ASID showcase home tour on Saturday, May 19, 2012.  

 

     The contest targeted kitchens and baths because falls there are the number one reason older Americans are forced to leave their homes, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Updating kitchens and baths through a concept called universal design, which makes use of today’s new technologies, can reduce the potential for falls, allowing for older adults to remain in their homes for as long as possible. To help support this project, please:
 

  

 

on December 14th and 15, match your donation through the San Diego Foundation's Give BIG program.

here's our link: GiveBIG

 

 

Sponsors & Underwriters

ReVisions Resources logo

 

AARP logo

 

ASID Logo

 

Best Bath Systems Logo

 

Aging-in-Place Remodeling Logo

 

Wardell Builders

 

San Diego Home/Garden Lifestyles logo

 

PACE TV Logo

 

Friends of San Diego Architecture Logo

 

San Diego Fall Prevention Task Force

 

San Diego Public Library

 

San Diego County Library

 

Paul Burlingame

 

Our Bathroom Winners:

Universal  Design to Meet Needs Now   

Photos: (top) Homeowner winners Bill Stothers and Cyndi Jones in their South Park home and (bottom) ASID's Adapt-a-Home team on board to help with other rooms in the home: Joanne Levreault, Sasha West,  Gerald Bouvia III, and Bridget Crane.

    Bill Stothers and Cyndi Jones are advocates of universal design, and thanks to a contest sponsored by ReVisions Resources, AARP and the American Society of Interior Designers, they will see the concept become a reality in the bathroom of their nearly century old Craftsman-style home in San Diego’s South Park neighborhood.

    Stothers and Jones are winners of the bath component in the Designed for Life – Kitchen and Bath Contest. The award comes with a bathroom remodel worth up to $31,000 and includes plans, merchandise and installation provided by Best Bath Systems and Aging-in-Place Remodeling.

 

   The first competition of its kind to focus on a single county, Designed for Life is sponsored by ReVisions Resources in partnership with AARP San Diego and the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), San Diego, to challenge top professional designers to create design solutions for homeowners in older neighborhoods who want to introduce universal design solutions into their home.  The concepts of universal design allows owners to build or remodel their homes using thoughtful space planning, and attractive well-designed fixtures that provide a living environment that can be lived in for the rest of their lives.

 

    “We both are polio survivors, disability activists and universal design advocates,” Stothers wrote in his contest entry. “I use a power wheelchair; my wife had used crutches but now uses a scooter. As time has passed and our functional abilities have declined, using the bathtub has become impossible; we are forced to sponge bathe."

 

    “Our goal,” he wrote, “is to maintain the character of the home and show that universal design can be successfully incorporated into old, and historic, homes.”

 

    ASID designer Denise Homme took on the challenge with style and attention to detail that impressed judges. An expert in universal design, she crafted a functional, yet beautiful solution, that ultimately was declared to be the winning design for the bathroom component of the contest.

 

    Homme, currently Program Director at Design Institute of San Diego, has more than 40 years in professional practice. Universal design has been a passion for nearly 20 of those years. In addition to implementing universal solutions for her interior design clients, it was Homme who was instrumental in bringing universal design content to interior design coursework at the University of California, Riverside, while she was acting Programs Coordinator in the Department of Arts and Humanities (Interior Design Program).

 

    Even before meeting them, Homme saw for herself that Stothers and Jones were familiar with the concept of universal design. After driving past their home, she said, “I was impressed with how carefully they had considered the architecture of their 1917 Craftsman-style home when they added a ramp to access their front porch. Barely visible, the ramp was expertly placed, blending very comfortably into the facade of their house.

 

    “Just looking at their attention to detail, I knew I was going to like these new clients. They seemed to understand and respect the character of their lovely little house. I could hardly wait to meet them.”

 

    In creating the redesign of their bathroom, foremost for Homme was meeting the needs and preferences of Stothers and Jones, who ultimately will be using the space.

 

    Stothers and Jones face several challenges in the use of their existing bathroom:

·         a small bathroom with two major doorway entrances -- one from the main hallway, the other from a bedroom;

·         size and placement of existing windows; and

·         maintaining the architectural integrity of the home using updated products and material.

 

    Homme worked with an eye to making the room safe and easy to use for both Stothers and Jones as well as for any ambulatory friends and associates who visit their home.  

 

    Products in the new bathroom will be provided by Best Bath Systems, a leader in safe bathing technology.  Aging-in-Place Remodeling, a leader in creating safe, accessible homes for independent living, will provide remodeling services, including construction and installation.  Aging-in-Place Remodeling does everything from single grab bar installs all the way up to whole house remodels, with much of the focus usually centered on creating a better bathroom.

 

    With offices in both San Diego and Riverside Counties, Aging-in-Place Remodeling has worked on hundreds of accessibility and safety modifications projects throughout Southern California.

 

    They have access to more than 3000 mobility/safety products to meet the needs of clients with different needs and requests.

 

    Best Bath Systems' products, manufactured in the United States, include a full line of showers and walk-in tubs that are designed to convert a standard bathing space into an accessible, attractive and safe bathing area. In their production process, the company uses ceramic tile, but in a way that eliminates the cleaning hassles and sanitation issues of grout. They also make available custom color accents to tile, safety bars, seats and other accessories.

 

    Homme is planning to use 15 universal design features that will be incorporated into the remodeled bathroom.

1.      Providing for a 60-inch diameter clear turning space to provide spacious floor space to accommodate the turning requirement of a wheelchair, scooter, crutches or a walker.

2.      Locating all light switches and waterproof outlets lower than what is considered a standard height so they are easy to reach by all users.

3.      Retaining and replacing the existing window with an ez-glide window unit and a pull-down interior water-proof shade.

4.      Increasing the existing light levels from the overhead fixture by adding pendant fixtures and under cabinet lighting.

5.      Specifying easy-grip, easy to move and operate handles for the doors, cabinets and faucets.

6.      Incorporating pull-outs and pull-downs in the upper and lower cabinets to make it easy to access the back portions of cabinets and interior shelves.

7.      Installing fixtures, faucets and other equipment controls so they are easily reached and operated from both a sitting and standing position.

8.      Adding slide-out surfaces below the cabinet counter tops to increase the amount of work surfaces in an otherwise small bathroom.

9.      Specifying a roomy roll-in or “curbless” shower stall with a wide entry and a flush threshold to make it easy for anyone using the bathroom to negotiate getting into and out of the shower.

10.  Installing sturdy, attractive grab bars in reinforced horizontal and vertical locations that enhance the use of the bathroom; including a sliding shower head with integral grab bar.

11.  Specifying a solid one-inch hex pattern ceramic tile for the floor and counter tops to provide for a smooth, non-slip surface.

12.  Locating towel hooks and bars in places that are easily accessed by all users.

13.  Using a “multiple-wand” system to allow for maximum flexibility when opening and closing the shower curtain from more than one location.

14.  Providing comfortable knee space below the lavatory and a toilet with a vertical height that accommodates the clients’ needs.

15.  Utilizing easy care, low-maintenance products and surfaces to minimize time spent in cleaning and upkeep.

 

    As winner of the bathroom remodel, Stothers and Jones will also reap additional benefits from the work of the new Emerging Design Professionals; a committee made up of young interior designers representing ASID San Diego. As a kick-off to their new community service project, Adapt-a-Home, EDP committee members plan to work on other rooms in the house which will  make the home more comfortable as well as underline the importance of applying universal design concepts while preserving the integrity and dignity of the home and the client.

 


 

Our Kitchen Winners:

Remodeling with an Eye to the Future 

Photo: Designer Lindsay Hester (second from left) and homeowner Diane Petrini (center) with husband Joe meet with Barry Fennell and Jean Rudman,Wardell Builders, our kitchen underwriter. 

    Diane Petrini's 32-year-old kitchen is getting a major remodel, thanks to ReVisions Resources, which is devoted to helping older Americans stay in their homes for the rest of their lives; AARP San Diego and the American Society of Interior Designers.

    Petrini's kitchen is far from the oldest one in Rancho Bernado, founded 50 years ago as one of the earliest planned community developments in the United States.

    And, while Petrini's kitchen looks functional, there are flaws that make it difficult for her and her family to navigate.  Petrini entered her kitchen in the Designed for Life -- Kitchen and Bath Contest. That’s where Lindsay Hester, ASID, came in. She submitted the design for Petrini’s kitchen that was selected by judges to be the winner of the kitchen component of the contest.

    The contest, the first to focus on a single county, was sponsored by ReVisions Resources in partnership with AARP San Diego and the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), San Diego, to challenge top professional designers to create design solutions for homeowners in older neighborhoods who want to remodel their homes to last for the rest of their lives.

 

   Rancho Bernardo is an award-winning community that will celebrate its 50th year in November. Today the community is home to 45,000 residents, primarily families and retirees. Rancho Bernardo is highly touted as a Livable Community as it offers exemplary amenities including local shopping facilities, parks, healthcare, and opportunities for civic involvement, cultural engagement and lifelong learning.   

 

   But have these older homes aged as well as the community and are they still meeting the needs of their owners? The Designed for Life project asked San Diego County homeowners to identify the kitchen and bath updates needed now and in the future if they planned to age in place.   Petrini and her husband learned about the contest and innovative, attractive and safe home modifications for aging in place through an 18-month public awareness campaign launched by ReVisions Resources, ASID and AARP. Petrini's essay was selected from more than 150 entries competing for the chance to have a kitchen "designed for life" by a professional designer and win a remodel valued at up to $50,000 from the premiere firm Wardell Builders. Designer Lindsay Hester was selected as Petrini's designer and crafted the winning design. 

 

   Wardell Builders has provided home repair and maintenance, remodeling, and custom home building since 1993 and will complete the Petrini kitchen remodel with their team of sponsors including Arizona Tile, Barbara Reed Professional Cleaning Services, Bill Howe Plumbing, Cabinetry Design,  Chism Brothers Painting, Daltile, Dixieline, Fixtures Living, G Marble & Granite, Infrastructure Design Group, Kiva Kitchen & BathKohler, Lessler's Drapery & Design, Lightworks Architectural Lighting, Lucia Painting & Fire Prevention, Performance Drywall and Insulation, R&R Custom Builders, San Diego Hardware, San Diego Marble & Tile, Star Tile, Titan Excavating and Tutto Marmo.     

 

   Petrini’s essay was selected as a finalist as worthy and representative for our area by a team of experts and advocates in housing, gerontology, and community development. As a finalist, she and six other homeowners were paired with top area designers experienced with aging in place and Universal Design principles. The designers worked closely with the homeowners, listening to challenges and wishes in order to create solutions that would be aesthetically pleasing, functional and non-institutional in appearance.  A key requirement was also to keep within the contest budget.

 

   Designer Lindsay Hester competed against other designers in both the kitchen and bathroom category.  Her kitchen design solution for the Petrini family was selected by the blue-ribbon panel of nationally acclaimed Universal Design experts. Submission packets required construction drawings and detailed appliance, lighting, finish material and color boards. Judging criteria included meeting the needs of the homeowner; space planning; scale and proportion; use of color and finishes, lighting design; and effective use of budget. 

 

  The essence of universal design, as seen by Hester, is that a home should serve the greatest number of people regardless of age, mobility or physical stature.   “This means you won’t get to the end of your project and wish a doorway was wider to accommodate your active son’s temporary wheelchair after a skiing accident or wish for a full bath and bedroom on the first floor when an aging parents moves in with your family,” she said.  “Universal design makes sense for a number of reasons including accessibility and comfort as well as resale value.  There is nothing as beautiful as a space that is easily livable.”

 

   The challenges Hester’s homeowner faced were: 

  • Cabinets were difficult to access, especially with Joe’s arthritis and Diane’s vision impairment; daughter Laura was often called upon to gather pots and pans for an evening’s meal.
  • Lack of sufficient cabinet space meant small appliances were stored in the open, eating up precious counter space.
  • The lighting, inadequate for even the most basic kitchen tasks, created challenges for Diane and Torrin, who both deal with impaired vision.

The design solutions created were:  

  • Counter and storage space were doubled and a potentially dangerous design feature, the island cook top, was eliminated.
  • Both natural and artificial lighting was added. A new window along the old door wall lets in natural light. Multi-layered lighting including 17 light locations with 6 switches in 2 locations creates efficient lighting making the kitchen safer to work in and more inviting.
  • Color contrast was improved. It was very important to introduce a high level of contrast in the space to accommodate the family members with vision concerns.  The finishes were thoughtfully selected to create as much visual distinction between adjacent surfaces as possible.
  • Appliances were updated. The old dishwasher was replaced with two dishwasher drawers installed on either side of the sink to minimize bending and stretching.

   Homeowner Diane Petrini will be blogging about her six-week remodel so the public can share her experience as she watches her 1978 kitchen move from demolition through final finishes to create a kitchen that truly meets their needs so they can Age in Place (see our Kitchen Chronicles).  The completed kitchen will be part of ASID’s next showcase home tour. Pictures of the designs and remodel will also be available for viewing on this website.   

About the Winning Kitchen Designer

    Award-winning Interior Designer Lindsay Hester, ASID, is consistently recognized for her outstanding work in residential interior design. As Principal of Hester Interiors, Lindsay has been honored for the innovative solutions she brings to common design challenges and is frequently called upon to share her expertise with the public and fellow professionals alike.

   In her 10 plus years of practice, Hester has worked on projects across the country and in San Diego’s top communities. Her passion and the specialty of Hester Interiors is residential remodeling and new construction projects.

   Hester is active in the design community and currently serves on the board of directors for the San Diego Chapter of ASID. Although her work has been recognized with numerous awards and by multiple publications, Hester considers her highest honor to be the trust of the clients whose homes she has improved working in her beloved industry.

 

 Kitchen Underwriter: Wardell Builders ►
 Winning Kitchen Designer: Lindsay Hester ►
 Lindsay's Winning Design ►
 Diane's Kitchen Chronicles ►

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