Blending Family Traditions and Home Decor: A Cozy Fall Guide

by Laura Fullow | Sep 18, 2023 | Blog

As an interior designer, I have seen time and time again the magic of blending family traditions and heirlooms to create warm, inviting spaces. With fall upon us, the season offers a unique opportunity to incorporate antique furniture and family heirlooms into our homes as we cozy up for new memory-making traditions. The beauty of both lies in their shared narrative, which brings generations closer together.

We only have heirlooms because our ancestors felt a responsibility to preserve them for future generations. Most of the time, though, those beautiful things that they preserved are never used, and continue to gather dust in storage. My philosophy is to embrace the impermanence of all things and start using your antiques and family heirlooms!

In this blog post, I want to explore the intersection of family traditions and home decor, examining how these traditions can be honored and incorporated into today’s modern home.

Showcase Antique Furniture

One of the ways to express your love for family heirlooms during the fall season is by showcasing antique furniture pieces in your living space. For example, reclaimed wood dining tables can be the perfect setting for a Thanksgiving feast or a family game night. Place additional antique chairs around the table to offer more seating while keeping with the aesthetic of years gone by.

Implementing Designs Inspired by Family Traditions:

Incorporating elements from your family’s past into your present décor is an excellent way to honor long-standing practices. For instance, display a collection of vintage teacups or a nostalgic quilt-patterned table runner passed down through generations as part of your fall decoration. If you want some true inspiration for using your heirloom china, check out this beautiful and informative blog, To Have To Host. She has so many great ideas!

Create an Emotional Connection

Items with personal stories can imbue your interiors with warmth and intimacy, making your home more inviting. Consider hanging cherished items from the past like antique oil paintings, vintage photos, handwritten letters, or even framed needlework samplers as a way to create conversation starters during family gatherings. 

You can hang your artwork in the traditional way, or use a gallery-type rail system to make it easier to change out artwork as the seasons change. Bold, chunky frames can also provide a dramatic focal point for your living space.

Seasonal Touches

Upgrade antique furniture by adding autumnal accents like rustic wooden trays filled with gourds, heirloom pumpkins, or dried foliage arrangements. These small additions make for a tasteful way of introducing touches of autumn colors and emblems into your home without overwhelming the other design elements.

Adaptable Spaces

Fall family traditions often center around communal activities to bring everyone together indoors. Arrange your antique furniture with mobility and adaptability in mind for board game nights, storytelling sessions, or crafting afternoons. Folding tables and chairs, antique sideboards to hold arts and crafts supplies, or convertible coffee tables can be ideal for these purposes.

If you don’t have a lot of antiques or heirlooms of your own, you’re in luck! There’s a wealth of vintage and antique pieces available at flea markets, antique stores, and online auctions, among other places.

Here are a few tips for incorporating timeless, vintage touches into your home:

• Colors: blend dark neutrals with striking accents
• Walls: opt for neutral white or cream shades, or introduce paisley/floral wallpaper for smaller rooms
• Flooring: dark hardwood options like cherry, maple, or mahogany
• Furniture: choose graceful silhouettes and with elaborate details
• Accessories: brass or bronze materials, crystal embellishments, silver-plated mirrors, intricate pottery, and interesting book collections

I hope this gives you some inspiration for incorporations of traditional elements into your home. By incorporating timeless design elements with antique and vintage pieces, you can create a captivating home that reflects your family’s story.

If you’re considering building a new home or renovating your current space, don’t hesitate to get in touch. To schedule a consultation, call (702) 883-3200, or send an email to [email protected].

How to Use Universal Design Principles for a Successful Home Renovation

by Laura Fullow | Jul 22, 2023 | Blog

Undertaking any type of home renovation is an exciting and challenging endeavor, but if you want to incorporate universal design principles, it can make the process seem even more daunting. Take it from me and don’t let the intimidation squash your plans.

With the right planning and preparation — and the help of an experienced interior designer who specializes in universal design — you can ensure that your space is both comfortable and stylish, while also adapting to your family’s changing needs.

Incorporating universal elements into your renovation project can be easier than you think, and many of these solutions can be implemented for minimal or no extra expense; they will also boost your property’s marketability in the future.

In fact, most of the elements present in universal design are really just standard building components that are either repositioned (such as lowering light switches), chosen more selectively (like faucet handles), or resized (doorways).

Let’s take a look at a few ways that you can incorporate universal design principles into your design plan, and how to choose products and materials that will make your home as flexible and supportive as possible.

Doors and Hallways

One of the most important aspects of universal design is wide doorways and hallways. When renovating your home, think about widening door frames and passageways to at least 32 inches in width. This can help prevent future mobility issues and make it easier for people with wheelchairs or strollers to move around the house.

Lighting

Ample lighting is essential. Every room should have a variety of light sources, including natural light sources like windows or skylights, and artificial options such as recessed lights and task lighting. Having plenty of light is crucial for tasks like cooking or reading, and also plays a significant role in reducing eye strain and accidents caused by poor visibility.

Flooring

When it comes to flooring, avoid using materials with slippery, high-gloss finishes or irregular textures, as they can be unsafe. Opt for slip-resistant surfaces such as low-pile carpeting or non-slip tiles. Additionally, try to minimize transitions between floor materials to prevent tripping hazards.

Lever-Style Handles

The simple decision to use lever-style handles instead of knobs is an easy way to make your home more accessible. Door knobs can be challenging for individuals with arthritis, limited hand strength, or other physical impairments. Lever-style handles require less effort to operate than traditional knobs.

Kitchens

In the kitchen, you might want to install countertops at different heights to cater to people’s different preferences and needs. Adjustable or pull-out workspaces can offer easy access for those in wheelchairs or for those who prefer to sit while preparing meals. Another useful feature is slide-out cabinets, which make it easier to reach stored items without the need to stretch or bend.

Baths

The bathroom is one of the most crucial areas of a home that can benefit from universal design principles. Putting grab bars around the toilet and bathing areas, as well as a curbless shower, can make the space safer and more accessible for everyone. Also, consider a comfort-height toilet and ensure there’s enough space to accommodate wheelchairs.

Entryways and Outdoor Areas

Finally, don’t forget about outdoor spaces – especially entryways to your home. Be sure that entrances are accessible by incorporating ramps or eliminating steps. Wide, well-lit paths are essential for safely navigating outdoor areas at night or with limited visibility conditions.

As you can see, incorporating universal design into your home renovation plan can be straightforward — you just have to know where to start! By considering accessibility, safety, and the diverse needs of all people who may use the space, you can create a home that will be enjoyable and adaptable for years to come.

If you’re considering building a new home or renovating your current space, don’t hesitate to get in touch. I have extensive experience working with clients who are retiring or planning their forever homes, and I can assist you in creating a space that will adapt and develop to meet your needs.

To schedule a consultation, call (702) 883-3200, or send an email to [email protected].

How to Design an Accessible Kitchen that Works for Everyone

by Laura Fullow | Jun 24, 2023 | Blog

Universal design (UD) is trending, and for good reason! As the baby-boomer generation continues to age, they are increasingly opting to remain at home rather than move to a senior living community. To meet this demand, interior designers and home builders are using UD principles to increase quality of life for people of all ages and abilities. When done properly, universal design creates a home that functions well for everyone in the household, while also being aesthetically pleasing.

In this blog post, I will share a few UD principles that I use when designing accessible kitchens for clients.

Start with the Work Triangle

First things first! All good kitchen designs begin with the work triangle. This is the area where the paths connect between your refrigerator, sink, and cooktop or range. The longer the legs of your work triangle, the more walking you’ll have to do to prepare a meal. Shorter legs, on the other hand, make a kitchen feel claustrophobic and limit the amount of usable space at your disposal.

To design a work triangle that functions well for everyone, the three legs combined should not exceed 22 feet.

Provide Plenty of Clearance

When it comes to clearance, a person who uses a mobility aid will require a clear area of 30 x 48-inches in front of the work area. If your are planning to incorporate a table or an island in your design, the traffic aisles between the two should be 42 to 48 inches wide. This will give you plenty of clearance for wheelchairs and walkers as well as children in strollers.

Similarly, a 5-foot radius of clear space allows someone with a scooter or wheelchair to turn around easily. Providing this extra space will save your walls and cabinets from getting banged up inadvertently when someone tries to turn around. It will also save them the hassle of having to back out of the room.

An acquaintance of mine recently broke her foot pretty badly and had to use a knee scooter to get around for several months. She relayed to me how much of a difference it made to have a kitchen with proper clearance. She was able to prepare and cook food rather easily, despite her weight-bearing limitations.

While she and her husband didn’t see themselves needing an accessible kitchen any time soon (they’re in their 40s) they are glad they chose a design that included UD principles. You never know what life will throw at you!

Include Varying Countertop Heights

Including different countertop heights into your kitchen will allow all family members to prep, cook and eat in comfort.

Here are the heights that you need to know:

• Bar Height: 42 inches
• Counter Height: 36 inches
• Table Height: 30 inches

Table and counter-height surfaces are perfect for everyone — especially children, shorter adults, or those who use a mobility aid. Bar-height countertops, on the other hand, are ideal for taller people. If your kitchen is on the smaller side, you can achieve the same functionality by installing pull-out or lift-up work surfaces into a counter-height island.

Opt for Open Shelving and Roll-Out Drawers, and Pull-Downs

Traditionally, lower cabinets are usually deep and cavernous. Not only is it a giant waste of space, but it also makes it difficult for people to access the cabinet’s contents. Not everyone is able to bend over low enough or reach back far enough to access the back of the cabinet. It is also hard to remove heavy cookware like casserole dishes and Dutch ovens from a lower cabinets.

The solution is to install pull-out cabinets or after-market pull-outs. Not only will this make use of every inch of space in your cabinets, it will also help to keep your cookware or dishes organized. For blind corner cabinets, there are plenty of articulating pull-outs on the market, as well as the tried-and-true Lazy Susan.

When it comes to upper cabinets, it is best to either use open shelving. You can also retrofit your existing cabinets with pull-down accessories. Not only are these products engineered to be sturdy, they operate smoothly and are very easy to use. They’re also a good idea for those who are on the shorter side, or people with balance issues. Pull-downs eliminate the need for a stool and cut down on accidents.

Choose Appliance Drawers

For many people, including taller individuals, those with shoulder injuries and people in wheelchairs, the act of loading and unloading the dishwasher requires a lot of effort. To alleviate this, you can raise a traditional door dishwasher for easier accessibility — this may or may not be possible, depending on your cabinets and other considerations. Alternatively, purchase a model that opens like a drawer. Drawer dishwashers also have a smaller footprint which means that you can install them higher than a traditional dishwasher.

Similarly, microwaves now come in drawer-type models that can be installed in lower cabinets. This is a great solution for kids, shorter individuals, people who use mobility aids, and those with shoulder problems. The best part of the solution (in my opinion) is that you can basically hide your microwave and keep the focus on the more attractive parts of your kitchen.

Install Levered, Touch, or Hands-Free Faucets

It may not seem like a big deal, but the type of faucet you choose greatly impacts their usefulness. Levers are so much easier to turn on and off. You can use your fingers, hand, arm or elbow to lift the lever — you can’t do that with knobs This is especially important for anyone with grip or arthritis issues.

National brands like Delta and Kohler offer touch faucets and hands-free models that can be controlled using your voice. These models are especially helpful for those who have trouble reading a measuring cup. You just tell it how much water you want and it turns on and off, giving you the exact volume of water in your pot. That’s pretty amazing if you ask me!

Pot fillers over the cooktop or range will also keep you from shuffling large, heavy pots of water from one place to the other. With a pot filler, you just swing out the arm, fill the pot, and start cooking!

I hope these tips have given you a better idea of what it takes to design a home using the principles and Universal Design. Not only is UD the way of the future, but it also increases the quality of life for people of all ages and abilities.

If you are exploring building a new home, or renovating or remodeling your current space, feel free to reach out. I work with many clients who are retiring or planning their forever home and I can help you design a space that will grow and evolve to suit your needs.

To schedule a consultation, call (702) 883-3200 contact me through my website, or send an email to [email protected].