Pro Spotlight: Get an Adaptable Home You’ll Love Now and Later
Where: Rockville, Maryland
In his own words: “I have a passion for creating innovative living spaces that improve the quality of life.”
Many people believe accessible design is something that’s important only to those with existing mobility issues or physical impairments. Home remodeler Russ Glickman believes just the opposite.
For Glickman, who owns Glickman Design Build in Rockville, universal design and accessible features should be incorporated into any remodel. “We’re committed to building your home for life,” he says. That includes beautiful and creative solutions for all ages, from a baby in a stroller to a great-grandparent in a wheelchair.
Close to home. Glickman’s passion for including accessible features began after he modified his own home to make it wheelchair-friendly for his son; he also was a caretaker for an aging parent. He became a Master Certified Remodeler and an expert on adaptable designs. One division of his firm specializes in ways to incorporate universal access unobtrusively both inside and out, including barrier-free entries and electric lifts.Whether you’re looking to remodel your home to meet your current or future needs, Glickman offers these suggestions.
1. Add OnIf you love your home (and neighborhood) but it’s no longer working for you — especially if you’ve had a change in circumstances or want to age in place — an addition helps to ensure that your space will continue to meet your needs. That was the case for the Bethesda house seen here. “This home is located in a wonderful neighborhood but it no longer functioned for the client’s growing family,” Glickman explains. The whole-house renovation added a first-floor family room with adjacent full-size accessible bath that can be turned into a master suite in the future. “The home went from camped and dated to open, spacious and modern — and became the owner’s dream home,” Glickman says.See more of this project
2. Create Open SpaceWide hallways and walkways not only modernize a home and add a spacious feel, they also lend themselves perfectly to accessible living. Glickman’s team opened up the area around the island in this Vienna, Virginia, kitchen as well as created easy access into the adjacent family room. The clients now have plenty of room for multiple cooks with no need to make adjustments if mobility becomes an issue in the future. “It allows all ages accessibility,” Glickman explains.See more of this project
3. Plan for the FutureWhile you can’t predict the future, Glickman advocates planning for possibilities. In this condo bathroom in Arlington, Virginia, the overall feel is luxury personified but includes several accessible design details. The result works for the homeowners now and can address new needs down the road.“We installed a gently sloping ramp to the shower to provide wheelchair access, while the door offers a more traditional entry,” Glickman explains. Multiple controls in the shower allow caretakers to help with bathing without getting wet. The wall-mounted sink at left is high enough for wheelchair access and blends into the rest of the vanity. “Most of all,” Glickman adds, “there’s plenty of room to maneuver.See more of this projectMore: For more information on Russ Glickman and examples of his work, visit Glickman Design Build’s Houzz profile.This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team....
Luxurious looks. Accessible design doesn’t mean a hospital-like setting. What people often overlook, Glickman says, is that the same features found in luxurious homes — wide doorways and hallways, spacious kitchens and baths, level transitions between the indoors and outdoors — are all part of the basic principles of adaptable designs. In the best remodels, it takes a second or third look to realize that the universal design elements are there.
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