Universal Design

Make Great Decisions in Bathroom Projects at UAKCThink about future needs when selecting bath vanities, cabinets, and etc.Remodeling your Forever Home?The experts at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center have a great selection of vanities, cabinets, mirrors, bathroom lighting, and more for your new bathroom. Robern is a great brand choice and has some beautiful products that will work for you today, and forever. Aging-in-place is a design concept that recognizes your needs in the future will be different than they are today, and designs should work just as well for you twenty or thirty years from now as they do today. Here are some products from Robern that fit that descriptionLet's consider for example accessible cabinets like the Robern cabinets shown below:Why shouldn't cabinets be wheel chair accessible like this. Thanks to Robern, these wall cabinets are beautiful as well as accessible. Sure, this style of bath cabinet may not be necessary today. But someday, you may be quite grateful to have them, and if not you certainly haven't sacrificed anything.Similarly, wall cabinets should be designed for aging-in-place. I'm dying to get these cabinets. They slide-up and out of the way to open yet stay in place, reachable to close. Notice the adjustable shelves - another convenient feature to keep commonly used products nearby.Mirrors with built in lighting are helpful to all of us, but they're especially helpful as the years go by and closeup vision wanes.Even more helpful are magnifying mirrors. Again, this is something that's convenient for all

Find the right place for your microwave Creative Design in the Kitchen One of a design professional's enduring issues with microwave ovens is where to locate them. Many designers fight the idea of locating the microwave over a range or in an upper cabinet. They argue (correctly in my mind), that it is not ergonomically sound for most homemakers because it is too high, and it's certainly not ADA compliant in an over the range location. One solution is an oven microwave combination. It's certainly doable, but it does require a 24" deep cabinet top to bottom instead of the more common 12" upper cabinet over the counter. However, a microwave above the oven is also likely to put the microwave controls a bit too high, and certainly not ADA compliant or universal design. An option we've discussed before is an under counter installation. The main disadvantage of installing a microwave under the counter is that the microwave oven is too low. Manufacturers have worked to overcome this with a slide out drawer and/or controls that are rotated upward. That's a great solution. Here is another possibility that builders or designers could work into their plan. I really like this one. Nearly any brand or model of countertop or even drawer microwave oven will fit in this location. This particular Jenn-Air is designed as a built-in microwave, and is available in either a 30" or 27" width. The raised granite breakfast bar is also super convenient. Of course this design

Stainless vs Cabinet Panels - Pros and Cons Many appliances such as refrigerators, dishwashers, wine chillers, and ice makers can be purchased with stainless steel fronts or panel ready to accept optional cabinet fronts. In many cases, these are "integrated" allowing the appliance to completely blend in with surrounding cabinets, though adding cabinet panels to your appliances will also add cost. So the question might be, "Do you want your appliances to blend in or would you prefer that your appliances stand out?" Some appliances are just so dominant, that it makes no sense to try to hide them. Look at this Sub Zero Pro 48 Refrigerator. It dominates the kitchen and demands attention.On the other hand, this integrated suite of GE Monogram refrigerator and wine units, tastefully blends into the room and makes a subtle statement of its own.Dishwashers, are appliances that really lend themselves to cabinet panels and can often seamlessly blend into the lower cabinets. Look for a dishwasher that is designed to fit "flush" in a 24" deep cabinet enclosure. Increasingly, we're seeing refrigerator and freezer drawer units, which are great for Universal Design and also nicely lend themselves to cabinet panels. Another great advantage to this appliance category is that they are go anywhere appliances, so they fit in with the design concept of "point of use" appliances. We see them in pantries, rec rooms, and about anyplace

New sinks with convenient features Best selection at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center Franke   The new Peak series of sinks from Franke are of hand-fabricated quality. The design coordinates with Franke's other products, and the sinks feature drain covers that double the straining power while concealing the waste disposer or waste kit. The Peak series include an integral ledge that functions as either a shelf that raises the work surface or as bottom grid. The appearance is both modern and classic. Accessories include a pair of black polypropylene handles for Peak’s stainless-steel colander (PX-70S) and a cutting board (PX-40S) made of Iroko wood. Blanco Offering an architectural edge, Blanco’s Modex kitchen sink workstation features a 3-in. profile that sits above the counter and offers ample task space because of the dual draining design and large, integrated cutting board. Spill preventions is an added benefit of the ledge. Composed of the company’s patented SILGRANIT II formula, the workstation resists heat, chips, scratches, and food acids and offers a shield against bacteria and dirt. Users can prep, cut and clean right on Modex, allowing the sink to perform double duty. KWC America Responding to the rising popularity of Universal Design in faucets, the new KWC America ONO touch light pro allows users to control volume and temperature remotely. This new concept in electronic faucet operation is a completely wireless, fully portable touch-operated control that can be positioned anywhere within the immediate environment of the faucet, up to 26 ft. away. Wherever