Where Form Meets Forever
Have you ever wondered how to update your home so it still works for you 10 or 20 years from now?
In this post, we walk you through the universal design features THE Remodel Group installs in every area of each of our remodels, including aging-in-place remodels.
By the end, you’ll know what a thoughtfully planned aging-in-place designed home can look like before you even pick up the phone.
Top Universal Design Features We Install, by Area
The universal design remodeling features we include in every aging-in-place project, by area:
- Bathrooms: curbless showers, bench seating, comfort-height toilets, lever faucets, and heated non-slip floors.
- Kitchens: 42-48 inch pathways, drawer base cabinets, raised dishwashers, and counter-height ovens.
- Entries and whole-home: no-step entries, single-level living layouts, wider hallways, and lever door handles.
- Lighting and materials: layered non-glare lighting, slide-bar hand showers, and contrasting finishes for depth perception.
Universal Design Bathrooms
The bathroom carries the highest fall risk in the house, which is why we treat it as the most important room in every aging-in-place plan.
Every universal design bathroom we build starts with the shower itself.
Our designers spec a curbless shower with a handheld shower head, bench seating (or room for it), and wall blocking for future grab bars built into the framing.
Around that shower, we can install:
- A comfort-height toilet with a bidet seat and blocking for future grab bars.
- Non-slip flooring and heated floors that eliminate the need for trip-prone bath mats.
- Lever, extended lever, or touch faucets that work with limited grip or chronic pain.
- A 32-inch to 36-inch wide door so wheelchairs and walkers fit easily.
- Contrasting finish materials between the floor, wall, and vanity to help with depth perception.
- Hand showers on slide bars so they work from a standing or seated position.
A bathroom we would build for a Lake Oswego homeowner today will still work for their family in 25 years.
Universal Design Kitchens
A universal design kitchen makes cooking easier for everyone in the house, from young children to loved ones aging in place.
We plan every aging-in-place kitchen around easy access from a standing or seated position.
Layout sets the foundation.
We design 42- to 48-inch pathways so two people can work side by side and accommodate mobility aids without crowding.
Cabinetry builds on that foundation:
- Drawers in place of standard lower cabinets, so nothing gets lost in the back.
- Cabinet pulls instead of knobs to support people who cannot or have a hard time gripping.
- Pull-out pantry shelves and corner-cabinet solutions like Lazy Susans for full reach access.
Appliances finish the job.
Raised or drawer dishwashers, counter-height ovens, side-swing or French door ovens, and shallow sinks all cut bending and lifting.
We can also build in smart, voice-activated, or auto shut-off appliances that add safety without changing how the kitchen looks.
Whole-Home Moves and No-Step Entries
For multi-story homes in Beaverton, getting essentials onto one level is the single most powerful move we can make.
We do it in 3 ways:
- Convert existing main-level space into a primary suite.
- Build an addition to create the single-level footprint without losing rooms.
- Install an elevator to connect levels.
Smaller universal design moves matter just as much.
A no-step entry from the front door turns a daily obstacle into a non-issue, especially with strollers, groceries, or mobility aids in hand.
Wider hallways, single-level flooring with no transitions, and a clear path between bed, bath, and kitchen support easy daily movement.
Our NARI Universal Design Certified Professionals and NAHB Certified Aging-in-Place Specialists shape these decisions, so your home’s layout supports long-term independence without sacrificing how it looks.
Lighting, Hardware, and Finishes That Tie It All Together
The right finishes turn a universal design plan into a beautiful, functional home.
The wrong ones can quietly undermine the aesthetic and livability.
These are what we include with every aging-in-place project:
- Lever door handles throughout the house instead of round knobs.
- Cabinet pulls in bar, cup, bin, or finger style for stronger tactile feedback than smooth knobs.
- Single-level flooring with no transitions between rooms, so there’s nothing to trip on.
- Paddle light switches and motion sensor lights in hallways and entryways.
- Grab bars selected to match plumbing fixtures so they look intentional later, not added.
Lighting deserves the same attention.
We install layered, non-glare lighting throughout the house, plus stair, toe-kick, and exterior pathway lighting that clearly mark transitions in height.
Two fixture choices we steer away from: clear-globe Edison-style bulbs and non-recessed ceiling fixtures. Both create glare that’s uncomfortable and can become a safety issue when it interferes with vision.
Do you want more natural light in your home?
Where Style Meets Stay-Put Living: THE Remodel Group
Every universal design remodel we deliver is shaped by our NARI Universal Design Certified Professionals and NAHB Certified Aging-in-Place Specialists, and a Design-Build process that keeps design, estimating, and construction under one roof.
Ready to plan a home that grows with you?
Fill out our contact form today or give us a call.
