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Comfort for All
Appliance manufacturers are cooking up new ways to make kitchens more accessible

Frigidaire's side-swing door wall oven allows direct access to the oven cavity.

For years homeowners had to cope with cookie-cutter kitchens designed for average-sized adults who performed kitchen tasks standing up. This one-size-fits-all approach extended to the design and placement of kitchen appliances. Fortunately, as the culture became more inclusive, kitchen professionals came to the realization that better design could empower those of different sizes and abilities in their own homes as well as in public spaces. At first universal design was thought to serve only those with physical limitations but as the movement grew, manufacturers and consumers alike embraced the changes because they benefit everyone. Today manufacturers offer both new appliances in universal design as well as accessories that help make standard appliances easier for all to use.

his Miele front-loading washer offers easy access to people of all heights.

Incorporating universal design into the kitchen includes not only the location of appliances but their ease of operation as well. A simple change in the design of an appliance can make a big difference in accessibility. For example, a wall oven that opens on the side instead of the top makes it easier for a person in a wheelchair to reach inside the oven. Appliance manufacturers are rethinking everything from the size of knobs to the shape of a door handle in order to make appliances more user-friendly. "Now more than ever, appliance manufacturers are combining a sense of research-based ergonomics with ease-of-use features, to create products that are convenient for everyone," says Tony Evans, a spokesperson for Frigidaire.

Accent on accessibility

Many manufacturers have done their part in making appliances easier to use. Recent innovations in product design and features include:

Visibility

• Larger-print labels on appliances;
• Larger-print owner's manuals;
• Light-colored ranges with contrasting dark cast-iron elements to help those with limited vision;
• Dryers with audible lint signals that chime when it's time to clean the filter -- ideal for individuals who may have trouble seeing light-colored lint.

Ease of use

Side swing dryer doors are easy to maneuver

• Side-swing doors on wall ovens and microwaves that provide easier and safer access;
• Bottom-mount refrigerators that allow people in wheelchairs or individuals under five feet easier access to both frozen and refrigerated foods;
• Adjustable slide-out refrigerator shelving that can be set at more convenient heights;
• Hot water spigots on sinks that provide instant boiling water without the effort of filling and lifting a hot kettle.

Safety

The child lockout feature on the Kenmore range helps keep little fingers out of danger.

A lockout device on ranges that shuts off controls with the touch of a control button, preventing accidents caused by both children and the elderly; A magnetic induction cooktop that offers safety with its cool-to-the touch special surface.

New tricks for old units

For those who have older appliances that need modifying, most manufacturers offer add-on products such as Braille and large-type overlays for appliances. Owners can also make your their own overlays to help the visually impaired easily operate an appliance. For example, cut out a letter "P" from felt material and affix it over the popcorn setting on your microwave touch panel. Or attach a bump to your range by using a plastic cushion on the control dial set at a standard oven temperature like 350 degrees.

This GE dishwasher is placed 12 inches off the floor, making it easier to load without stooping

Getting a handle on controls can be an issue, as well. Many older appliances have dials that can be difficult to grip. Depending on the style, you can replace your smaller dials with larger versions that easily slip over the existing knobs -- helpful for people who have arthritis or other conditions that limit their handgrip. If you're after a more immediate and even less expensive solution to hard-to-grip dials and knobs, you can use vinyl jar grippers, or slip a clothespin over fin-style knobs to enlarge the gripping area.

It's clear that advances in universal design offer creative solutions to providing accessible and safe kitchens for one and all. As more Americans live longer than ever before, how we design our kitchens and our homes becomes increasingly important.

-- Barbara Winfield

Copyright © brandwise LLC 1999/2000. Reprinted by permission. Images courtesy of Phillip Ennis, Wood-Mode, and Hunter-Douglas

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