Everyone gets older, and for some, that means mobility and accessibility become paramount. The last thing anyone wants is to have to move out of their lifelong home just because something like the stairs becomes a problem. There are even loans, grants, and funds available to help you retrofit your home with these upgrades in mind.
What’s crucial, however, is that you don’t need to settle for the lowest price option. If you have the money to remodel your home, you can truly make it work for you and your needs. This applies whether you find it difficult to walk up the stairs or are wheelchair-bound. With these luxury home upgrades, you can retrofit your home in style:
Install a Residential Elevator
One of the best ways to get from floor to floor in any building is an elevator, and yes, you can absolutely include one in your own home’s design. Residential elevators can be easily installed in your stairwell, a converted closet, or an extension.
They require a far smaller footprint than you may think, thanks to their stand-alone design, which means you don’t need to install a hoistway. Today, you can get single-passenger lifts, wheelchair-ready options, or even an environmentally friendly one that uses a counterweight system with a highly efficient motor to minimize your utility costs.
Spa-Ready Wet Room
Another beautifully luxurious addition to the home, when you have mobility issues, is to update your bathroom into what’s known as a wet room. Wet rooms have no shower tubs, meaning there’s just one smooth and waterproofed floor throughout the space. They are not only immediately wheelchair friendly (you’ll be able to wheel right in to every station, including the shower), they are also easier to clean, and yes, can look utterly majestic with the right materials.
Other simple updates that can and still look beautiful include installing lower shower shelves, using sensor lights so you don’t need to reach up to turn anything on, or installing a toilet designed with your needs in mind (raised, lowered, etc).
Revamp Your Storage
Storage is always a challenge in any home, including luxury ones. That’s why you need every storage unit your home has to offer. The trick is, of course, ensuring that it remains accessible. The good news is that pull-down shelves have been around for a long time now, and make it easy to reach.
Aside from pull-down options, you also have a range of electric lift shelves that electronically rise and lower to your selected height, making it easy to reach even in a wheelchair. For lower shelves, there are pull-out shelves.
Note on ADA Design
Using the Americans Disability Act recommendations is always going to be a good starting point for any home redesign, including luxury ones. What’s important to remember, however, is that these guidelines aren’t actual requirements in residential homes the way they are in commercial spaces. Make sure that the design you choose is ideal for your needs, as this is how you’ll design a luxury, accessible home for yourself.