Well I can't offer any real advice on the handicap acc. issues...I'm still learning about that myself. I had no idea your husband (and you!) were going through this all year. Big hugs! It's not an easy situation to be in but how wonderful that he has you to come home to and that he has a positive outlook for the future. It's funny how those kind of things refocus us and help us appreciate the little joys every day.

The downstairs bath is centrally located.... so not hard to get to from any space in the house, but far enough away from the main living areas to have some privacy.

Window seat. check
Fireplace in dining room. check
A place to sit (in real chairs!) near the kitchen with fabulous windows on 2 sides. Check. check.
Vestibule! check.
Garden views from 2 main areas! Check. Could you add an exterior door in the kitchen area? I know not everyone likes multiple exterior doors for safety reasons (and energy reasons too)
It's missing a walk in pantry, which not everyone needs or wants.
My own husband would love a flex space like that living room... very nice size. AND it opens to a sunroom. How fabulous. Do you get alot of visitors? Could you do a cute covering over the french doors for privacy?
Are the green squiglies your plants? I like all the rugs.
Mud room is nice off the deck... that way most of the mud is on the deck instead of your floors!
The dining room is my favorite.

I like it except that I'm wondering where your garage or parking area is. You don't want to have to tote groceries too far.

I love your check list! I thought about an outside entrance from the kitchen, but the well is in that corner, so difficult to get any patio or deck there...and I like my air locks! Have you ever opened the door and seen a racoon sitting there? Too funny. I jumped, she jumped and we each took a step back :)

I would like a walk in pantry, but I'm wondering if cabinets would be more accessible. The laundry and mudroom will probably be bigger than shown...like that 70s clutter room I posted, on your plan. I also need a good place for the kitty boxes, but I have a few ideas there. Still working on it.

The green squiggles are plants! I am trying to learn more about paint, so I'm 'coloring' my plan (LOL) We don't get a lot of visitors all the time, but on weekends and sometimes holiday or summer, we do. It depends on how many people are going to the lake or casino (our little town is on the way).

The horses and their barn is off to the top left, so mudroom on back makes sense. We might park on the side, so groceries could go right into kitchen...or back into larger pantry/laundry area.

This post was edited by lavender_lass on Tue, May 13, 14 at 16:22

Hi, Bev! Parking is off to the left, but out here...we always have to tote groceries. If we park too far down the driveway, it's difficult to get out, in the winter. If I have too many, I can load up the cart, behind the mower. When did I get to be such a red neck? LOL I used to wear heels all the time and dress up! Before these guys came along...and I started working from home :)
{{gwi:1446015}}From Lavender's Garden

Sorry to hear about your husband, good that he's home. Might I suggest checking out "The Accessible Home" by Deborah Pierce? Lots of good ideas and illustrations there.

Love your inspiration pictures.

Here is a link that might be useful: Accessible Home

Thanks, Oaktown! That pull out by the wall oven is brilliant! I could incorporate that for so many reasons...I always need extra space, when I'm baking.

ADA and Universal accessibility are intended to accommodate the majority of common physical limitations there fore they are general and sometimes excessive. What you should be thinking about is what specific physical limitations your husband, what equipment he uses and what might change in the future.

For instance, will he be in a wheelchair? Will it be manual or motorized? What are the dimensions and turning radius of the chair? What is the maximum ramp slope he can negotiate. The ADA and Universal Design rules may be helpful but many of the rules may not apply or may even be inappropriate.

You might also think about consulting a professional designer who has experience with these design issues.

Thanks, Renovator! He was in a wheelchair, when he first came home, but now he's using a walker. He's doing so well, I'm really proud of him!

While he will hopefully recover full use of his arms and legs, this has really opened my eyes, to the importance of universal access. I'm kind of surprised there aren't more regulations with home building, but maybe that will come in the future. Not over-regulated, but I don't know how split levels (stairs up and down as you enter) ever gained popularity. Or every bathroom being up or down stairs, from the main living room. While everyone can build whatever home they wish, I think resale would be better with even minor considerations, for easier access. Especially with our aging population...

Very few homes in America are designed for homeowners. Most are built by the big spec builders. Therefore it is difficult to get residential building codes to require features that are not related to either safety or energy conservation because they are seen as adding to the cost of house construction without raising the sale price (ie, they lower the profits of spec builders). Builder organizations are big time players in the building code revision process. If you want to effect a change the first thing to check out is whether or not it has been opposed by the NAHB.

Since it is a strange form of neuropathy, it there a possibility he could have a relapse? If so, I think you need to rethink things and make more areas wheelchair accessible. For example, it does not appear the hall bathroom is arranged in a way that would allow a wheelchair to turn around. Also, you are going to need to make sure you have exact measurements on the rooms and furniture so you know the required clearances exist.

I agree with Renovator that your best bet would be to consult with a professional. I know you like to draw things out yourself, but it is easy to miss something that could potentially cause a problem in the future. And since universal access is not something a lot of builders are accustomed to building, you can't count on help from your builder.

Dekeoboe- This is an old plan of Summerfield's, so the dimensions aren't perfect, but they're close. Close enough to get a general idea of layout. The bathroom and hall are in a space that 10' deep by 12' wide, so the bathroom is probably closer to 8' x 10'...plenty of room. Our master bathroom now doesn't have much more space and it's handicap accessible.

The neurologist says that he does not think this will ever be a problem again. He thinks it was some virus that attacked his liver, then his nerves. His liver is much better (thankfully) but he has to be careful. No drinking or anything else that might weaken it, in the future. He's only seen one other case (just recently) in a woman from another part of the state. He says my husband's progress is giving her real hope that she will recover, too.

I've found that if you have enough space, handicap accessible doesn't mean everything has to change. Modifications can be added pretty easily. But having the main living areas all on one floor, larger bathrooms, room for larger doorways, no sunken spaces...this seems to be the real key. I also decided against a permanent kitchen island. Too restrictive and the aisles can be too tight. A counter height table seems like a better fit...and gives me more flexibility, too :)

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This post was edited by lavender_lass on Tue, May 13, 14 at 16:20

That baking area is to die for.

But I miss those great chairs.

If I did alot of baking or had to cook for a crowd, I'd do your second plan. Also if the weather was nice enough to enjoy that deck. I know your well is out there. For some reason looking at a well always make me feel good though... there is just something about having your own water that feels great. Could you eventually build a little well house over it?

If it was just my husband and myself... and visitors from time to time... I'd like your first plan.

Does your husband keep you "company" in the kitchen?

And oh those windows are just perfect. With plants, sigh.

Thanks for the feedback! I really like the baking area, but I miss the chairs, too. Can't seem to fit everything into the space, but isn't that always true? :)

This post was edited by lavender_lass on Tue, May 13, 14 at 16:25

I've always loved tables in kitchens too. They really work great for workspaces too, when you need it.

I miss the fireplace in the dining room... but boy that box bay is pretty awesome. If you don't mind hauling your food over there, then that's a great solution.

Is your house an english tudor cottage like this?

No, more of a farmhouse...but with the sunporch and 1 and 1/2 story, rather than the two story with wrap around porches. The roof lines seem more cottage, to me.

Here's the idea for the courtyard... {{gwi:1400118}}From Courtyard Garden album

This post was edited by lavender_lass on Thu, Oct 10, 13 at 14:48

I'm still playing around with my plan (slow day today) and I think the kitchen is too far from everything else. So, this isn't to scale, but I'm thinking about something like this. I like the fireplace in the kitchen :)

This post was edited by lavender_lass on Tue, May 13, 14 at 16:26

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This post was edited by lavender_lass on Tue, May 13, 14 at 16:19

I didn't want to post a new thread, since there was so much helpful information about handicap accessiblity from forum members on this one. And Red had some great comments!

So, my husband is getting much better...although he still uses the walker outside, he is able to use a cane in the house :)

New plan...my mom is going to move in with us and that means my farmhouse plan needs to have some really great 'mom space' as well as the other areas. (She even has a stackable washer/dryer we might put in the walk through closet.) And mom has a great dining table, so I put that in the sunroom/back area.

Anyway, just a quick sketch from Summerfield's original (very nice) software. Mostly just an update and thanks for all the earlier help and advice! {{gwi:1496747}}From Lavender Lass farmhouse pictures

And small woodstove in kitchen and sunroom would be something like this...only used for power outages and ambience! {{gwi:1496748}}From Lavender Lass farmhouse pictures

lavender, that's very nice -- do the green markings represent plants?

Yes! LOL

Thank you :)