Make your new home more accessible with universal design

Building a new home, versus buying a

resale, gives you many advantages.

With a Custom Home Builder, you can

customize the layout to your personal

taste, incorporate energy-efficient

throughout, and move into a home

that is fully warrantied.

Another distinct advantage of

choosing a new home is that you can

incorporate universal design. Also known as “barrier-free design”, this thoughtful approach

accommodates details that make your home accessible to anyone. Households with elderly or

disabled family members experience challenges that others haven’t considered. Whether you

need extra space to maneuver a wheelchair or single-story living to avoid climbing stairs, there

are many details that can be easily built into your new home, like wider hallways and doorways,

lower countertops and sinks, and ramp access.

Universal design removes barriers and creates free flow throughout the home, for anyone. The

goal is to provide functionality, comfort, and convenience, so that no member feels challenged

in their own home.

Even if you don’t have the immediate need for universal design features, ask yourself if this new

home is where you want to stay. “Aging in place” is a concept that reflects the Baby Boomers’

lifestyle trend of staying in the same house beyond retirement, instead of downsizing to

accommodate life changes.

Talk to your home builder about adding these universal design features to your new home:

5-foot clearance space in hallways and 36-inch wide doors

Gently sloping walkway to all entrances

Touch lights or rocker switches instead of traditional toggle switches, and placed at the

same height as the door handle

Walk-in tubs or step-in showers with no threshold (with wider doors) and grab bars and

adjustable height shower head

Front-loading washer and dryer

Ovens and cooktops with controls on the front

Bathroom vanities with knee space underneath

Lever-style door handles instead of knobs

Even floor height, with no thresholds

Closets with adjustable rods and racks

Kitchen cabinets with varied heights

Slip- and trip-resistant flooring

Motion light sensors

Anti-scald valves

Universaldesign.org provides 10 checklists that cover every space of your home. Most of the

universal design features are easy to integrate when building your home. Discuss these

adaptations with your builder so you can enjoy many years of comfort in your home.

Enjoy Your Outdoor Living Space All Year

When people talk about outdoor living space, all thoughts seem to head towards summer

cookouts. Once the autumn weather slips in, however, you have plenty of time and activities to

enjoy outside on your patio, deck, balcony, and yard. Seasonal outdoor decorating is as festive

outside as it is inside your home. Add autumn colors and décor, like pumpkins, gourds, corn

stalks, and wreaths. Place easy-to-tend container gardens with hardy plants like kale, asters,

mums, and sedum, which can tolerate the chill

but keep your outdoors colorful and alive!

Change your outdoor color scheme by

swapping out the cushions on your patio

furniture.

It’s a good time to clean and stash the summer

cushions. Have some warm lap throws

available for use outdoors, too. Lay down an outdoor rug to cozy up an area for fall. When winter

rolls around, turn your outdoor living space into a winter wonderland, with twinkling white lights

around the area. Add splashes of blue decorations—hanging from the trees, perched on walls, or

nesting in the snow—to accent the winter white. A cozy fire is a welcome spot in fall and winter.

Use your fire pit for warmth and cooking—or add an outdoor fireplace. Roast marshmallows for

s’mores or try your hand at outdoor cooking.

Check out some campfire recipes here. Do you have a pergola? If not, consider adding one. It’s a

fairly simple task. In any season, this minimal enclosure can define an area while still being

outdoors. When the fall sets in, you can cover the pergola with a canopy for a bit more shelter.

Even when the temperature drops a bit, you can still go outdoors and play, no matter your age.

In the fall, lawn games like croquet, bocce, badminton, and cornhole will keep you active enough

to stay warm. Even if you decide to stay indoors during the winter months, invest some time in

decorating your outdoor living space so you can enjoy the view. Birdfeeders, solar lights, and a

stack of colorful pots will perk up a barren land scape and stave off the winter doldrums.

8 Bonus Room Ideas How many ways can you use a bonus room? Here are 8 great ideas… Who can’t use a little extra

space in their home? The bonus room has become a desirable feature for new homebuyers. With

one room that’s not designated for a particular purpose, you can create the functional space that

best suits your lifestyle.

How many ways can you use a

bonus room?

Family/game room. If you’re tired

of having toys, books, DVDs, and

video game system controllers

kicking around your living room,

you might be ready for a family room or game room, where you can centralize the more active

entertainment. Accent the space with storage spaces, like cabinetry and cubbies, to store the

games and toys.

Home theater. A home theater allows you, your family, and your guests to kick back and enjoy a

movie in the comfort of your home—without the high cost of tickets and concessions. Convert

the bonus room by adding a large tv screen, a home theater system to deliver the audio quality,

comfortable seating, and the right lighting (with dimmers, of course).

Craft space. Any crafter knows that the supplies somehow pile up and clutter makes it hard to

be creative and productive. A craft room, art studio, or other creative space will have all the

equipment, tools, and supplies where you can readily access and use them. Hang racks and build

storage for paper, ribbons, fabrics, and yarn, or whatever your passion requires.

Man cave. The two words that can send a man into a euphoric daydreaming state. The man cave

provides a private haven, where the man of the house can hide from the “Honey Do” list, enjoy

a book or magazine without interruption, play poker, have the remote control all to himself, and

just revel in his thoughts. A great use for a bonus room, the man cave might feature comfortable

furniture (e.g., reclining sofa with cup holders), a poker or pool table, gaming system, music

system, small fridge, and bar.

Home office. More people are working from home, either occasionally or full-time. A bonus room

enables you to designate a home office space where you can either close yourself away to get

work done, or close that work off from your personal life. The dividing line between work and

living is essential to thriving in both. Make sure you can readily access the Internet from this

room. And don’t forget the home office deduction on your income tax return!

Exercise room. When you have an exercise room or fitness center—as opposed to a treadmill

tucked in a corner where it doubles as a clothes dryer—you’re more likely to utilize the value of

the equipment. Install a television screen so you can entertain yourself or watch workout videos.

Include a small fridge or a water dispenser to keep hydrated. Choose flooring that is both durable

and easy to clean. Foam and rubber tiles provide the cushioning you need and are easily replaced

when damaged.

Homework station. Avoid “The dog ate my homework” excuse when your students can organize

their books and assignments in a homework station. In addition to a desk, computer, Internet

access (with parental controls) and bookshelves, include bulletin boards for posting calendars,

notes, and reminders. You can also use dry erase, chalkboard, or magnetic primer right on the

walls to turn them into functional space. With dry erase and magnetic primer, you apply one coat

and then cover with your choice of wall paint.

Guest room. A bonus room generally doesn’t include a closet, but for a guest room, you don’t

need one. Just furnish the space with an armoire to allow them to hang up and store clothing.

You can also use a day bed with underbed storage or a trundle bed to accommodate an extra

guest. How will you use your bonus room?

5 Tips to design a chef’s kitchen you’ll love

When cooking is your passion, the kitchen is the most important space in your home. Today’s

foodies are investing in designing the ultimate chef’s kitchen. You don’t need massive space—

just smart planning. A true chef’s kitchen is designed with functionality in mind.

Here are some helpful tips to design a chef’s kitchen.

1. Efficient layout. Follow the triangle pattern that connects you to the sink, refrigerator,

and range, without excess steps. A U- or L-shaped kitchen layout or center island

provides the best flow from these three key places.

2. Easy care, durable surfaces. Certainly, you want an attractive kitchen, but you need to

consider that the workspace is going to need to withstand a lot of spills, chopping, hot

pans and dishes, and splatters. Look for surfaces that are easy to clean, resist stains, and

can hide the inevitable scratches. Stainless steel is ideal for appliances and sinks. A

quartz countertop is easier to maintain than granite, while still providing an elegant

appearance.

3. Non-skid flooring. With spills and splatters prevalent in your kitchen, you’ll need a non-

skid floor. Travertine tile is beautiful, but not easy to keep clean. Cork flooring is

becoming more popular in kitchens because it’s eco-friendly, durable, and provides a bit

of cushioning for your feet. Vinyl flooring or ceramic tile with a non-skid coating offer a

wide range of colors and designs.

4. Smart storage. Make every space count in your chef’s kitchen. Take advantage of the

many cabinetry options available, like deep drawers where you can stash your pots and

pans, with the lids so you don’t have to go searching. Install pullout cabinets for your

pantry, spice rack, canned goods, and vertical items, like trays, racks, and cookie sheets.

Use drawer organizers to separate your cooking utensils. If you like a rustic look, use a

pot rack so your pans are at arm’s reach.

5. Put luxury in your appliances and tools. Quality tools that allow for great results with

ease are essential for a chef’s kitchen. A double wall oven, four or six-burner gas stove,

oversized refrigerator, professional stand mixer, and warming drawer (many stoves now

come with one built in the bottom as well) are some of the finishing touches that

contribute to the kitchen of your dreams. Top it off with task lighting in key areas, and

you’re cooking now!

What Color Would You Paint Your Bedroom?

According to a 2014 Sherwin-Williams survey, seven out of ten homeowners will undertake a

home-related project in the next six months. And three in four homeowners have at least one

room that needs paint — and the bedroom tops the list.

Soothing green makes this master bedroom an oasis

So if you are one of the homeowners who is deciding what color you want to paint your bedroom,

here are some suggestions from the experts.

Gray has been trending as a bedroom color for years. Recently, people adding violet and opal

undertones. Gray is popular because it is so easy to pair with natural elements like wood and

wool as well as trendy metallics.

Pastels are beginning to make a comeback this spring with a more sophisticated edge. Pale or

blush pink or coral gives a feminine, Audrey Hepburn elegance. A light tint of pink can extend a

warm sophistication. This pairs well with gray and white accents and will help to soften the look

even more. But, too much or too dark and you will feel like you live in “Barbie’s Dream House”.

Soaring vaulted ceilings and well-placed windows can make your Master Bedroom feel like a retreat.

Dusty Aqua is becoming a Pinterest favorite. It has a spa-like effect in a bedroom and can give a

beachy-feel. It can really brighten up a room that doesn’t get a lot of sunshine. But, as with other

subtle colors, bright tones can overwhelm. It is better to stick to pastels, whites and grays.

BEHR Paint’s Director of Color Erika Woelfel suggests a deep, tropical green to create a soothing

sanctuary. This color works well with light wood floors and furniture. It also helps bright colored

bedding to really pop.

One very surprising suggestion is using black. Black on the ceiling or as an accent wall will evoke

a spacious feel of the night sky. Black can also be balanced with grays or whites. Avoid using

bright colors with black as it creates an over the top effect.

Bright accent colors can make a room pop, but it needs to be paired with neutral bedding.

How “Smart” is Your Home? Imagine having your home act

as your personal assistant…

raising the temperature when

you are cold, lowering the

window shades before bed or

creating a grocery list based on

the contents of your

refrigerator. This is not a page from the 1960’s cartoon, “The Jetsons”. All these things are now

possible.

“Smart Home” is the latest term being used for home automation. It usually refers to a home

that is equipped with heating/cooling, lighting, security and appliances that can be controlled

remotely via computer or smart phone, so that you can regulate your home from anywhere.

Many smart homes have built-in monitoring systems that can calculate and log usage by all

connected devices. This can assist with energy-efficiency.

Some computer systems can monitor so many aspects of daily living that they actually appear to

be intelligent. For example Samsung has a refrigerator (Model #RF4289HARS) that has a built-in

touch screen to keep an inventory of its contents. It can also search for recipes on Epicurious and

display them on the screen. The LG Smart ThinQ LFX31995ST refrigerator will communicate with

your smart phone to send a grocery list. It can track the expiration dates of food items as well as

recommend recipes that can be made with its’ contents. Smart ThinQ can also access your Gmail

calendar or you’re your favorite Pandora tunes while you are cooking.

The Nest thermostat comes with integrated WiFi, You can control, schedule and monitor your

home’s temperatures from anywhere in the world. Nest learns your behaviors and automatically

adjusts its settings for maximum efficiency and comfort. It will tell you how much energy you’re

using and remind you to change your furnace filters.C

Other popular smart home technologies include remote control window shades, door locks and

security cameras. Landscape irrigation systems are becoming smarter able to detect if it has

rained and how much and then adjusting the watering for that day.

If you are wondering what the benefits are of a smart home beyond the cool factor – think

convenience, energy efficiency, security and well, of course the cool factor.

Kitchen Design Trends for the Future Consumers are getting tired of the fluffy over-designed kitchens. They are looking for simple

lines and are interested in good storage and space planning. Specialty workstations are becoming

more common and range from the very elaborate to the most basic utilitarian. Some of the more

fun specialty areas include: coffee bars, baking stations, wine-tasting nooks and even pizza-

making stations.

The kitchen is still the heart of the home with family and friends choosing to gather there more

than any other room in the home. But modern kitchens reflect the style of the rest of the home

incorporating sitting areas and dining rooms to create a unified space. They are often open to

the family room or dining room and may include cabinets that look more like furniture with

counters and huge islands for preparation, dining and gathering.

While some high-end designers are beginning to spec gray cabinets, the number one color choice

for 2014 is crisp white. Beautiful and timeless, white cabinets are a versatile choice.

They can work well with multiple architectural styles from country chic to traditional or even

contemporary. White cabinets also open the kitchen up to a number of decor choices and color

palettes. We are seeing these splashes of color in glass mosaic back-splashes. Also open shelving

is making a comeback displaying fancy and often colorful accessories.

Layered kitchen lighting containing a series of recessed fixtures providing ambient light and

chandeliers and pendants over islands and seating areas to deliver task light. Accent lighting

above or below cabinets or in a glass front cabinet highlight special areas of the kitchen. Over-

sized lighting fixtures is another big trend of this season. Giving a sense of depth and perception

the light fixtures can create both drama and interest.

Many homeowners are splurging on their kitchens with commercial grade appliances including

double ovens, multi-tiered drawers to create more storage, soft close cabinet doors and drawers

with concealed hinges. As tech-savvy as consumers now are, technology is also becoming a “must

have” in the kitchen. Homeowners are accessorizing their kitchens with electronics such as wall

mounted televisions, sound systems and computers. Other high-tech features include: sensor-

activated lights that illuminate the kitchen only when it’s in use, meat thermometers that alert

your smartphone when dinner is ready, and a hands-free faucet that keeps it clean from sticky

hands.

Many of these features are available in our communities in Sammamish, Seattle, Renton,

Kirkland, and Bellevue.