E164 – Designing Interiors for Life: Creating Acessible, Flexible Interiors

Accessibility Is About Choice — Not Ageing

• Accessibility is not purely about ageing

• It is not about medical solutions

• It is about:

  • Comfort

  • Independence

  • Ease of movement

  • Offering choice

• Life changes can happen unexpectedly (injury, temporary wheelchair use, reduced mobility)

• Designing early avoids stress and expensive retrofits later

• Provisioning does not mean installing everything immediately

• Functionality first — seamless, intentional integration

---

Planning Ahead: Provisioning vs Retrofitting

• Designing reinforcement (noggins) in walls at frame stage

  • Allows future grab rails to be installed easily

  • Avoids costly structural changes later

• Provisioning for:

  • Lifts

  • Grab rails

  • Adaptable joinery

• Early design decisions save:

  • Money

  • Emotional stress

  • Disruption to your home

---

Circulation & Movement: Hallways, Doors & Flow

Wider Hallways

• Ideal width: 1.2m–1.5m

• Allows easier wheelchair and walker movement

• Avoid excessively oversized hallways (sustainability and heating/cooling considerations)

Doorways

• Standard 800mm doors can be restrictive

• Wider doors (around 1 metre) improve manoeuvrability

• Doors opening out into hallways (as seen in Amsterdam homes):

  • Allow easier closing from inside

  • Reduce internal pinch points

• Sliding doors can assist but aren’t necessary everywhere

Turning Circles & Internal Flow

• Accessibility is not just about entering a room

• Consider:

  • Turning space for wheelchairs

  • Reduced pinch points

  • Ability to close doors without awkward manoeuvring

  • Flush transitions between rooms

---

Step-Free Entry & External Access

• Step-free access is becoming mandatory in regulations

• Ideally incorporated at build stage

• Consider:

  • External balustrades for stability

  • Ramps integrated into design (rather than added later)

  • Strength requirements for assisting someone up steps

• Internal stairs require at least one balustrade

• Even small internal steps benefit from grab rails for balance and confidence

---

Living on One Level

• Master bedroom on the ground floor is ideal

• Enables:

  • Kitchen

  • Living

  • Bathroom

  • Laundry

  • Bedroom

  • All on one accessible level

• Increasingly common in modern homes

• If living areas are upstairs (for views):

  • Provision for a lift in the design

  • Lift can be installed later

---

Bathroom Design for Long-Term Living

Walk-In Showers

• Must be genuinely flush — no 1–2cm step

• Small lips are severe trip hazards

• Step-free entry improves safety and wheelchair access

• Consider:

  • 1 metre opening where possible

  • No shower door if space allows

  • Wet room approach for maximum future-proofing

Grab Rail Provisioning

• Install noggins at frame stage

• Grab rails needed:

  • Beside toilets

  • At shower entry

  • Inside showers

• Provision now, install later if needed

Bath vs Shower

• Shower over bath is not ideal long term

• If two bathrooms:

  • One can have a bath

  • One should have a fully step-free shower

Flooring

• Avoid gloss or semi-gloss tiles (slippery when wet)

• Test tiles when wet, not dry

• Matte tiles recommended

• Avoid high-grit external slip-rated tiles indoors (difficult to clean)

---

Kitchen Accessibility & Adaptability

Bench Heights

• Standard 900mm may not suit wheelchair users

• Consider:

  • Split-level benches

  • Lower sections for seated work

  • Adjustable bench technology (must be installed at build stage)

Storage

• Drawers preferred over cupboards

• Pull-out pantry systems

• Avoid deep cupboards requiring bending

• Consider handle height and ease of grip

Appliances

• Wall ovens may not suit wheelchair users

• Under-bench ovens can be more accessible

• Raised washing machines reduce bending

• Position appliances to minimise reaching

---

Lighting & Automation

• Layered lighting improves usability

• Double switching in:

  • Bedrooms

  • Hallways

  • Living areas

• Automation allows:

  • Lighting control via phone or remote

  • Blind and curtain control while seated

• What feels like luxury today becomes functional gold later

---

Flooring & Comfort Underfoot

• Hard floors (concrete, tile) can be tough on joints over time

• Alternatives:

  • Shock-absorbing mats

  • Strategic softening rather than changing entire floor type

• Choose for current preference, adapt later

---

Joinery & Hardware

• Soft-close drawers and cupboards

• Push-to-open mechanisms

• Accessible handle heights

• Consider:

  • How to access storage while seated

  • Ease of grip

• Visit hardware showrooms (e.g. Blum, Häfele) to explore adaptive solutions

---

The Emotional & Financial Case for Flexibility

• Moving house is expensive:

  • Removalists

  • Stamp duty

  • Selling costs

• Emotional cost of leaving:

  • Community

  • Familiarity

  • Security

• Designing for flexibility allows you to stay longer

• Flexibility is the true luxury — not marble finishes

---

Key Takeaway

Flexibility gives you:

• Freedom

• Choice

• Independence

• Fewer limitations later in life

When designing your Forever Home™, think beyond aesthetics. Design for ease. Design for movement. Design for the life you want to live — now and in the future.

Useful Link/s:

Floor Plan Checklist
whitepebbleinteriors.com.au/checklist