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Different Spaces for Different Paces

Tips for Multi-Generational Kitchen Design

(HIT) - Parents are moving in with their adult children. College grads are coming home to Mom and Dad. Siblings are moving in with one another after a home foreclosure. Across America, the need for home design that supports multi-generational living is on the rise.

In 2008, an estimated 49 million Americans, or about 16 percent of the total U.S. population, lived in a family household that contained at least two adult generations or a grandparent and at least one other generation, according to the Pew Research Center. And, trends show this will continue.

Image of a Kitchen design by Kraftmaid Cabinets

“Factors such as job losses, home foreclosures and a changing attitude toward multi-generational living have all contributed to the rise,” said Sarah Reep, director of designer relations and education at KraftMaid Cabinetry. “Now families are finding relatives at both ends of the age spectrum living together under one roof.”

As the number of multi-generational homes grows, homeowners will need to adapt to the changing landscape. Reep recommends the following kitchen design elements to create a home designed for all ages:

Get creative with lighting. Different tasks and generations require various levels of lighting. A combination of recessed, pendant, and under-cabinet lighting provides both aesthetics and functionality. Adding dimmer switches is a way to add even more flexibility.
Add a splash of color. While monochromatic color schemes have been popular in recent years, older generations may prefer contrast between countertops and cabinets in order to maximize visual acuity.
Vary countertop heights. Lowered counters will create a workspace for small children, wheelchair users and those who prefer to sit while preparing meals. Homeowners can also use the varied heights for different tasks, such as lower counters for kneading dough and higher counters for cutting vegetables.
Install the right hardware. Older or smaller hands may have trouble grasping or pulling certain types of cabinetry hardware. Consider larger drawer and cabinet pulls that are easier to grasp and more ergonomically friendly, such as the Tapered Bow Collection from KraftMaid Cabinetry.
Keep counters clutter-free. There’s a common theme when it comes to kitchen cabinetry accessories—more storage in a clean design style. Creative storage solutions like a wall appliance garage and pull-out cabinets keep must-have items always within reach

“Living in a multi-generational home can be a great experience, but it can also be very challenging,” said Reep. “It’s important to take each generation’s ideas and needs into consideration, especially when it comes to home design.”

For more information on how multi-generational living will impact kitchen design, visit www.genshiftkitchen.com to read the GenShift™ 2011 study, commissioned by Masco Cabinetry, home of the KraftMaid, Merillat, QualityCabinets and DeNova brands. For more design tips from Sarah Reep, visit www.kraftmaidbydesign.com.

GenShift 2011 Study Methodology. Harris Interactive® fielded the study on behalf of Masco Cabinetry from February 28-March 2, 2011 via its Harris Poll QuickQuerySM online omnibus service, interviewing a nationwide sample of 1,027 U.S. adult homeowners aged 18-65 years old. Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region and household income were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents’ propensity to be online.

All sample surveys and polls, whether or not they use probability sampling, are subject to multiple sources of error which are most often not possible to quantify or estimate, including sampling error, coverage error, error associated with non-response, error associated with question wording and response options, and post-survey weighting and adjustments. Therefore, Harris Interactive avoids the words “margin of error” as they are misleading. All that can be calculated are different possible sampling errors with different probabilities for pure, unweighted, random samples with 100 percent response rates. These are only theoretical because no published polls come close to this ideal.

Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in Harris Interactive surveys. The data have been weighted to reflect the composition of the U.S. adult population. Because the sample is based on those who agreed to be invited to participate in the Harris Interactive online research panel, no estimates of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.

For more information and to download the complete study, visit www.genshiftkitchen.com.

Courtesy: Home Improvement News and Information Center

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