Stylish, Wheelchair-Friendly Kitchen for an Avid Baker
A homeowner gets cooking after working with designers to create an accessible new kitchen in England
Amanda Pollard
April 24, 2019
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors and architecture.
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors... More
Trying to navigate around her house in Lichfield, England, in a wheelchair was frustrating for Sue Mould, but the last thing she wanted was a home that was all function and no style. She found interior designer Clare Crabtree on Houzz and asked her to design a kitchen and dining area that was both accessible and gorgeous. “I hoped Clare would help me love my home again,” Mould says.
Photos by Kasia Fiszer Photography
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: Sue Mould
Location: Lichfield, England
Size: 323 square feet (30 square meters)
Designers: Clare Crabtree of ClaranDesign (interiors) and Cathy Davis of Classic Interiors (kitchen layout)
Crabtree is used to creating beautiful and functional spaces for homeowners, but for this project, she had an added responsibility to her client. An accident had left Mould paraplegic, unable to move or have feeling in her lower body.
The major change to her previously active lifestyle was exacerbated by trying to navigate a home that didn’t accommodate a wheelchair, so Mould asked Crabtree to help her design a kitchen and living area that would restore her independence.
Watch now: See Sue Mould’s stylish, wheelchair-friendly kitchen
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: Sue Mould
Location: Lichfield, England
Size: 323 square feet (30 square meters)
Designers: Clare Crabtree of ClaranDesign (interiors) and Cathy Davis of Classic Interiors (kitchen layout)
Crabtree is used to creating beautiful and functional spaces for homeowners, but for this project, she had an added responsibility to her client. An accident had left Mould paraplegic, unable to move or have feeling in her lower body.
The major change to her previously active lifestyle was exacerbated by trying to navigate a home that didn’t accommodate a wheelchair, so Mould asked Crabtree to help her design a kitchen and living area that would restore her independence.
Watch now: See Sue Mould’s stylish, wheelchair-friendly kitchen
Before: The renovation included the transformation of the main floor, including the living room. Originally, the kitchen and the dining area were two separate rooms, which made it tricky for Mould to move around in her wheelchair. Crabtree removed the wall between the two rooms to create a larger, more open space.
To ensure that everything would be safe and work well for Mould, Crabtree asked an occupational therapist to help. The therapist observed Mould as she moved around her home, identifying her needs and advising her and Crabtree on the best ways to meet those needs.
Using this information, and by listening closely to Mould, Crabtree was able to form a picture of exactly what needed to be done.
Find universal design professionals on Houzz
Using this information, and by listening closely to Mould, Crabtree was able to form a picture of exactly what needed to be done.
Find universal design professionals on Houzz
Crabtree also collaborated with kitchen designer Cathy Davis to create a layout that Mould would be able to use easily.
The countertops sit lower than standard, but Mould didn’t want them to be too awkward for others.
Standard countertop height in England is normally about 35 inches. The best height for Mould was 27½ inches. But she felt that 31½ inches would work for her while allowing others using the kitchen to feel comfortable as well.
Watch now: See more of this accessible kitchen
Standard countertop height in England is normally about 35 inches. The best height for Mould was 27½ inches. But she felt that 31½ inches would work for her while allowing others using the kitchen to feel comfortable as well.
Watch now: See more of this accessible kitchen
To work out the new color scheme, Crabtree tuned in to the shades that Mould was drawn to. “I paid attention to things such as what she wore and which flowers she bought to get a feel for the colors she liked,” Crabtree says. “I do this with all my clients.”
She also shared photos with Mould on Houzz, as well as samples of autumnal shades, and explained which accent colors would work with them. “Burnt orange is a favorite and became the featured color,” Mould says.
Shop for counter stools and bar stools on Houzz
She also shared photos with Mould on Houzz, as well as samples of autumnal shades, and explained which accent colors would work with them. “Burnt orange is a favorite and became the featured color,” Mould says.
Shop for counter stools and bar stools on Houzz
Mould wanted friends and family to be able to sit and socialize with her at the breakfast bar, so Crabtree designed two surfaces at different heights. The circular section sits slightly lower than a normal bar height, as do the bar stools.
The wooden surface brings warm texture to the room, and the curved design adds softness.
The wooden surface brings warm texture to the room, and the curved design adds softness.
Mould makes her tea next to the breakfast bar. It made sense to put the fridge nearby, giving her easy access to the milk.
The countertop here is slightly higher because the fridge and the adjacent dishwasher are available only at a height of about 33 inches. Crabtree also raised the fridge slightly so that Mould could access the bottom shelf.
The countertop here is slightly higher because the fridge and the adjacent dishwasher are available only at a height of about 33 inches. Crabtree also raised the fridge slightly so that Mould could access the bottom shelf.
Mould was keen on having a ceramic sink, which proved challenging in this kitchen because she had to have ample room to tuck in her wheelchair below. “You can get shallow-drop sinks, but the only ones available are in stainless steel,” Crabtree says. “Ceramic sinks are deeper and need a support below. However, we found discreet plumbing, which goes to the back before it forms the U-bend. We then ordered the kitchen unit, cut it to fit and attached a false drawer front.”
“The old space impacted on my enjoyment of cooking and particularly baking,” Mould says. “The oven door made it difficult to reach for and remove hot items.”
To help with this, Crabtree planned a baking zone on the wall opposite the sink. “Sue has a lower surface here so she can press down while kneading and mixing,” Crabtree says.
There are no cabinets beneath the baking work surface so that Mould can wheel herself directly below.
To help with this, Crabtree planned a baking zone on the wall opposite the sink. “Sue has a lower surface here so she can press down while kneading and mixing,” Crabtree says.
There are no cabinets beneath the baking work surface so that Mould can wheel herself directly below.
The corner cabinet has pullout shelves for easy access to Mould’s bread maker and mixer. There’s enough room here for Mould to spin around easily, which allows her to quickly move to the oven.
Shop for cabinet organizers
Shop for cabinet organizers
The two ovens sit at eye level, and beneath each one is a pullout work surface. “Sue can prepare her baking mix, spin on her chair and put it onto the work surface,” Crabtree says. “Then she can simply pop it in the oven.”
The trays also serve as a place to put things after Mould has taken them out of the oven. Hot pans and trays can even be left to cool there before Mould takes them to serve guests at the breakfast bar or dining table.
“The oven has a slide-and-hide door to enable close access to the oven,” says Davis, the kitchen designer. “Within the oven, I included a set of telescopic shelf supports so Sue can pull the shelf towards her while the oven tray is fully supported.”
The trays also serve as a place to put things after Mould has taken them out of the oven. Hot pans and trays can even be left to cool there before Mould takes them to serve guests at the breakfast bar or dining table.
“The oven has a slide-and-hide door to enable close access to the oven,” says Davis, the kitchen designer. “Within the oven, I included a set of telescopic shelf supports so Sue can pull the shelf towards her while the oven tray is fully supported.”
Wall cabinets near the cooktop and in the baking area have pull-down baskets that let Mould access everything easily.
Watch now: See Sue Mould use her new accessible kitchen
Watch now: See Sue Mould use her new accessible kitchen
Lamps and undercabinet LED strips complement overhead lighting. “Sue could see the wiring of these from her line of sight,” Crabtree says, “so we built plinths in front to make them look more attractive.”
Shop for undercabinet lights
Shop for undercabinet lights
Crabtree transformed the mood by adding wide sliding doors out to the patio. “I put in huge windows for more light and to give Sue access to the back of the house,” she says.
Originally, Mould wanted bifold doors, but she realized that they would be too heavy to open. “These frameless sliding doors are really light,” Crabtree says. “They open to [6½ feet] wide on each side so Sue can go out both ways.”
The design team also raised the patio to the same level as the kitchen and dining area to make it easy for Mould to get to the yard.
Originally, Mould wanted bifold doors, but she realized that they would be too heavy to open. “These frameless sliding doors are really light,” Crabtree says. “They open to [6½ feet] wide on each side so Sue can go out both ways.”
The design team also raised the patio to the same level as the kitchen and dining area to make it easy for Mould to get to the yard.
Mould and the designers thought carefully about the flooring material because it needed to be smooth and not susceptible to scratches and dents from a wheelchair. Crabtree put down samples of this luxury vinyl for Mould to test, and they ended up using it throughout the main floor. “It’s quite warm, and Sue free-wheels and turns easily on it,” Crabtree says.
Thanks to their attention to detail, Mould now has a home that works for her needs. “Finding Clare has resulted in a final outcome I could never have achieved myself,” Mould says. “I just love the whole thing.”
Watch now: See Sue Mould share her story and show off her new kitchen
More on Houzz
Kitchen Cabinet Fittings With Universal Design in Mind
Get kitchen design ideas
Find kitchen designers near you
Shop for kitchen and dining products
Thanks to their attention to detail, Mould now has a home that works for her needs. “Finding Clare has resulted in a final outcome I could never have achieved myself,” Mould says. “I just love the whole thing.”
Watch now: See Sue Mould share her story and show off her new kitchen
More on Houzz
Kitchen Cabinet Fittings With Universal Design in Mind
Get kitchen design ideas
Find kitchen designers near you
Shop for kitchen and dining products
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Thank you for sharing this story. ❤️
Amazingly practical kitchen and so beautiful too. Will keep these ideas.
Heart warming story and great transformation. Absolutely stunning.