Accessible kitchen design tips

[edit] Things to consider when designing & installing an accessible kitchen

They say that the kitchen is the heart of any home, and getting a new kitchen is incredibly exciting, but for many, their own kitchens are simply not accessible enough to make them practical or enjoyable. A lot of thought needs to go into putting together a truly accessible kitchen.

Here, a specialist in bespoke bedrooms and kitchens share their tips on creating the perfect kitchen for disabled and wheelchairs.

[edit] Wheelchair space

Anybody who uses a wheelchair will tell you how much space they need to be able to manoeuvre comfortably. This means that your kitchen floor needs to be uncluttered, with sufficient clearance for a wheelchair to not only pass through but also turn, and any changes in height need to be achieved through the use of a gradual ramp and not steps in order to make it truly functional.

[edit] Worktop height

Most traditional worktops tend to be too high for many wheelchair users to be able to access. An accessible kitchen needs to have worktops at a height where a seated person can reach appliances and prepare food. If the kitchen is home to a range of different people, then it might be worth looking at worktops which are adjustable, either through electronic or manual means. This means that the kitchen can be completely workable for anyone at any time, ensuring it is at a height that is perfect for the person using it.

[edit] Storage

Most of us have found ourselves standing on a stool to reach the top shelf of a cupboard, but this is simply not an option in an accessible kitchen. If wall units are needed in order to provide adequate amounts of storage, then think about including pull-down baskets that can be lowered electronically or with a pull-down system to ensure that everyone can reach them. Base units can also be fitted with carousels so that items kept at the back of a cupboard can be brought to the front quickly and easily without the need to bend, stretch or reach.

[edit] Plinths

Plinths are a feature in most kitchens as they hide away cabinet legs and pipes, covering the gap between the floor and the bottom of your units. By raising these slightly, it can become easier to push a wheelchair floor plate into them, allowing wheelchair users to get closer to worktops.

[edit] Pull-out tables and counters

Installing tables and counters that pull out from a wall or cabinet and then slide away again can help to ensure that the kitchen is easier for everyone to use, and can create a wider, unobstructed area for wheelchairs to move around, even in a small space.

[edit] Hoists

In some cases, adding hoists to the ceiling can allow free movement around the room and access to all areas of the kitchen, and the tracks can even be hidden using a number of special and attractive design features.

[edit] Kitchen fitters

Fitting an accessible kitchen is not the same as fitting any other kind of kitchen and so it is important to use fitters with experience in the area. They will understand many of the challenges that disabled people face and will already have a number of tried and tested solutions. They will also be aware of things that you might not even have thought of, and so it is much more likely that they can produce a kitchen that fulfils every single one of your needs.

There are some clever tricks and pieces of equipment that can easily make a kitchen much more accessible. It is important to give plenty of thought to what your needs are and what challenges you face in order to design and install the accessible kitchen of your dreams.

--TaraNeil

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Access.
• Access action plan.
• Access and inclusion in the built environment: policy and guidance.
• Access audit.
• Access consultant.
• Accessible design.
• Accessibility index.
• Accessibility in the built environment.
• Approved Document M.
• Balance for Better: Why lack of diversity is an issue for everyone.
• BIFM standard Managing Accessibility and Inclusion.
• Braille signage and accessibility.
• BREEAM Inclusive and accessible design.
• Constructing and renovating UEFA training facilities.
• Disability Discrimination Act DDA.
• English Housing Survey 2018-19 reports released.
• Equality Act.
• Equal opportunities policy.
• Essential principles, Creating an accessible and inclusive environment.
• Hazard warning surfaces.
• Healthy planning policy and monitoring in Southwark and Lambeth.
• Inclusive design.
• ISO 23234 and ISO 21542 accessibility and security standards.
• Lifetime homes.
• Lifetime Homes Design Guide (EP 100).
• Lifetime neighbourhoods.
• National Disability Strategy.
• Neurodiversity in the built environment.
• New Dwelling House at Grange View
• People with disabilities.
• Shopmobility.
• Wheelchair user.