Universal Design kitchen remodel; Appleton, Wisconsin: Timber Innovations took on the challenge of creating a kitchen that was accessible to all members of the family without altering the traditional style of the home.

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The owner of this home was injured in an accident which left him confined to a wheelchair. He took over many household duties including the preparation of family meals, but the existing kitchen was not designed for accessibility:

• An obtrusive island cabinet extended too far into the floor plan to clear with a wheelchair.

• A narrow sink alcove made access difficult.

• The existing cabinets limited access to stored items and countertop workspaces.

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Timber Innovations' remodeled kitchen is easily navigable for a wheelchair, while still being functional for the whole family:

• The sink was moved to an adjacent wall, which allowed for uninterrupted counter space, creating a more open floor plan.

• Rollout shelving was incorporated in the pantry and corner cabinets to store cooking necessities within easy reach.

• Upper cabinets were kept low for reachability.

• A drop-down drawer front hides a knife drawer and butcher block designed to roll out over a wheelchair for easy cutting and chopping.

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The NARI judges agreed that the biggest success of this project can be found in what is unseen: its accessibility for all members of the family. "It's the best overall [2013 NARI Judges' Choice] because it showed outstanding universal design as well as good, practical design work for all users."

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This project received the following awards and recognitions:

2013 NARI Judge’s Choice Award, Fox Valley Chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI)  

This project appeared in the March 2013 issue of Fox Cities Magazine.

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