Universal Design for the Home: Great Looking, Great Living Design for All Ages, Abilities, and Circumstances [Paperback]

Wendy A. Jordan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2008

Universal Design (UD) is coming of age. Once a home design specialty that was little known, of limited interest, and a source of embarrassment more than pride, it is attracting widespread media attention and taking on (as befits its name) almost universal appeal -- and with good reason. The concept emerged years ago out of the need to make homes safe and accessible for the elderly, the handicapped and the very young. Some of the design options were good-looking, but others seemed institutional. Today, there are so many stylish, beautiful, good-sense universal-design options that choosing them has become a "why not?" rather than a "why?" decision.

Universal Design for the Home features a blend of beautiful projects, creative ideas, and substantive planning information. Highly visual, the book features projects showing room contexts, as well as detail shots. The mix of projects encompasses small and large houses; one-story and multi-story houses; and ideas for general accessibility and comfort as well as some targeted more directly at handicap accessibility. There is an emphasis on remodeled projects, but new homes designed with an eye toward accessibility -- present and future -- are included as well. Chapters cover the spectrum of accessible home planning, from room arrangements to kitchens, baths, entries, and exterior areas. The book displays fresh, inspiring design ideas as well as must-have, good-sense solutions, such as wider doorways. Basic specifications, how-to tips, and other technical content are featured throughout the book in easy-to-find boxes and sidebars.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Jordan, Wendy A. Universal Design for the Home: Great-Looking, Great-Living Design for All Ages, Abilities, & Circumstances. Quarry: Quayside. Feb. 2008. c.203p. illus. index. ISBN 978-1-59253-381-7. pap. $24.99."

INTERIOR DESIGN "Universal design" as defined by architect Ron Mace, who coined the phrase, is "the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design." Jordan (Making Room: Finding Space in Unexpected Places) shows how a home that is accommodating to all can also have a stylish decor. Some 15 newly built or renovated homes are featured, for which Jordan explains the inhabitantsa lifestyles and physical challenges. Color photographs and some before-and-after floor plans show how accessibility standards have been incorporated. A list of resources is provided. Since few books address how to make a home barrier-free without creating an institutionalized look, this book is recommended for all public libraries.

"--Library Journal, January 2008"

About the Author

Wendy A. Jordan is an award-winning writer and editor with expertise in residential remodeling and home building. She is the author or coauthor of ten books, senior contributing editor of Professional Remodeler magazine, and a regular contributor to HGTVpro.com. She has written numerous articles on remodeling subjects for Better Homes and Gardens special-interest publications.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Quarry Books; 1 edition (February 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592533817
• ISBN-13: 978-1592533817
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #145,747 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Wendy A. Jordan a former vice president of Hanley-Wood and founding editor of Remodeling magazine, Jordan runs her own editorial business in Washington, D.C.,and serves as senior contributing editor of Professional Remodeler magazine. Her remodeling journalism has garnered many awards, including four Jesse H. Neal Editorial Achievement Awards, two Neal Award Certificates, and a special Editorial Excellence Award from the chairman of the NAHB Remodelors' Council.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thoughtful & Thorough Universal Design Home Guide, June 16, 2008

By 

J. Solomon (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Universal Design for the Home: Great Looking, Great Living Design for All Ages, Abilities, and Circumstances (Paperback)

What a tremendous step forward from prior universal design home building/remodeling books. It inspires as it educates the reader about the pragmatic sensibility of this concept. Plentiful, excellent color photography and diagrams backup the top-notch content. Designer Wendy Jordan goes far beyond the functional basics to provide a smart guide to great design that works to everyone's advantage. Her helpful "great idea", "spotlight" and "universal specs" move the reader around all the important home design zones and deliver very important lessons on creating smart living spaces for a much broader range of users while anticipating future needs, be it aging or disability.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Woderful resource for everyone, February 17, 2008

By 

A. D. Chotin (Annapolis, MD United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Universal Design for the Home: Great Looking, Great Living Design for All Ages, Abilities, and Circumstances (Paperback)

This book is a fabulous resource for anyone building or remodeling a home. It demonstrates, both in words and photographs, why universal design is a great idea for anyone, not just people with physical limitations. Who wouldn't want to live in one of the houses pictured in this book? Wider doorways and halls, more efficient and better designed appliances, no threshold to trip over when entering your house--these are all great ideas for all of us. Use this book for yourself, give it to your architect or builder, you will not be sorry.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars great inspiration and wonderful ideas, January 15, 2009

By 

Heidireader "heidireader" (California USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Universal Design for the Home: Great Looking, Great Living Design for All Ages, Abilities, and Circumstances (Paperback)

in working with a housing group producing housing for the disabled we purchased this book to work with our architect, and to inspire ourselves, as well. I find this all encompassing, inclusive of nearly all disabilities, and that is encouraging. It is easy to read, well organized and has high production values. The reason for the star off is that nearly everything was produced with very high-end materials, and many in my group have difficulty visualizing more affordable materials and techniques, so this has limited the utility of the book for us. As I have counseled others to look beyond the marble and granite this and stainless-steel that, we have been able to come up with affordable options. I think this book was remiss in neglecting to recall that many disabled folks are not going to be able to afford the most expensive option. Also there are greener options than are often shown here, but that can be in the next book.