Since our time working for Del Webb Corporation in the early 2000’s, we have designed spaces with accessibility, livability, “visitability” and inclusiveness in mind. Part of the “Everyone Deserves Great Design” tagline came from the concept of friends and family being able to gather in a space where the two year old toddlers felt as comfortable as the 92-year old grandparents–and of course, everyone in between. We also wanted to provide the luxury of a beautiful space that supported a lifestyle for years to come. We have accomplished this through our design work, but it wasn’t always popular (or sexy) to talk about because custom solutions were involved and not all contractors were open to the additional steps that were often necessary to pull of these designs effectively–not to mention, the conversation often included specifications like grab bars and other elements that only reminded the client of their disability or age.
Turn the page to 2022 and our previous conversation just got a whole lot easier! Pottery Barn’s recent launch of The Accessible Home Collection is rooted in inclusive design. “In our ongoing commitment to enhance the quality of lives at home we’re excited to now better serve our customers’ specific needs with The Accessible Home,” Marta Benson, Pottery Barn president, said in a statement. “Our mission is to incorporate accessibility into everything we do — providing beautiful, thoughtful design that makes a home a more comfortable place for everyone.”
The Williams-Sonoma brand said in its announcement that it is the first luxury home company to offer a collection in these categories with accessibility in mind. The Accessible Home collection features products for the bathroom, office, living room, bedroom and dining room, including bathroom consoles, pivot mirrors, grab bars, motion lift chairs, desks, tables and lighting fixtures. Select products are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, according to Pottery Barn’s website.
As our work continues in this space, we couldn’t be more pleased with the new offerings we now have at our specifying fingertips for our future clients.
