Designing a Kitchen for Ageing in Place

Bending and reaching into the back of a low cupboard becomes difficult long before anything else does. Deep drawers bring contents out to you, and they are better for everyone at every age, which is why we specify them as standard.

Raising the dishwasher and oven off the floor removes most of the bending in a kitchen. Keeping everyday items between hip and shoulder height, with wall cabinets shallower or fitted with pull-down racking, removes most of the reaching.

Older eyes need considerably more light and benefit from contrast between worktop and floor, and between worktop and cabinetry. Matte surfaces reduce glare, which matters more than it sounds under bright Thai daylight.

Lever taps, D-handles, rounded corners and a clear turning space are all ordinary good design. Planning a seated prep section and leaving removable plinths under a sink costs little now and avoids rebuilding the kitchen later.