Shouldn't Kitchens be Accessible to All? Some Cabinet Ideas Show the Way!

Maybe that headline is a bit wordy, but it underscores the notion that universal design and barrier-free ideas are only for those who have disabilities or physical limitations. Contractors and designers trapped in this mindset tend to plan kitchen remodels without properly considering (1) the future needs of all household members and (2) how beneficial it is to inject accessibility features into a kitchen design. Designing and constructing a kitchen for all ability levels is easy and, more importantly, helps everyone in the household live better without sacrificing good looks or style.

As we've emphasized in earlier posts, Universal Design is all about ease of use across the whole range of human activities. In the kitchen, that means cooking, eating, and just hanging out. There are lots of ways to improve the use and access in this essential part of a home. This post will focus on how the standard closed-door kitchen cabinet, has evolved to help designers achieve maximum ease of use for people of all shapes, sizes, abilities, and ages. We know that the typical cabinet, located either above or below countertop level, does a fine job of storage, but can also be beyond the reach of individuals with mobility issues, whether age-related or otherwise. These traditional cabinets may fail to serve the rest of the population very well. Some areas in the cabinet can be hard to reach without bending or stretching, and they may become disorganized, and often lack stylistic interest. Fortunately, cabinet designers have risen to the challenge, creating a host of alternative designs that overcome all these shortcomings.

Pull out drawer systems are helping to lead the revolution that's reshaping the look of smart kitchen designs. They come in all shapes and sizes. 

Base cabinets with drawers are one option. For starters, they provide much easier access. No longer do you have to bend and reach into a deep cabinet; pulling out the drawer brings its contents to you. And these pull-outs are much easier to organize. You replace one large cabinet holding a jumble of kitchen items with drawers that can be stacked on top of each other and devoted to things that belong together. Specialty inserts can be added for pots and pans, dishware, or other kitchen objects and utensils.

It's also possible to stack base cabinets next to each other creating pantries that store spices, canned goods, or even pots and pans. These pull-outs bring stored items into open view and reach, again not just a benefit for mobility challenged members of the household, but a real convenience for everyone.

A smart approach for base cabinets is the use of pocket doors that open and then slide into the cabinet frame. It's a great look and removes the cabinet doors as an added barrier to access.  

Corner cabinet design is also changing with pull-out technology. Lazy-Susan's married to pull out racks offer vastly improved access and make organizing a far more straightforward task. They're also a surprising design element, adding a level of complexity to the overall look of the kitchen.

What about those upper cabinets that can be so difficult to reach? Several innovative designs are available to render even the highest cabinets readily accessible to all family members. Pull-out and down cabinets are absolute requirements for wheelchair users and others with serious reach issues. A broad selection of shelving inserts, including open racks, pegs and hooks extends its usefulness. It can bring variety to the overall kitchen appearance.

Another shelving option dispenses with the pull-out feature but maintains a more straightforward pull-down mechanism. This cabinet has an insert that slides up and down with the cabinet frame. It's an excellent choice for families with smaller children who may find these cabinets easier to use than the pull-out and down system.

Improving functional storage cabinets are just a small part of the overall strategy to achieve universal design in the kitchen. This post previews some possibilities. Future blogs will cover other kitchen accessible features, including appliances, shelving, lighting, and many of the other ingredients that enter into the creation of a genuinely accessible home kitchen.