I’ve been asked, by at least a handful of customers, what “universal design” means. They saw the term “universal design home plans” on our website, or they heard about it elsewhere. One customer recently asked if universal design meant the same thing as wheelchair-accessible.

My answer to that is yes AND no.

The idea behind universal design is that accessible features benefit everyone. The example we give on our website is raising the height of an electrical outlet: it definitely makes it easier for a physically challenged person to reach, but it also eliminates the need for anyone to bend over as far, making it universally more comfortable for everyone. Other examples of universal design features in our home plans include sloping walkways to the main entrance, wider doorways, wider interior passages and closet doors, lever-style hardware on cabinets and doors, and convenient heights for things like thermostats and light switches.

So, while universal design home plans are comfortable for wheelchair users, they are not necessarily designed for wheelchair users. Rather, they are designed to be comfortable for everyone, regardless of age or ability. And who doesn’t want that?  Retiring baby boomers are particularly interested in universal design as it relates to “aging in place” (a.k.a. staying in the same house as you grow older) because it virtually eliminates the worry of a floor plan that becomes more difficult to navigate over time.

Another good thing about universal design – when it’s well done, it’s virtually invisible to the homeowner. You and your guests might not consciously notice the wider doorways or lever-style hardware, but you will find yourselves moving about the house with ease and comfort. See our collection of universal design house plans here.

Universal Design Home Plan: PSC-1269

Oregon customers Ralph and Beverly are retired and wanted to modify home plan DD-2452 to fit their needs. They had found the perfect lot that overlooks a river and vineyards. Home plan DD-2452, a sprawling Southern style design, was a great fit for the lot because of its floor plan layout that included creative outdoor spaces like a front porch and backyard patio. 

Our home design team happily took on the modifications project. Beverly is in a wheelchair so needed all passageway doors increased to 36“. She also wanted some accessibility features added such as a roll-in shower instead of a tub. In addition, the couple requested some rooms that weren’t included in the original floor plan: ”endless pool“ room, sewing room, game room, and equipment room. We made additional modifications including: changed the 3-car garage to a 2-car, moved the range to the kitchen island, converted the master bedroom office area to a walk-in-closet, added a master bathroom skylight, put in a 3‘ wall between the breakfast room and great room, added window wells and a Bilco door in the basement, made some modifications to outlet locations, and made a few other customizations.

The end result?  Happy customers with a home that is customized to their distinct tastes and a much more affordable price tag than a “from-scratch” home design.  No blueprint modifications request is too simple or too complex for our home design team. If you have a favorite home plan, but are curious what it would cost to make some specific changes to it, just call us and we’ll provide you with a quick, free cost estimate. 

House Plan DD-2452

Floor Plan of DD-2452