UNIVERSAL DESIGN/EASY LIVING

Last week I checked out the very first home in Texas to be certified as an Easy Living house.

What is an Easy Living house? Easy Living is a committment by a builder, in this case, Tapestry Custom Homes, Inc., to create a home that is livable for anyone confined to a wheelchair or with disabilities. OK, don’t tune out on me here. I am not talking about shaving shag carpet for the geriatric set or plastic covers to catch the drools. No hospital hooks for the oxygen tanks. This is Universal Design taken to a thoughtful level with the realization that it’s not only the disabled who need more user friendly homes, it’s all of us!

A step-free entrance from a driveway or sidewalk into the central living area. At least 32 inches of clearance passage in doorways and closets. Ensure that no less than one bedroom, kitchen, entertainment area and one full bathroom are located on the main floor with sufficient maneuvering space for a wheelchair. Placing ovens and dishwashers, washers and dryers at convenient, not back-breakingly low levels. Building a kitchen island height where a wheelchair-bound person could prepare food. Storing dishes at lower cabinet levels so they can be unloaded from the dishwasher conveniently. Even installing one-hand flip toilet paper holders for arthritic hands (or an arm in a cast). The point: not only will we all be needing universal design eventually, many of us need it now! A recent article in the Times alluded to an increase in orthopedic surgery among younger baby boomers and young adults thanks to our athletic, Nike-driven lifestyles.

“Why not just build the home with this thoughtfulness in mind from the onset, ” says William Slease of Tapestry Custom Homes.

Last week, Bill and Judy Slease’s home at 7601 Ballantrae Drive in McKinney became the first EasyLiving home in Texas, while Tapestry was recognized and feted by the Institute for Rehabilitation and Utilization for taking the lead in this design.