Award-Winning Designs for Aging-in-Place Clients

NAHB Remodelers recently announced the winners of its annual Homes for Life awards. The awards recognize exceptional remodeling projects that effectively incorporate aging-in-place and universal design.

"We are honored to have the opportunity to sponsor the Homes for Life awards," said Erika Taylor, director of content for Pro Remodeler. "We believe in shining a light on this crucial segment of the market — not only because it makes sense from a business perspective, but also because these types of remodels are meaningful and inspiring to the entire industry."

The awards acknowledged winners in five categories:

• Whole House/Multi-Room Remodel: Nea Poole of Poole & Poole Architecture in Midlothian, Va.
• Two-Story Remodel: Reiko Lewis, CAPS, of Ventus Design in Honolulu, Hawaii.
• Bath Remodel:  Robert & Evelyn Lenton from the Lenton Company of Palmdale, Calif.
• Multi-Generational Remodel: Iris Chadab, CAPS, of Windows to the Walls Interiors in Alexandria, Va.
• Best Overall CAPS: Bonnie Lewis, CAPS, Allied ASID, Associate IIDA, 55+ TLC Interior Design of Scottsdale, Ariz.

Two-Story Remodel: Reiko Lewis, CAPS, of Ventus Design in Honolulu, Hawaii.

The clients were a mother and daughter who desired an enjoyable space they could share together through a low-maintenance lifestyle, while addressing aging-in-place needs. The two-story remodel features a unique freight system elevator — the first of its kind in Hawaii to accommodate a wheelchair and a caretaker.

Whole House/Multi-Room Remodel: Nea Poole of Poole & Poole Architecture in Midlothian, Va.

A former hay barn was completely converted into a home that supports a modern family's lifestyle while allowing for aging-in-place components in the future. Along with the bathroom fixtures, other spaces in the home, such as the kitchen, were designed to accommodate taller individuals, rather than the traditionally lowered fixtures commonly seen in aging-in-place or universal design.

Multi-Generational Remodel: Iris Chadab, CAPS, of Windows to the Walls Interiors in Alexandria, Va.

The home owners desired to create a multi-generational welcoming space for themselves, their adult children and their young grandchildren. The clients wanted to be able to open the space and brighten the area to focus on entertaining, creating memories and enjoying company. The aging-in-place elements had to be used by the grandchildren, and they were thrilled to help in the design process.

Bath Remodel:  Robert & Evelyn Lenton from the Lenton Company of Palmdale, Calif.

A wheelchair-accessible space was created to enable the clients to stay in their home as long as possible. Details in the bathroom were selected to accommodate both the client and her sister as caretaker. Careful design consideration was placed on a functional space usable by anyone while still allowing independence of the client.

Best Overall CAPS: Bonnie Lewis, CAPS, Allied ASID, Associate IIDA, 55+ TLC Interior Design of Scottsdale, Ariz.

A master bathroom remodel called for enlarging the shower, creating a custom vanity space, and updating fixtures to accommodate a client with limited mobility. The bathroom proved to be a challenge for an ADA-compliant floor plan and some creative reworking of pipes allowed for more flexibility after eliminating a water closet creating a new toilet area.

CAPS is a designation for remodelers, general contractors, designers, architects, health care professionals and many others. CAPS designees have been taught the strategies and techniques for designing and building aesthetically pleasing, barrier-free living environments to help home owners live in their homes more safely, independently and comfortably, regardless of age or ability level.

To learn more about earning a CAPS designation, visit nahb.org.