Many homeowners are looking for renovation solutions to adapt their homes to changing lifestyles as they grow older. Others wish to help their parents or other family members make adjustments in their existing space for an improved quality of life. A fully licensed and insured renovator who is a member of a program such as RenoMark and is certified in adaptive living renovations, can provide functional and creative solutions to update your home to suit your needs.
It’s important to consider the difficulties you may be currently experiencing with the layout of your home, as well as anticipating issues you may face in the future. An experienced renovator can suggest solutions to most problems, which will vary depending on the unique needs of you and your family. Remain open minded throughout this process, as your renovator may suggest changes you hadn’t considered, while also keeping within your budget.
There are many innovative updates that can be made to all areas of a home to adapt to a changing lifestyle. Safety grab bars in the bathroom, hallways and staircases are a simple and common solution. Other updates to a staircase can include installing longer treads or shorter risers or adding a stair lift. Elevator shafts or tubes can even be installed in houses that have the infrastructure to support them.
Cabinetry that folds up and down can ease access in bathrooms and kitchens. Doorknobs can be replaced with levers, and doorways widened to accommodate wheelchairs. Transitions between rooms and the flooring in different areas of the house can be adjusted to help reduce the risk of tripping. Even changes in lighting and paint colours can make a significant difference with visibility and the overall comfort of a living space.
Finally, there is no reason to sacrifice esthetics in the name of functionality when adapting your space. By working with a designer who has specialized certification such as the CHBA Adaptiv Home Renovation Course, the space can look beautiful while having the necessary functional updates. For example, a bathroom can be re-designed into a three-piece, open suite that doesn’t look as if it’s been reconfigured for the purpose of accessibility.
Renovating your space to adapt to your changing needs can be an exciting opportunity to inject a refreshed and updated look to your home. While the process may seem daunting, a certified professional renovator experienced in adaptive living solutions can help you to consider all your needs and provide solutions so you can remain comfortable in your home for years to come.