It is my opinion, as a home designer, that every home should have a large, covered front porch.

A front porch is many things. It is a place to welcome guests to your home. It is a place to get in out of the weather. A front porch is a transitionary place between the outside world and the inner world of your home. It is a place to cool off out of the summer sun and to warm up in the sun rays of winter.

Most of all, a covered front porch is a place to connect with people, with your neighbors as they walk by on the street or as they go to get their mail. A front porch is a place to sit and converse about the the meaning and purpose of life or to talk about the football game. It’s a place to sit with guests and talk about the latest book they’ve read or about how to better love our families. A front porch is a place to talk theology and politics because they need to be talked about. It’s a place to play a game of checkers or chess. A front porch is many things…

The Front Porch Hall of Fame is an honor given to people who make for good company in any front porch conversation.

My first inductee to The Front Porch Hall of Fame is T.K. Murphy known to most as “Murphy” or simply “Murph”. He was a man of God who served God with his life. He loved God’s Church and served God’s Church. He was a reader; he had the largest personal library of which I know. He was a student of the Scriptures. He was a memorizer of the Scriptures, whole books were recorded in his memory. He was a preacher/teacher. He was a student of history. He was a family man – loving his wife and three boys. Murphy was from the South. He lived many years in Alaska, several in Eugene, and most recently in the ranching country of Eastern Oregon. Murphy only wore jeans and boots. He was a leatherworker, who owned a leather business. All of these attributes (and so much more), combined with his personality, made Murphy fine Front Porch material. Murphy passed from this life to the next this morning (8/13/11). He is missed.

Murphy’s Memorial Service.

Every home should have a welcoming front porch.

[From: The Acorn]

A new home design center recently opened in The Oaks mall. Last week I toured the center looking at a majestic Jacuzzi tub, lovely bathroom fixtures, highend appliances, and solid wood kitchen cabinets.

Approaching the salesperson to compliment him on his beautiful store, I asked him if the company incorporates any elements of Universal Design. He directed me to their corporate website, which had no mention of the principle.

The design center is not alone—in fact, it is in the majority.

“Not incorporating elements of Universal Design in remodels is unfortunately quite common,” said Holly Spiegel, senior design consultant at Adaptive Design Associates in Westlake Village.

“Many consumers are unaware of the concept,” Spiegel continued. “Universal Design is intended to simplify everyday life by making products and using designs to create comfortable and functional environments for everyone, regardless of age or ability. Many designers overlook this important concept in remodeling plans or incorporate only the simplest of elements.”

Traditional homes are designed for average families and can limit the independence and functionality of some residents. Most singlefamily homes built today, and certainly those build 20 to 30 years ago, do not contain Universal Design elements. As we age and as our homes age, updates should include Universal Design features.

Universal Design concepts in a kitchen remodel take into consideration people of all heights and ages. Remodel elements may include kitchen counters of varying heights and a microwave placed at countertop height. These changes allow a 10-year old or an 80-yearold to comfortably navigate the kitchen.

Other kitchen modifications assist those with physical disabilities. Lever faucets are easier to turn off and on for weak hands. Building in knee space under the sink can be used by a family member who may need to sit while washing dishes. Large roll-out drawers make it easier for those with limited reach. Wide doorways facilitate the use of a wheelchair or walker as well as make it easier to move in that new refrigerator or stove.

Bathroom remodels utilizing Universal Design concepts include a curbless shower with adjustable hand-held controls. After a recent Achilles tendon tear, Peter, an avid runner now on crutches, was happy his remodel included both.

Floors and bathtubs with nonslip surfaces help everyone stay on their feet. Handrails and grab bars in bathrooms are great for young and old. Lever door handles and rocker light switches support those with poor hand strength but are also good when your arms are full of laundry or towels.

The market for homes with Universal Design features that allow residents to “age in place,” or remain in their home as they age, will increase. Most boomers say they want to age in place. In the next 10 years, 20 percent of the population will be over the age of 65 and the over-85 population will triple. Making home updates in our 50s and 60s will allow us to live safely and independently for many years to come.

If a kitchen or bath remodel is in your future, you may want to consider using a Certified Agingin Place Specialist. A CAPS professional has been trained in the unique needs of the older adult population. Rather than offering a product, Certified Aging-in-Place Specialists offer a service, such as designing a kitchen or bath remodel with UD design elements that are also aesthetically pleasing.

To find a CAPS professional go to http://www.nahb.org/directory a nd choose CAPS under designation.

Universal Design features allow you to enjoy your home as your needs and lifestyle change, living with kids, grandkids, an aging or injured loved ones.

Senior Concerns in Thousand Oaks is providing this column. Senior Concerns is a nonprofit agency serving Ventura and western Los Angeles counties.

For more information, visit www.seniorconcerns.org, and for comments or questions, e-mail acorn@seniorconcerns.org.

CAPS certification, taught by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), was created in collaboration with the American Association of Retired People (AARP). A CAPS-designated home remodeler can help you create a home that is livable for your lifespan. You will learn much more – including answers to frequently asked questions about “aging in place” – on the NAHB website.

Click here to find out more about GANT Construction’s Aging-In-Place information.

WHAT IS AGING-IN-PLACE?

Aging in Place is a type of design that modifies your existing home to fit your needs as they come along.

More specifically, Aging in Place consists of creating an living space that is “barrier free”, i.e., rooms, entrances and locations that minimize or eliminate barriers like stairs or steps, steep elevations or slopes, thresholds greater than ½”, and small, cluttered, or passages that just don’t work.

We will make an design a living space that will increase use, safety, security, and independence for you as they age.

Adaptable design

Adaptable Design focuses on the problems of different people; individual differences, and changes in a homeowner’s capability over time.

It is the ability of certain building features, such as kitchen counters, sinks, and grab bars to be added to, raised, lowered, or changed to accommodate the needs of either people with or without disabilities, or to accommodate the needs of people with different types or degrees of disability.

Other designs

In addition to Adaptable Design there are three other basic categories of design for Aging in Place as defined by the National Association of Home Builders;

* Universal Design – Focuses on as much of the population as possible by designing space and using products that can be used by as many people as possible.

* Accessible Design – Focuses on people with a disability by designing a space you can get around in with ease and comfort.

* Visitability Design – Focuses on wheelchair accessibility and works to create a path to or from ground floors.

How do I know what kind of Aging In Place Design I need?

The answer depends greatly on your existing needs and your needs for the future.  However, there is an assessment that a Contractor performs when preparing an Aging In Place Design;

What issue, if any, is of concern, and to what extent (light, moderate or severe).  We notate things like; vision, hearing, sense of feeling in arms or legs, use of hands, strength, balance, use of neck, reaching/stretching, coordination, endurance, awareness/understanding, breathing, dressing and undressing.

We will look at the existing homes entries, hallways and doorways, stairs, kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, living areas, storage/utility areas and parking areas and suggest improvments for the areas that are not working.

FROM: http://hawkeshomeimprovement.com/Aging-in-Place.html

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Certified Aging-in-Place Specialists

The Remodelors Council of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) in collaboration with the NAHB Research Center, NAHB Seniors Housing Council and AARP developed the Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS)program to address the needs of consumers who want to make their house a home for a lifetime – regardless of one’s age, or functional abilities.

A Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist is specially trained in:

The unique needs of older people;

Home modifications that can help people continue living independently in their homes longer;

Common remodeling projects;

Solutions to common barriers.

CAPS professionals have been taught the strategies and techniques for designing and building aesthetically pleasing, barrier-free living environments. The CAPS program goes beyond design to address the codes and standards, common remodeling projects and their costs, product ideas and resources needed to provide comprehensive and practical aging-in-place solutions.

FROM: http://www.aarp.org/families/home_design/rate_home/a2004-03-23-caps.html

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Promoting Independence In the Home

In the past, if someone had difficulty living by themselves, it was a signal that now was time to move in with family or go to a nursing home. But, for most people, that no longer is the case. Today, you can live on your own for many years, even as you grow older and start needing help with everyday tasks. This is called “aging in place.”

When you develop a chronic health condition, like diabetes, arthritis, or Alzheimer’s disease, aging in place means more that just staying put. You need a place to live that is safe and fits with your abilities. As driving becomes more difficult, it is important to access reliable and affordable transportation. A wide range of paid services may be available in your community. You may also want extra funds for family caregivers or for home modifications (such as a ramp or lift) that can extend the time you can live at home.

Americans of all ages value their ability to live independently. But without a plan for aging in place, it can be hard to stay in control of your life. Knowing your health risks and financial options can make a big difference in your ability to stay in a familiar place.

FROM: http://www.naipc.org/AGuidetoAginginPlace/PromotingIndependenceintheHome/tabid/75/Default.aspx

1. Affordable Green

Many consumers typically associate green and energy-efficient homes and features with higher costs. However, the development of new business models, technologies, and the mainstreaming of high performance materials is bringing high-performance, healthy homes within reach of all homeowners. Leading the charge are affordable housing groups, including Habitat for Humanity and local land trusts, now building and selling LEED® for Homes- and ENERGY STAR®-certified homes across the country at price points as low as $100,000*. In the existing homes market, energy upgrades are now available through new programs that include low-cost audits and utility bill-based financing. Through such programs as Clean Energy Works Oregon, and Solar City‘s solar lease-to-own business model, no up-front payment is required to take advantage of energy upgrades.

2. Sharing and Comparing Home-Energy Use

As social and purchasing sites like Facebook and Groupon add millions more members, the sharing of home energy consumption data – for rewards – is not far behind. The website Earth Aid (http://www.earthaid.net) lets you track home energy usage and earn rewards for energy savings from local vendors. You can also elect to share the information with others on Earth Aid to see who can conserve the most energy. When coupled with other developments including home energy displays, a voluntary home energy scoring system announced by the Department of Energy, and programs including Oregon and Washington’s Energy Performance Score, a lot more people will be sharing — and comparing — their home energy consumption.

For the rest of the article go to:

http://www.housingzone.com/hz/article/top-10-green-building-trends-2011-selected-earth-advantage-institute

Bring on a heat wave or deep freeze. This cozy little house stays comfortable year-round without green gadgets or a typical HVAC system.

Nestled in seven pristine acres of Hudson Valley forest, this intimate little spec home is sustainable, but not in the way you might think. It has no solar panels, no geothermal system, and no wind turbines, yet it’s expected to consume only one-tenth of the heating and cooling energy used by the average three-bedroom home. How does it work?

Like a thermos.

Think of it as a 1,650-square-foot version of that super-insulated bottle that keeps your coffee hot or your iced tea cold, except in reverse. Its ultra-tight shell keeps extreme temperatures out, most of the time with little to no mechanical intervention. And its main power sources are things nature provides for free: sunlight, shade, earth, and breezes.

Created by architect Dennis Wedlick and custom builder Bill Stratton, the “Hudson Passive Project,” as it’s known, doesn’t follow the same certification playbooks most American green builders have come to rely on. Rather than adhering to LEED or similar blueprints for sustainability (“I equate LEED with the IRS,” Wedlick says. “It’s about as much paperwork and it’s easier to cheat … .”) the house is built to stringent standards set by the Passive House Institute in Germany. Under this rubric, certification is an all-or-nothing deal that’s wholly contingent on hard metrics (BTUs and pascals), not a points-based system. And the emphasis is on passive engineering and resource conservation. The design relies on simple architecture—not technology—to capture or shield the sun, depending on the season. The construction then ensures that not a single unit of precious thermal energy escapes before it is fully maximized.

For the rest of this article go to Builder Magazine Online:

http://www.builderonline.com/building-science/passive-resistance.aspx

Forget stocks. Don’t bet on gold. After four years of plunging home prices, the most attractive asset class in America is housing.

From his wide-rimmed cowboy hat to his roper boots, Mike Castleman fits moviedom’s image of the lanky Texas rancher. On a recent March evening, Castleman is feeding cattle biscuits to his two pet longhorn steers, Big Buddy and Little Buddy, on his 460-acre Bar Ten Creek Ranch in Dripping Springs, a hamlet outside Austin in the Texas Hill Country. The spread is a medley of meandering streams, craggy cliffs, and centuries-old oaks. But even in this pastoral setting, his mind keeps returning to a subject he knows as well as any expert around: the housing market. “I’m a dirt-road economist who sees what’s happening on the ground, and in 35 years I’ve never seen a shortage of new construction like the one I’m seeing today,” declares Castleman, 70, now offering a biscuit to his miniature donkey Thumper. “The talking heads who are down on real estate will hate to hear this, but America needs to build a lot more houses. And in most markets the price of new homes is fixin’ to rise, not fall.”

For the rest of the article click:

http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2011/03/28/real-estate-its-time-to-buy-again/