Universal design has universal appeal for homeowners of all ages. New construction residences that utilize universal design concepts allow people to age-in-place, says Steve Soriano, executive vice president of Robson Resort Communities, based in Sun Lakes, Arizona. Robson Resort Communities include seven retirement developments featuring approximately 40,000 homes located throughout Arizona and Texas.

"People are starting to think about where they want to live long-term before they retire," Soriano says. "The key is to consider finding the home you want to live in before issues like walking the stairs or needing assisted-living care take over."

In residences, universal design refers to a broad spectrum of modifications that can inherently make a space more livable and accessible for both aging and differently abled individuals. Universal design can be the embodiment of one-level living with wider doors, an entrance with no stairs, nonslip flooring and readily accessible switches and home controls.

Soriano says considering how one can grow older in a home with certain amenities is, hopefully, like purchasing an insurance policy that is never used. "A house with good design just works for its inhabitants, no matter if they are able-bodied or in a wheelchair," he says. "You hope that -- as you age -- you remain active, but in the event where one may need physical accommodations, having a home design that has planned for these possible eventualities can make all the difference."

As people age and move into the retirement phase of life, they may find themselves downsizing from a large family home and moving into a housing development, such as one built by Robson Resort Communities. These residential developments can feature a central clubhouse, swimming pools, golf course and social calendar programmed with activities, along with newly built homes inhabited by a community of like-minded active adults.

But if relocating to an all-inclusive retirement development isn't an option as you age, finding and/or renovating an existing home to accommodate one-level living can also be a figurative step in the right direction toward implementing universal design concepts.

Open Spaces

If homeowners are investing in smaller, ranch-style homes, they want to utilize every square-foot of space in it. Anecdotally called "smart-sized" homes, these residences have an open floor plan design that ideally does not have a hallway, which many architects consider a waste of livable square footage.

One-level living starts on the way to the front door, Soriano says. "It takes more space to grade a pathway to the front door that doesn't require a step up," he says. "The site needs to be prepared properly, so that the pathway gradually slopes away from the house and drains away from the foundation."

Passages with wide clearances are also essential around the kitchen island and bathroom vanity. "It's important to have a one-level kitchen island that has a maximum clearance on all sides," Soriano says. "In the master bathroom, we design a cut-out in the master bath vanity so it is wheelchair accessible."

Clean Design

Today's universal design principles have cleaned up their act when it comes to accessibility and safety around plumbed structures. Levered door and faucet handles are easier to open and close than traditional round knobs.

There's no mudslinging over locating a laundry/mudroom between the kitchen and garage in homes with universal design. People can deposit items in the mudroom before entering the house, and laundry doesn't require scaling stairs.

In the master bath, shower doors are built wider and grab bars can be cleverly disguised as towel bars, which make accommodations accessible without a sterile, institutional look. A low-threshold shower works for people of all ages, but one of its most important design components has nothing to do with water pressure, Soriano says.

"When we build a master bath, we always form a concrete shower seat, so people can sit down and safely shower with a telescoping fixture," he says. "We have found that a zero-threshold shower is problematic, but if folks have one, they need to be very careful that water doesn't leak onto the floor."

Ceramic or porcelain tile is the flooring of choice for master baths because of its durability, cleanability, water- and slip-resistance. While porcelain tile that looks like stone remains a popular choice, manufacturers have moved beyond standard square fare. Porcelain tiles now have a wood look with linear plank sizes and slip-resistant finishes, and can also be used for exterior applications. This gives homeowners the design freedom to create visual connectivity between the interior and exterior of the home.

Bringing the Outside Indoors

Creating an environment that encourages outdoor living is what many newly constructed homes strive to achieve, Soriano says. "Homes that have a kitchen which flows into a family or great room are an informal and fun way to entertain," he says. "With sliding doors from the great room to an outdoor patio, gatherings can just spill outside into the courtyard area."

An attached patio extends a house into the landscape and can be furnished like an outdoor room. Especially in warmer climates, having an outdoor "room" expands a home's livable space.

Declutter Before Downsizing

One of the tenets of universal design is to have a clear space to allow for greater accessibility and mobility. So before making a move from a family home to a smaller, one-level house, it's important to clear away the clutter.

"Getting rid of things you no longer need or giving items away to others who will treasure them is a great way to cut down on housekeeping, too," Soriano says. "With less stuff to maintain, you will have more time to pursue other things that interest you."

Universal Design Driven

For more information, contact Robson Resort Communities at Robson.com or 800-732-9949.

Especially during the holiday season, homeowners welcome guests, but want to protect their household from unwanted intruders.

Today's security systems are both high tech and high touch, with systems that can be integrated with a house's HVAC system and remotely accessed, says Dave Pedigo, vice president of emerging technologies with Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association (CEDIA), based in Indianapolis. The nearly 30-year-old association has 3,700 worldwide members that deliver technology solutions -- including security systems -- into homes.

"When it comes to a house's security system, we are often talking about it in terms of a 'smart' home, or one in which the electronic systems -- such as heating, cooling, sound and security -- reliably connect to the Internet and can be controlled by a touchscreen or remotely by a mobile device," Pedigo says. "Some of the most effective security systems have cameras that are hidden in plain view."

When it comes to electronically securing a home, homeowners shouldn't be alarmed by all the component choices available. An electronic security system should be customized to your home, and can include sensors on doors and windows, alarms, cameras and fire and flood detection.

"The technology for security systems is becoming more reliable, such as a motion detector that isn't set off by a pet in the house," Pedigo says. "Also, security systems are quickly moving toward being voice controlled through the development of Amazon's Alexa, Google Home and Apple's HomePod."

Considering an electronic security system for your home shouldn't set off a panic button, but neither should it lull you into a false sense of safety. It's important to also invest in the physical security of a home, by reinforcing doors and windows and adding additional lights around a house.

Installing a residential security system is only as effective as law enforcement's response to a home's tripped alarm. Homeowners can choose to pay an additional monthly fee to have the system monitored by a third-party security company. An unmonitored security system relies on watchful neighbors or cameras that are accessed through mobile devices.

Pedigo says many new-construction homes are pre-wired for "smart" home applications, in which a house's systems are all interconnected. "If a fire is detected, the heating and cooling systems will shut down, so the chance of being affected by smoke inhalation is reduced," he says. "In the same way, if an alarm is tripped inside the home, the lights outside can flash off and on, so law enforcement can find a home with ease."

When it comes to securing a home, some homeowners think outside the box and buy a prepackaged electronic security system and install it themselves. Security components manufactured by companies such as Nest, Ring and Kuna have popular applications that record video of people approaching the front door.

Maxime Veron, director of product marketing at Nest Labs, based in Palo Alto, California, says their product is modular, so a homeowner can add different components and services based on specific security needs. "The Nest Secure alarm system and security cameras are simple to set up and help you keep an eye on your home, inside and out, from anywhere," Veron says. "We've made a security system that is easy to live with for everyone that needs it, but tough on the intruders."

Fewer wires may be needed as more electronic components become compatible with wireless equipment and controllers. But despite dreams to be wire-free, the power for wireless systems still has to be hardwired into a home. And a wireless way of life isn't without its drawbacks, Pedigo says.

"Hardwiring a home is still the most reliable and secure way to implement an electronic system," he says. "While technology is moving toward creating more wireless systems, you can experience interference or a disruption of service based on other wireless devices operating on the same frequency in your home or your neighborhood."

Pedigo says professional installers of wire-free security systems can create a wireless, secure network that has seamless coverage within a home. Professionals can then use a spectrum analyzer to set the proper channel for the wireless devices so there is no interruption of security services.

One of the most popular security devices is video that can be captured from a doorbell or light fixture outside a home or apartment. "Especially during this time of year, when packages can be left on the stoop, a homeowner can have documentation of people who come to the door," Pedigo says. "Security starts outside the home, so people inside can feel safe and comfortable."

Now, monitoring a home can be as easy as pulling up the security system app on a mobile device. And while having a security system doesn't prevent crime, it's meant to give a homeowner peace of mind, knowing the property is being monitored, Pedigo says.

"The goal is to install a security system that never sees an intruder," he says. "Also, one of the best additions to a security system is also a wireless, age-old one: having a dog."

Security Clearance

Consult a local Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association professional to install security and "smart home" technologies by visiting www.cedia.org and clicking on the "Find a CEDIA Professional" box.

Do-it-yourself modular home security devices can be purchased at Nest.com.

During the holidays -- especially when the kitchen is the apex for activity at home -- sleek designers are creating spaces that really shine.

As an open floor plan becomes more prevalent in American houses, homeowners want the kitchen to reflect a modern aesthetic, which is found in the rest of the home and in European design, says Amir Ilin, director of North American sales for Pedini USA, based in Paramus, New Jersey.

"In the United States, kitchens that were traditional are moving into transitional styles," he says. "A modern style with a clean, unadorned interior is moving toward the ultra-modern, to the point where the kitchen cabinetry is like fine furniture that blends with other spaces in the home."

While all that glitters may not be gold, cool metallic accents of pewter, copper and rose- and champagne-gold are also hot in today's contemporary kitchen, Ilin says.

"The modern movement with clean angles and flowing curves of Italian design never went out of style in Europe," he says. "Italy brings the world the sleek design of the Ferrari and Lamborghini sports cars, and that same design principle is found in its kitchen cabinetry and stand-alone islands."

Outside the Box

Europeans use frameless cabinet manufacturing techniques, which offer greater accessibility to store items by eliminating front stiles and frames traditionally found in American kitchen cabinetry. Flat metal door and drawer fronts create a sleek, simple European aesthetic, which is treated in metallic colors, ranging from ultra-matte to high-gloss finishes.

Ilin says many European metal cabinets are powder-coated. This is a finishing process in which pigments and resin are electrostatically charged and sprayed onto the metal during the manufacturing process. The parts to be coated are electrically grounded, so that the charged particles will adhere to the metal. The coated piece is then placed into a large commercial oven, where it is baked. The heat causes the powder to melt onto the surface of the designed metal piece, and, as it cools, the coating becomes a durable finish.

Items can be powder-coated virtually any color, with any finish, ranging from matte to glossy. Curved cabinetry or kitchen islands with lines that are reminiscent of a high-end sports car are a custom-made design that can really get a homeowner's motor running.

Space to Spare

Today's thoroughly modern mantra in the kitchen is echoed throughout the entire home. "The idea that the kitchen is an intricate part of a home's design has never left the European sensibility," Ilin says. "Generally, many kitchens in America have been constructed so that every square inch of space is utilized, which can lead to a boxy cabinet design that is cut off from the rest of the home."

But homeowners don't have to undergo a total remodel or spend a golden egg to enjoy the custom-made benefits of a modern European kitchen redo, Ilin says. "Even the simple use of open shelving on walls, as opposed to having wall-to-wall cabinets, does a lot for a kitchen design," he says. "In a modern design, it is about creating a balance in the space -- what you have in place is as important as the uncluttered space that surrounds the pieces you have."

High-end appliances with built-in cooktops, ovens and cabinet-clad refrigerators extend the modern Epicurean illusion. Under-the-counter refrigerator drawers and customized shelving that rolls out for greater accessibility keep clutter out of sight and functionality top of the mind.

Epicurean Environment

The overall modern kitchen style is uncluttered and contemporary. But by incorporating natural elements into an otherwise austere atmosphere -- wood, stone and natural light -- a warm, intimate feeling can be achieved.

Ilin says porcelain is one of the most popular countertops in today's European-style kitchen, which can be fabricated in all shapes and sizes, without the ongoing maintenance of sealing stone.

Another popular choice is quartz countertops, also known as engineered stone, which is a manufactured surface comprised mostly of quartz. The remaining ingredients include high-performance polymers, resins and pigments that are colorized for a monochromatic look or made to mimic natural stone or concrete surfaces. Both quartz and porcelain are nonporous, waterproof, and stain-, heat- and scratch-resistant countertop choices.

If possible, keep windows bare or have window treatments installed so outdoor views are unobstructed. Another bright tip is to install unadorned, almost-industrial light fixtures -- whether over the kitchen island or the dining table -- to illuminate and accentuate this simply sophisticated style.

"The kitchen is the last room in the home where everyone still congregates together," Ilin says. "Today's modern kitchen should reflect your sense of style and not be a cookie-cutter design."

Contemporary Kitchen

To find a contemporary kitchen showroom near you, go to PediniUSA.com and select SHOWROOMS.