A Stylish, Wheelchair-Friendly Kitchen
Last year, Classic Interiors teamed up with interior designer Clare Crabtree for a very special and unique project in Lichfield, Staffordshire.
At Classic Interiors, we’ve designed and installed kitchens for thousands of valued clients over the years. Every kitchen is designed to be as unique as every one of our customer’s individual needs and tastes. This project, however, came with some additional responsibility.
Sue Mould had fallen out of love with her home. An accident had left her paraplegic and unable to move her lower body. Navigating around her home in a wheelchair was proving problematic. Her kitchen and dining area were two separate rooms and, as you might expect, accessibility and movement were challenging and tiresome.
Naturally, Sue wanted a kitchen and dining area that was truly practical and would give her back her freedom. But she didn’t want that to mean any compromise on the aesthetics.
Our super-talented kitchen designer, Cathy Davis, was given the task of designing a space which incorporated cutting-edge functionality but which was also stunning visually and would restore Sue’s independence.
The new open plan kitchen and dining space needed to be easy for Sue to use on a day to day basis, but she didn’t want it to become inaccessible for others when using the space. In order to achieve this, a number of modifications were implemented. The worktops in Sue’s stunning new kitchen are positioned at 800mm in height, just 100mm less than what you would find in a typical kitchen. The two ovens in the kitchen are positioned at eye-level and complimented with pull-out work surfaces which sit beneath each oven (below).
In regards to the aesthetics, the hand-painted cabinets and luxury Herringbourne vinyl flooring give the kitchen a beautiful and timeless look. The flooring – which has been used throughout the entire ground floor – is smooth and isn’t susceptible to scratches and dents from Sue’s wheelchair.
A wooden breakfast bar is the focal point of the kitchen. Made up of two surfaces at different heights, it’s the perfect place to socialise with friends and family.
“The old space impacted on my enjoyment of cooking and particularly baking. The oven door made it difficult to reach for and remove hot items.”
Every last detail of this life-changing project has been given real thought. The wall cabinets in the kitchen are fitted with special pull-down baskets and a dedicated, low-level baking zone has been installed. Light, frameless, sliding doors supply natural light in abundance to previously dark and dingy rooms.
Want to know more about this life-changing project and see what Sue loves about her new kitchen? You can find out more by clicking here.
To find out more about how Classic Interiors can help you to find your dream kitchen, simply click here to get in touch.
