Our home has become our sanctuary, not just a shelter to protect us from the elements. It is a place that can nurture, heal, support and inspire occupants. With thoughtful universal design features and material selections, a home can do all of that and more – through all stages of life. 

As the adoption of biophilic design has shown, our physical and mental well-being are directly impacted by our physical environment(s). To that end, it is important for designers to create remodel and new construction project designs that deliver intrinsic value via UD – regardless of the age and/or health of their clients. You never know when you are going to need a grab bar, zero-threshold shower or bidet-style toilet … no one plans to have an accident or serious medical issue.  

The kitchen appliance sector was well represented at EuroCucina/FTK at Fiera Rho Milano. Although the total percentage of appliance manufacturers displaying at EuroCucina that serve the US market is limited, there was much to consider for design professionals with US clientele. The noteworthy trends seen at the show included a wide spectrum of colorful finish options from matte black and matte white to blue, yellow, green and more, integrated (view-saving) downdraft ventilation systems, Wi-Fi connectivity, ‘burnerless’ induction cooking surfaces that track pot movement in real time, integrated infrared/AI sensors that take the guesswork out of cooking and food preservation and sleek, compact outdoor cooking equipment.

Ever been asked by a client what they should expect to spend on a kitchen or bathroom remodel? If you are like me, the answer is a resounding yes! However, what a project costs is not actually relevant. What is relevant is what resources the client can allocate for a remodel project – with a few constructive parameters. The following are some tips to share with clients to help them establish a realistic project budget.

The Decorative Plumbing and Hardware Association’s (DPHA) annual three-day summit took place at the Houston Hyatt Regency with 344 attendees and 48 exhibitors representing 62 manufacturers. The event was a fabulous mix of serious fun and serious business with a product awards ceremony; a dynamic keynote session with futurist Crystal Washington, who adeptly tailored her presentation to the attendees; and the Product Showcase where premium and luxury products, not frequently seen at other trade shows, were on display and accompanied by brand representatives and product designers.

The 42nd annual International Exhibition of Ceramic Tile show, Cersaie, was recently held at the Bolonga, Italy, Exhibition Center. This year’s show expanded to 16 halls comprising more than 1.5 million square feet of display space with 627 exhibitors from 30 countries representing tile, tile glazing and tile installation tool manufacturers. Almost 100,000 design, real estate, media and student visitors attended with approximately 52% of the total coming from Italy and the other 48% from around the world.

Design Details and Convenience -New design details seen at KBIS, like fluted, grooved, and reeded cabinetry, are slowly being adopted, though many designers and clients are concerned about the upkeep and potential cost. Modular cabinetry is better suited for entry-level homes due to lead times and cost, lacking the customization needed for mid- to upper-end remodels.

WHILE A HUSBAND AND WIFE in Bainbridge Island, Wash., were looking for a more accessible home a few years ago, they contacted designer Molly McCabe to get her input on the best choice that needed the least amount of work. She assessed which portions of the properties could be accessible to the husband, who is a full-time wheelchair user, and determined future work that would need to be completed. Once they found their ideal home, they hired McCabe, owner of McCabe by Design, to transform the primary bath into an aesthetically pleasing space accessible to both the husband in the wheelchair and the wife as his primary caregiver.

Sitting on the sofa in a bathrobe and staring blankly at a laptop screen despite a growing to-do list was not a one-off occurrence for those trapped within their own four walls. In fact, during that time period, social media was overrun by people sharing their greatest accomplishments – binge watching entire seasons of the latest Netfix shows in one sitting. For those not ‘in the know’ regarding mental health discourse, the word burnout began making its way into casual conversation. Even now, in a world that has – for better or worse – begun to open back up, it’s not uncommon to hear a colleague remark, “I’m so burned out,” or “the burnout is getting to me.” In its ICD-11 compendium, the World Health Organization defines burnout as a syndrome caused by unsuccessful management of workplace stress, characterized by symptoms including “feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion; increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one’s job, and reduced professional efficacy.”