Don's advice about aging in place is VERY good!
I was in a wheelchair already when I designed the house, so kitchens and baths got a LOT of attention...BUT my 89 yr old Dad, and 85 yr old Mom never gave it a thought 25 years ago
Now there are large portions of the kitchens that are pretty unusable for them, and the bathrooms were getting dangerous.
Different kickboard heights gave me 3 different counter heights, and 2 pullout cutting boards gave me a lot of options...slide out drawers are MUCH more usable for base cabinets, and corner cabinets/appliance garages benefit from lazy susans for lowers. Dropping upper cabinets a little helps, and with a counter top height change, all uppers are accessible while still allowing the big Mixmaster and blenders.
I always wondered why my Grandmother kept one complete set of dishes on the countertop, and 4 pans on the stovetop.....she couldn't REACH all her stuff
Mom and Dad were indifferent about my mods, but in the last decade I've spent weeks listening to "I wish I had thought of that!"
Dad finally got home after 6 months recovery from open heart, and been talking to his carpenter for a month giving measurements and designs for mods, BUT it doesn't help that Mom and Dad never thought they'd be confined to the bottom floor of the house.
Lucky Dad built a fully handicapped first floor bed/bath for me..as now HE'S using it or he'd still be at a rehab.
Good reads are Fine Homebuilding's book "Building for a Lifetime", and their softcover project book "Baths and Kitchens".
Lot's of other eye openers for people like me who thought when we were young....we'd die before we got old
A lot of sweat equity ahead of you...you might as well be glad 20 years from now that you did things a certain way
scott
scott P.
2013 Desktop/spindle/VCP 12.0*
Maine