How to Make a Handicap Accessible Bathroom

Whether someone has been in an accident, a child is born with a physical disability or an aging parent who moves into a home, there may come a time when it is necessary to make a bathroom handicap accessible. In addition to removing the fabric shower curtain and the shower curtain rods, homeowners can make simple changes to help adapt their bathrooms for easier use. By expanding doorways, installing hand rails and removing all clutter, homeowners are able to create handicap accessible bathrooms that won’t cost a fortune and can be completed in a small amount of time.

A typical doorway needs to be widen to accommodate wheelchairs, walkers and other devices that assist with mobility. By removing the door jam and replacing it with a wider version, a home owner can also make the choice to eliminate the door all together or make the change to a pocket door. This is a door that slides into the wall, creating more space in the room. Removing the door allows the handicap person to have additional room to maneuver in and out of the bathroom and also eliminates the need to have hands to operate the door itself. Being hands-free and able to get in and out of the bathroom without help, gives the handicapped person the freedom to use the lavatory without assistance from someone else in the home.

The installation of hand rails in and around the bath and toilet are necessary for all handicap accessible bathrooms. These rails give support to people when trying to lift themselves up and down. They also provide safety for them while maneuvering around the bathroom. Whether they are drying off from a bath or just trying to stand up from using the restroom, it is imperative they have the necessary tools to support themselves. Again, adding this type of change to a bathroom gives them the personal freedom to do this type of task by themselves. It is not only liberating for them to feel this independence, it is also a huge safety benefit to add these precautionary measures.

A third change a homeowner can make in a bathroom to make it more handicap accessible is to remove all the clutter. It is imperative to remove all rugs, garbage cans, towels and other things that get in the way of the mobility of a handicap person in a bathroom. Not only can a rug be a nuisance for a wheelchair, walker or crutches, it can also be a safety hazard for someone when exiting the bath or getting up from the commode. If a homeowner must have a rug of some sort in their bathroom, they should purchase a commercial grade skid resistant mat. These can be found at any large home improvement store or medical supply company. This type of floor covering is designed to provide a safe environment in which handicap people can still get around.

Although most homes aren’t currently handicap accessible, by completing the suggestions above, a homeowner can adapt their bathrooms with little cost and construction. By doing this the homeowner can have peace of mind as to the safety of their handicapped family member.

www.LKNcabinets.com offers handicap renovations and remodeling services. Please call us today to learn more. Call Blake at 704-883-2365

Different Kitchen Style Cabinets

If you are about to get new kitchen cabinets you should take advantage of this opportunity. Many people don’t ever get to do something like this because normally when you buy a home cabinets are already installed. Even if someone wants to make changes in their kitchen, changing the cabinets is out of the question because it can be very expensive. Cabinets have significantly improved over the passed 20 years from dull and boring to very elegant and classy. There are over a dozen of different kitchen styles to choose from and from there, there are hundreds of others to choose from. Three basic kitchen styles for cabinets are contemporary, shaker, country and cottage style.

As it might be stressful don’t allow yourself to be stressed because this is something not many people get to do and you should enjoy it. Many people become overwhelmed with all the different options and choices. You can pay someone to do all this for you. An interior designer will know exactly how to please you if you give them enough information. If not, you can simply shop online and choose a design right from your home.

If you like the normal contemporary style then you will have the most choices. There are numerous colors, shapes and styles for contemporary alone. Contemporary will suit most people’s taste so if you plan to sell your home in the near future you should have a problem selling your kitchen.

Shaker Style kitchen cabinets resemble contemporary and traditional but with a touch of country. So if you love country style but really want traditional, then go check out shaker style kitchen cabinets. These cabinets are simple yet very classy.

Country style kitchen cabinets are just as popular and desired as contemporary. Many people love country style in their home and especially for their kitchen. For this style you should only look at the wooden cabinets because glass or stainless steel don’t match the country look.

Cottage style kitchen cabinets are much like country. If you are attracted to the “old” look, you are not alone. Cottage style will give you that and make you feel very cozy in a brand new kitchen.

Remember, whatever your taste is whether it is country, traditional, contemporary, shaker or cottage there is always so many choices. Kitchen cabinets only keep on improving in appearance, luxury and quality. So when it comes time to pick your kitchen cabinets, take your time.

www.LKN.cabinets.com

Kitchen Cabinet Makeover on a Budget

By Carmen Fontana

As the world sits firmly entrenched in a recession, homeowners might be thinking that this spring is hardly the ideal time to be contemplating a kitchen overhaul. As the heart of the kitchen, kitchen cabinets most often come to mind when it comes to a room makeover. Unfortunately, brand new, custom-made kitchen cabinets are expensive and fall outside the budget of most of today’s recession-anxious homeowners. Fortunately, however, many affordable alternatives exist.

The Daily Journal recently tackled this topic in its spring home improvement section with an article titled, “Cost-effective ways to rejuvenate one of the busiest rooms.” That room of which the publication is speaking, of course, is the kitchen. So what ingenious ways did the newspaper and its expert sources come up with to take the financial sting out of a cabinetry overhaul?

1. Consider refacing your kitchen cabinets over replacing them. Your local home improvement center can give you a good idea about what new door fronts will cost you. Such a supercenter can also give you a glimpse into all your cabinet door options in one convenient place. The wide variety of wood species, door shapes and finish options may at first overwhelm you. The retailers’ staff, however, can help you make sense of all your choices so you select the right door fronts to fit your needs and lifestyle. As long as the basic construction of your cabinetry is in solid shape, refacing is a great money-saving option. It isn’t, however, always the least expensive route.

2. Look into assembled and ready-to-assemble kitchen cabinets. One of the homeowners highlighted in the article “assumed it (kitchen cabinet refacing) would be less expensive than pulling out the old cabinets and starting over. The price [for such refacing, however,] was not cheap. Ultimately, the homeowner was able to remove all the old cabinets, replace them with semi-custom wood cabinets, install Corian countertops and install a tiled backsplash for $4,000 less.” With so many options to choose from, stock cabinetry is fast becoming comparable to custom designed, yet it’s much more wallet friendly.

3. Consider the fact that maybe your actually cabinetry doesn’t need any work at all. If you’re looking for a quick and easily update that will give your quality-constructed existing cabinets a brand new look, perhaps a simple and inexpensive upgrade in your hardware is all that is needed. “If the cabinets are made of wood and are in good, working condition, buy new hardware, knobs and hinges for a lot less money than replacement cabinets,” one expert recommended. Decorative accents put the finishing touch on your cabinetry. These enhancements customize your cabinetry for a look that reflects your personal style … and doesn’t put a strain on your bank account.

4. When all else fails, you can’t go wrong with a new coat of paint. “A homeowner can get a brand new freshening up on their existing cabinets without all the project mess and inconvenience, using a washable oil-based paint in semi gloss, and the cost will range between $1,200 to $1,500.”

www.LKNcabinets.com offers cabinetry factory direct to the public at unbelievable low prices