Design Renderings

Accessible Kitchen Renovation Designed by Marlena Wozowicz

This older home in Windsor, CT is undergoing major renovations to make it more accessible for one of the homeowners.

The kitchen will be partially wheelchair accessible using NKBA’s access standards. Click here for details.

Base cabinet storage will have full extension rollout drawers. With the addition of a rolling storage unit, items can be easily moved to their point of use.

Accessible Storage

Many accessible storage devices for inside the cabinets are now available to make it easier for anyone to reach what they need easily. Shown above are some examples from Häfele.

Many cabinetry brands we sell also have their own accessible storage devices that you can explore online:

• Decorá Accessories

• Fabuwood Accessories

This kitchen renovation includes base cabinet doors that open at a single touch with TIP-ON, the mechanical opening support system from Blum. Easy opening with integrated door gap adjustment. To close, simply press shut.

TIP-ON for doors was designed to work in face frame or frameless cabinets, and it also works in both overlay and inset applications.

NKBA’s Access Standards

Home renovations come with many challenges and an experienced designer helps homeowners find solutions to challenging situations.

In this renovation, the following requirements are met in the design:

• Entry door must be at least 36-inches wide.
• Width. A single wheelchair space shall be 36-inches wide minimum (this kitchen has 37-inch wide spaces).
• Kitchen work surface in residential dwellings is required to have at least one 30-inch wide minimum section of counter.
• The kitchen work surface shall be 34-inches maximum above the finish floor or ground. Exception: A counter that is adjustable to provide a kitchen work surface at variable heights, 29-inches minimum and 36-inches maximum, shall be permitted.
• Exposed surfaces. There shall be no sharp or abrasive surfaces under the work surface counters.
• Sink depth should be 6-1/2 inches in order to keep the work surface no higher than 34-inches.
• Raising toe kicks on sink and storage cabinets 9" to 12" provides clearance for a wheelchair footrest.

Also, notice that the cooktop with a drawer under the countertop provides wheelchair access.