Learn the skills and concepts you will need to become a Kitchen and Bath Designer. The page below lists schools and colleges that offer excellent programs and degrees in Kitchen and Bath Design. Study basic design, drawing, plumbing and lighting designs that will train you to be a success in the Kitchen and Bath Design Industry.

By Kathy A. Johnson
kathy.johnson@interiordecoratingschools.net
Interior Decorating Schools Columnist

Remodeling expenditures reached 198.6 billion dollars in 2004, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Rising home prices and low refinance rates contributed to this trend, but the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) notes that the fastest growing segment of the remodeling industry is home modification for the "aging-in-place."

Millions of Baby Boomers don't want to leave their homes as they grow older, so demand for aging-in-place remodeling should rise. What does that mean for interior designers?

Otherwise Known as Universal Design

Aging-in-place principles are really universal design principles - design solutions intended to improve safety and accessibility for everyone, healthy or disabled, young or old.

They can be as dramatic as a complete bathroom remodeling, or as simple as installing lever door handles and rocker light switches for those with poor hand strength. Other examples include "no-step" entries, wide doorways and hallways, and thresholds that are flush with the floor for wheelchair accessibility; and installing brighter lighting for those with poor vision.

CAPS

To tap into this growing design market, interior designers must educate themselves by seeking universal design training. Courses and seminars are widely available. One example is the Certified-Aging-in-Place-Specialist (CAPS) designation offered by the NAHB. Contractors and designers complete a three-day course that teaches strategies and techniques for marketing, designing, and building attractive, barrier-free living spaces. In reality, universal design is not just for the disabled and elderly. "After all, stereo equipment labels that can be read by someone with low vision are easier for everyone to read; public telephones in noisy locations that have volume controls are easier for everyone to hear; and building entrances without stairs assist equally someone who moves furniture, pushes a baby stroller, or uses a wheelchair," according to Universal Design Education Online. Interior designers and builders who incorporate universal design principles should find themselves with many opportunities for both remodeling and new home design and construction.

Sources:

National Association of Homebuilders
Universal Design Education Online
American Society of Interior Designers
American Association for Retired People

About the Author:

Kathy A. Johnson has written articles on health, fitness, and many other topics in her career as a freelance writer and editor. She lives in Florida, and is the features editor of Forum, a bimonthly publication of the national mothers group, Mothers & More.

Posted on October 10, 2005 at 04:44 PM