+ Follow

Quietly accessible furniture aids aging in place with safety and style

As the demographic of individuals over 50 years old who wish to age in their homes continues to grow, there's an increasing demand for furniture that addresses the challenges of aging, such as reduced mobility, stiffness, and balance issues, without compromising aesthetic appeal. A significant gap has existed in the market for stylish, accessible furniture that doesn't resemble medical equipment. However, the Michael Graves Design (MGD) for Pottery Barn collection has emerged to fill this void, offering a line of “quietly accessible” furniture designed to enhance independent living with both safety and style. Donald Strum, president of Michael Graves Design, highlighted the initial difficulty in finding a retailer who understood the need for accessible yet attractive furniture. MGD aimed to create residential-looking pieces that avoided the institutional aesthetic often associated with medical aids. Pottery Barn ultimately recognized this vision, leading to the collaboration and the debut of the collection in August. The target audience for this furniture extends beyond Baby Boomers to include individuals of any age with permanent or temporary disabilities, and those who proactively plan for future accessibility needs. A primary focus of the new furniture line is fall prevention, which Strum emphasized as a critical safety concern for individuals over 65, as many do not fully recover from falls. The design philosophy is deeply rooted in the experiences of the late Michael Graves, a renowned architect who, after becoming paralyzed, became a vocal advocate for independence and accessibility in home environments. Graves challenged conventional designs, questioning why common household elements like water faucets and electrical outlets were not more easily reachable, and he inspired his team to integrate these considerations into their designs. The MGD team was tasked by Pottery Barn to retrofit three of their best-selling furniture lines—Farmhouse, Sausalito, and Cayman—to incorporate accessible features subtly. This involved making modifications such as adding grab points, larger drawer pulls, higher density foam for seating, and toe clearances for wheelchairs. These functional enhancements are integrated so seamlessly that they are effectively “hiding in plain sight,” ensuring the furniture maintains its residential appeal. Extensive product testing with focus groups, including older adults and individuals with disabilities, helped refine the designs, ensuring they met Pottery Barn's standards for comfort, quality, and value, while prioritizing safety and accessibility. The collection is available in select stores and online, with accessible pieces carrying a modest 5% to 10% upcharge. Strum anticipates that this type of accessible design will eventually become the standard for all furniture. Key pieces in the collection include dressers with raised edges and grab channels to prevent items from falling and assist with movement, larger pulls for easier drawer access, and 9-inch ground clearance for wheelchair compatibility. Dresser seats offer storage and a stable place to sit, while nightstands feature raised edges, easy-to-grasp pulls, built-in power strips, USB ports, and discreet housing for medical devices like CPAP machines. Beds are designed with integrated armrests, pull-and-roll side grips for support, and built-in benches for dressing and storage. Chairs include high-density foam, adjustable seat heights, and sturdy, wide wooden arms that extend beyond the seat cushion to provide critical support when sitting or standing, with some chairs also incorporating rear grab rails for balance support. #AccessibleFurniture #AgingInPlace #HomeDesign #MobilityAids #PotteryBarn #MichaelGravesDesign #UniversalDesign #FallPrevention #IndependentLiving #AccessibleFurniture #AgingInPlace #HomeDesign #MobilityAids #PotteryBarn #MichaelGravesDesign #UniversalDesign #FallPrevention #IndependentLiving

15 months ago

Read Full Article