Storage And Utility
Universal Kitchens – Storage And Utility.
Dwellings greatly benefit from being more accessible and mobility friendly in many areas. Our building acts should weigh this and make it the norm so that housing eventually becomes barrier-free. Our population is aging, and we should reflect this into our home designs. But even for younger households, we can all benefit from clever layouts that provide everyone a chance to be included. And this regardless of ability, performance, cognitive development, etc. How does this translate into the kitchen ? With accessible storage and utility surfaces, for one, a place for everything and a space for everyone.
Cabinets.
A row of lower cabinets with full pull out capacity will make essentials easy to access for everyone in the household. Doors need to be able to be fully swung open. The ones providing retractability are a wonderful option when available. Once opened, the unit is clear and fully reachable, with no barrier in the way. Having light inside the storage and utility areas will greatly improve accessibility too. A light triggered by the opening of the door, preferably. Effortlessly enhancing the ability to find whatever it is we are looking for.
Easy Reach.
If lower units are not an option, consider installing shelving lifts inside regular cabinets. With handles to lower the shelf and its contents within the unit. Those are fantastic additions for accessible kitchens when it comes to storage and utility. And all over the house, for that matter. Although they do require some hands-on installation and might mean a more in-depth reno. Hardware should be easy to seize and comfortable to the hand. Using pulls is recommended rather than knobs. And levers are great on doors of all kinds.
Open Shelving.
Otherwise, open shelving is great and very easy to access. Think about using some of those shelves to display great pieces that will make you happy on a day-to-day basis. And for the convenience of quickly grabbing items frequently used. They are also great for accessing your essentials when cognitive challenges can impede closing and opening cupboards and drawers. But having open shelves means that their contents are basically open to the elements and therefore much more prone to dust if your house tends to gather dust. When your source of heat is forced air, for example, or if you have pets. Or if your household is rather busy, a lot of going and coming from the outdoors. And yes, this is also true for those of us who are rather reluctant dusters… In those cases, open shelving can become tricky and a real piece of work.
Categorizing.
It is always best to gather pantry items and cooking supplies by genre. If you have a breakfast nook, try to incorporate some accessible storage close by. To gather those cereal boxes, bowls, a few glasses, a few spoons and anything you would use in the morning on a regular basis. Holding those essentials there will help for smooth daily operations and will make for a great start to the day. By the stove, the same principle applies. A great place to gather pots, pans, stirring spoons, spices etc. Anything that would be essentially used in this specific area so there is not as much come and go carrying things around.
As for cookware, pots, pans and other essentials should be made of materials reflecting the needs and restrictions of the entire household. For individuals suffering from arthritis or having mobility issues, lighter materials with sturdy handles should be preferred. Size should reflect the quantity of portions prepared and the frequency of use.
Clutter No More.
Gadgets and accessories should be kept to a minimum in your storage and utility spaces as to not overwhelm the space and lose too much functionality with clutter. Remember that a good quality knife will handle most of the peeling, cutting, chopping and prepping. While a simple and well designed wooden spoon will take care of the mixing, stirring, smashing and smoothing gracefully. It is also good to think outside the box. For example, a good pair of scissors will do wonders in tackling many different tasks, like chopping lettuce, mincing chives, cutting up onions, detailing meat even, you name it. And it is a pretty safe way to handle those sometimes slippery preps.
Quality Of Life.
Universal design may be necessary down the road and will greatly ease our difficulties when having to face life-changing situations if we ever have to be confronted to them. But, truth be told, universal design will improve our reality right here, right now. Even if we do not have any restrictions at the present time. So there really is nothing to lose in thinking the space ingenuously frontward.
A universal kitchen is a flexible space where a lot will happen within a predetermined square footage. There is no need to expand the space per se to have a more open feel and a better functioning station. It just has to be well thought. Using the kitchen should be simple and maneuverable. It should be intuitive and designed to give us all the same ability to evolve. Properly designed to give us all the same chance to be independent and take part in meal prepping. Using the kitchen should be joyful and something to look forward to.
