These homes are easy to enter, navigate and adapt to changing circumstances. In essence, universally designed digs are the ultimate example of future-proofing as they can accommodate a family’s changing needs – both the anticipated and unexpected. Pavilion Lutzow Project is a case study in universal housing and homes that are designed to take you into the future.

Looking to downsize but unimpressed with the idea of traditional aged care, John and Maree O’Shea envisaged an accessible but stylish home where their nine grandkids could visit and John could get around unimpeded. An accident that left John with lifelong mobility challenges and limitations was considered in every step of the design process.

“Provision for possible on-site care is critical,” says John. “What’s more important is that we have made accessible features sexy. They are not merely practical solutions, they also look sensational, and we think this project will ignite curiosity from many family groups, particularly those interested in retiring without the nursing home.” Citing the multi-layered nature of the modern retiree as the impetus for their grand design, John and Maree say the home, which was designed by Brad Cross of Jazz Designs, is ideal for older occupants seeking quality (quality of their home and lifestyle) and security in their golden years. The keen caravaners also requested a design that would accommodate and incorporate their home on wheels.

Sustainability, liveability and affordability were key traits instilled in the residence the owners refer to as their “Hardies’home”. “The suite of James Hardie cladding provided us with a wonderful opportunity to apply function, form and wow factor all rolled into one. Each product was carefully selected so as to enhance the architectural flair of the pavilion design,” says John. A pavillion-style structure was agreed upon as it allowed for the most flexible floor plan, one that would be capable of alteration. Sporting a huge deck with city views, the retreat pavilion (top level) comprises a large master suite with a built-in robe and beautifully appointed ensuite, leisure room, bathroom, kitchenette and private balcony.

The upper and ground levels are connected by a lift and an architecturally designed staircase of raw oak, with shadow line detailing and a matching batten balustrade. Down on the ground-floor living pavillion is a dining area, kitchen, panty and laundry, plus the all-important living space with a stunning feature wall constructed using James Hardie matrix board off-cuts. Applied in a double-stack brick-bond pattern and painted in metallic rose gold, the wall commands attention.

The kitchen is a showstopper with all its accessible features, carefully selected Polytec finishes, polished Geoluxe Pyrolytic Stone benchtop and accessorised with sink mixer, Shock sink and Miele cooking appliances.

The gallery pavilion provides a stunning entry into the two-storey home thanks to a 4.5m timber ceiling that stretches to the guest suite (the caravan). “Our caravan had to have park-up provisions to enable water and electricity connections,” explains John. “The caravan has become a spare bedroom but in time it could be used as a granny flat for a carer or a home for one of our grandchildren.”

The gallery is lined with several banks of louvres at floor level and fixed glass at the top. Long beaded pendants hang from the timber ceiling while three custom solid timber doors on Brio track systems are examples of how the home turns functional fixtures into stylish showpieces.

A studio pavillion houses awards and art, but can be easily converted to on-site carer rooms. Each room enjoys larger-than-average dimensions to cater for wheelchair use, while furniture was carefully positioned to eliminate any restrictions. An oversized garage with a built-in flooring allows easy access to individuals with mobility challenges.

Textured elements gel with the carefully composed neutral interior palette. “With an interest in balancing the mind, body and soul, it was extremely important for me to have elemets and colour schemes that provide spaces that enhance wellbeing,” explains Maree, who implemented feng shui elements throughout the interior scheme.

LED lighting strips help highlight the natural stackstone (a combination of greys and blacks with a dash of white) used on the studio walls and the gatehouse. The landscaped gardens, driveway, paths and tiled entrance seal the front of the house.

“Our project has a multifaceted approach to design, building and living,” John concludes. “With ever-increasing number of baby boomers interested in exploring suitable life options, this project ticks all the boxes”.

The post Looking to the Future appeared first on Completehome.

A universally designed home aims to create inclusive living spaces that make life simpler and safer for residents young or old, able-bodied or mobility-challenged. These homes are easy to enter, navigate and adapt to changing circumstances. In essence, universally designed digs serve their occupants until the end of their lives and all the stages that come before, no matter how their circumstances change.

Pavilion Lutzow Project is a case study in universal housing, and demonstrates the successful integration of universal features that allow residents to remain in their homes for longer.

Looking to downsize but unimpressed with the idea of traditional aged care, John and Maree O’Shea envisaged an accessible home built to universal housing design principles, where their nine grandkids could visit and John could get around unimpeded. An accident that left John with lifelong mobility challenges and limitations was considered in every step of the design and process.

“Provision for possible onsite care is critical,” says John. “What’s more important is that we have made accessible features sexy. They are not merely practical solutions, they also look sensational, and we think this project will ignite curiosity from many family groups, particularly those interested in retiring without the nursing home.”

Citing the multi-layered nature of the modern retiree as the impetus for their grand design, John and Maree say the home is ideal for older occupants seeking quality (quality of their home and lifestyle) and security in their golden years. The keen caravaners also requested a design that would accommodate and incorporate their home on wheels.

Sustainability, liveability and affordability were key traits instilled in the residence the owners refer to as their “Hardies’ home”. “The sweet of James Hardie cladding provided us with a wonderful opportunity to apply form, function and wow factor all rolled into one. Each product was carefully selected so as to enhance the architectural flare of the pavilion design,” says John. A pavilion-style structure was agreed upon as it allowed for the most flexible floor plan capable of alteration. Sporting a huge deck with city views, the retreat pavilion (top level) comprises a large master suite with a built-in robe and beautifully appointed ensuite, leisure room, bathroom, kitchenette and private balcony.

The upper and ground levels are connected by a lift and an architecturally designed staircase of raw oak, with shadow line detailing and a matching batten balustrade.

Down on the ground-floor living pavilion is a dining area, kitchen, pantry and laundry, plus the all-important living space with a stunning feature wall constructed using James Hardie matrix board off-cuts. Applied in a double-stack brick-bond pattern and painted in metallic rose gold, the wall commands attention. The kitchen is a showstopper with all its accessible features, carefully selected Polytec finishes, polished Geoluxe stone benchtops and accessorised with Tink mixer, Shock sink and Miele cooking appliances.

The gallery pavilion provides a stunning entry into the home thanks to a 4.5m timber ceiling that stretches to the guest suite (the caravan). “Our caravan had to have park-up provisions to enable water and electricity connections,” explains John. “The caravan has become a spare bedroom but in time it could be used as a granny flat for a carer or a home for one of our grandchildren.”

The galley is lined with several banks of louvres at floor level and fixed glass at the top. Long beaded pendants hang from the timber ceiling while three custom solid timber doors on Brio track systems are examples of how the home turns functional fixtures into stylish showpieces. A studio pavilion houses awards and art, but can be easily converted to onsite carer rooms. Each room enjoys larger-than-average dimensions to cater for wheelchair use, while furniture was positioned to eliminate any restrictions.

An oversized garage with a built-in workstation, storage space and non-slip flooring allows easy access to individuals with mobility challenges.

Textured elements gel with the neutral interior palette. “With an interest in balancing the mind, body and soul, it was extremely important for me to have elements and colour schemes that provide spaces that enhance wellbeing,” explains Maree, who implemented feng shui elements throughout the interior scheme.

LED lighting strips help highlight the stackstone (combination of greys and blacks with a dash of white) used on the studio walls and the gatehouse. The landscaped gardens, driveway, paths and tiled entrance seal the front of the house.

“Our project has a multifaceted approach to design, building and living,” John concludes. “With the ever-increasing number of baby boomers interested in exploring suitable life options, this project ticks all the boxes.”

For more information

O’Shea & Sons

PROJECT TEAM
Building Designer Jazz Designs (Brad Cross), jazzdesigns.com.au Builder O’Shea & Sons Builders, osheabuilders.com.au
Interior Decorator Maree O’Shea (owner) Project & site manager O’Shea & Sons Builders (Nick O’Shea),
osheabuilders.com.au

STRUCTURAL TEAM
Construction King Builders, kingbuilders.com.au
Structural engineer Vector Structural Engineering (Stephen Moss), 0412 448 871
Surveyor Gateway Survey & Planning
(Greg Hoonhout), gsp-land.com.au
SERVICES
Turf Urban Turf Solutions,
urbanturfsolutions.com.au
Cladding James Hardie,
jameshardie.com.au

FIXTURES & FITTINGS
Cabinetry Allfit Cabinet Solutions, allfitcabinetsolutions.com.au
Stone Geoluxe from Stoneville,
stonevilleaustralia.com.au
Plumbing, bathware, tapware and accessories Abey, abey.com.au
Sliding door system Brio, brio.com.au
Cooking and laundry appliances
Miele, miele.com.au; Mitsubishi Electric, mitsubishielectric.com.au
Cabinetry Finishes Polytec, polytec.com.au

FURNITURE & FURNISHINGS
Furniture Uniqwa Furnishings,
uniqwafurniture.com.au;
GlobeWest, globewest.com.au
Cushions Bandhini, bandhinidesign.com;
The Bach Living, thebach.com.au
Artwork (Veils of the Sky)
Rachel Prince, rachelprinceart.com.au

The post Universal Housing Hero: liveable housing gets the ‘wow’ factor in this iconic project appeared first on Completehome.

When planning for a new home or renovating an existing house, we seldom think about our future needs and may overlook how the home’s functionality will influence our changing needs. However, by incorporating some liveable design features early in the design phase, we can overcome some of these functionality issues.

Liveable homes focus on design features that enhance the ability of people to live in their home for all stages of their life and most levels of mobility without the need for specialisation.

Is there a demand for homes with liveable design features? The short answer is yes, as the design features can provide suitable housing for:
• People with less mobility permanently or temporarily.
• Older Australians and the baby boomer generation.
• Families with young children or a disabled family member.

In the Australian context, we see some significant motivating factors to encourage the designing and building of homes with liveable design features.
• The Sustainable Australia Report 2013 states that Australia is an ageing population and during the next 20 years, the number of Australians aged 65 and over is expected to increase by 84 per cent.
• The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that in 2009, one in five Australians had a disability of some type.
• In 2008, the Monash University Accident Research Centre found that more than 62 per cent of falls and slip-based injuries occur in the home.
• The Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey (Volume 7, 2012) found 44 per cent of grandparents were doing grandchild care once a week or more often.

These statistics are far-reaching in our community, and it would be difficult to find a household that would not benefit from incorporating liveable housing design features. Another important consideration is the ability to maintain social interaction and a connection between people and their community as they age.

Liveable homes do not have to look very different from traditional styles, but rather present with a sense of style and space as they have wider door openings and passageways along with good access around kitchens and bathrooms. And while it is ideal to consider and include liveable features in the design phase of a new home, renovated kitchens and bathrooms can provide great opportunities to make a difference.

Designing a home that takes into account the occupants’ needs now and providing good accessibility in the future means spending less on the costs associated with selling and buying another home.

Access and entrance to the home

• A safe and continuous step-free pathway between the street entrance to the home entrance and into the home.
• Car parking should be large enough to allow the occupants to open the car door fully and move around the car when parked with ease.

Bathroom and toilet

• A bathroom and toilet should be located on the ground or entrance level for use by occupants and visitors.
• Toilet and shower should be located in a corner, where additional wall bracing can be installed for the future installation of hand rails if required.
• A clear space in front of the toilet and shower should be clear of an inward swinging doorway.

Flooring

• The flooring located in the bathroom, toilet, kitchen and laundry should be of a non-slip surface.

Internal stairways

• Where internal stairs are situated in the home, locate these on a straight run and on a structural wall, so that the wall could withstand the weight and movement of any mobility aids if required for future adaptation.
• Include a handrail, preferably on both sides; the stair treads should be non-slip.
• Markings on the edge of the treads can also assist in the definition of the tread during downward travel.

Kitchen and laundry

• Sufficient space around the kitchen and laundry benches to allow for ease of movement.
• Benches designed to be easily moved depending on changing needs; therefore flooring beneath the cupboards should be continuous to allow for this. Benches could be constructed with a range of heights or an adjustable height.

Door and tap hardware

• Tap hardware should be of a style that is easy to turn on and off with a lever rather than a knob and they should be easily reached.
• Handles on internal and entry doors should be of a lever or D-pull style to allow for ease of opening and closing.

Windows and glazed doors

• Window handles that allow ease of opening, while allowing appropriate security.
• Glass doors to be opened with one hand and minimal effort.

Incorporating liveable design features into the design of a new home or renovation is the most affordable option. And when you do sell the home, you will potentially have a larger buying market.

Originally from Home Renovate magazine, Volume 11 Issue 1

The post Creating liveable homes appeared first on Completehome.

This accessible bathroom design uses Caesarstone walls and floors for minimal and ease of cleaning with no grout, looks modern and sleek. The basin is a Caroma Opal 900 basin which allow easy wheelchair access to the vanity bowl yet is still a stunning basin.  These features allow for a sleek, stylish bathroom that has plenty of room and is easy to clean.

The shower area is spacious, open and cleverly designed. It includes an Enware care folding shower seat for those who require it and the shower size provides ample room. If assistance is required, the area also includes the Caroma Mystic Rail Shower which can be used as a hand shower or personal shower.  A custom frameless shower screen and grid drain allow easy access for wheel chairs.

The bathroom design also includes the Caroma Caravelle support toilet with armrest than can be lifted for those who don’t require it.

At last, the industry is moving towards beautifully designed and fully accessible bathrooms – so everyone can live in style.

Harvey Norman have been designing and building quality kitchens and bathrooms for over 30 years.  Showrooms at Alexandria and Auburn open 7 days a weeks with under cover parking for your convenience.

Written by Lauren Farquhar

The post Accessible, independent and stylish bathrooms appeared first on Completehome.

In the past, we’ve used step down or raised barriers in door frames and transition spaces to prevent the movement of water. Stopping water from following you indoors from the verandah or out of the shower is a must. But with Threshold drainage, this prevention can be managed easily, accessibly and without unsightly trip-hazards.

Here’s our top three reasons to invest in Threshold drainage in your home

1. Prevents the spread of water

Prolonged exposure to water and ponding can lead to damage to your home. It can even damage the structural integrity of a building, as well as creating perfect opportunities for mould and vermin.

While a traditional door frame or step down doorway prevent some of the spread of water, Threshold drainage creates a more effective solution. Acting as both a barrier and active water conduit, Threshold drainage is the perfect choice for protecting your home from water damage.

2. Accessibility

With many people in our society having accessibility issues – from elderly grandparents to friends and family members with disabilities, trip hazards and step doorways are simply not an option. Let alone the fact that these outmoded systems also serve as trip hazards for everyone.

Threshold drainage ensures your home and outdoor area will become more accessible (and more friendly) for everyone. Removing any raised barriers, and instead creating a smooth and seamless transition between spaces, the Threshold drainage system is perfect for ensuring your home is accessible for everyone,

3. Sleek and contemporary style

With these practical benefits, it’s clear that Threshold drainage is a fantastic choice for any new home or renovation. The fact that it’s aesthetically pleasing is simply an added bonus. The look and style of Threshold drainage is perfect for today’s home designs – with emphasis on seamless design between spaces, itll bring your home into the 21st century.

A combination of accessible design, functionality and aesthetically pleasing style – Threshold drainage is a change everyone can enjoy.

Written by Lauren Farquhar

For more information

Stormtech

The post Top reasons to use threshold drainage in your home appeared first on Completehome.

1. A hobless shower is essential for people who are elderly and confined to a wheelchair, and don’t want to shower with a carer. A shower without a hob requires a linear drainage grate that is built into the floor and sits flush with the surface. This design ensures optimum mobility and improved safety for the user.

2. Drains aren’t just functional they can be beautiful, too. Stormtech has collaborated with internationally renowned designer Marc Newson to incorporate Newson’s signature tessellated hexagonal pattern into its grates. The pattern is available in five finishes — satin stainless steel, satin black, white, pearl brass and blue – will appeal to the design conscious.

3. Stormwater drainage grates are vital in areas of high waterfall as they prevent flooding. Even in standard residential areas, they prevent contaminants from entering the stormwater water catchment area and stop leaves and other debris from clogging pipes and waterways.

4. A waterproof LED strip can be fitted to any Stormtech grate to provide a luxurious ambiance and additional lighting in outdoor areas. This custom addition can add an element of interest in your backyard and also help illuminate features for safety such as dips in your driveway.

5. Installing drains on your balcony can prevent pools of rainwater from gathering on the surface, as well as dripping on to your downstairs neighbour’s balcony. The narrow profile of slimline balcony drains blends seamlessly with designed contours, and ensures they don’t look out of place.

For more information check out the Stormtech website.

Written by Danielle Kirk

The post 5 things you didn’t know about drains appeared first on Completehome.