In this section
- Planning your kitchen
- Buying your kitchen
- Appliances and furniture
- Kitchen care
- Handy hints
- Accessible kitchens
- FAQs
Special features
KBSA Consumer Guide
Our FREE guide contains practical advice for consumers who are considering buying a new kitchen, bedroom, bathroom or home office.
Accessible kitchen furniture
A
lot of thought needs to go into the early stages of the kitchen design.
Most manufacturers offer a wide range of cabinet sizes, which can be
modified to suit your precise requirements. However some people will
require bespoke furniture, built to their exact requirements, to gain
full access and independence.
A lot of new interior fitments
have become available recently that make corners and shelves more
accessible. Your designer will be able to guide you through these
different products, and discuss their suitability with you.
Furniture Checklist:
- Look for durable materials throughout, especially if you are a wheelchair user
- Laminate doors are the toughest, followed closely by solid wood
- Ensure that drawer runners and metalwork are of good quality for durability
- Full-extension drawers give better access, and should be fitted with a soft-close mechanism
- Large side-hinged doors get in the way, so try to avoid them
- Where large doors must be used, ask for 170° hinges so that they swing out of the way
- Pull-out units are more accessible and easy to clean, especially in base units
- Units that are height-adjustable will suit multi-use environments such as a family home, and allow for future flexibility such as a change of wheelchair
- Furniture ranges manufactured exclusively for the use of disabled people are VAT-exempt, and will therefore be better value
The pictures above show a wall unit with a rise and fall mechanism suitable for multi-use environments such as the family home.
