By Rita St. Clair

Home Decor - Custom Cabinetry Can Solve Difficulties. Specially designed cabinetry, such as this pullout spice rack, can serve the needs of those with limited reach or mobility difficulties

Cabinetry, whether a movable piece of storage or a built in, should be designed first for its function and then for style.

So, it takes a lot of thinking before you put pencil to paper or select a piece of available standard cabinetry for any room in the house.

Question:

My mother is an elderly person who is quite active but finds it difficult to retrieve objects that are stored below or above her normal reach. She wants to replace her existing kitchen cabinets.

Can you suggest some available storage cabinets that have doors and shelving that may function for her needs?

Answer:

I am sure there are a number of manufactures that make standard cabinetry that can be installed at a height that would serve someone with a limited reach. However, she should also consider her ability to reach inside cabinetry of normal depth. It seems that a standard cabinet, with or without drawers, could be either elevated or placed at a height so that she can easily reach, see inside, and be able to retrieve objects inside.

I would also suggest that you consider the function of a vertical pullout cabinet.

The small one shown in the photo is for a particular use -- it is small in height and narrow. However, it enables one to see what it stores from all sides. This one is made of hardwood and is custom made to fit a particular space recessed into a wall. It is meant to store spices or any small items that usually get lost in drawers or deep cabinetry. (The photo is from the useful book "Store It!" by Mervyn Kaufman, published by Filipacchi.)

There are a number of wider and much taller ones available from kitchen cabinet manufactures for storage of bottles, food containers, bowls and so forth. There is also no need to recess it into a wall. A full-sided pull-out cabinet can be attached to a wall or another cabinet or as is shown here custom made to your specifications.

 

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Home Decor & Interior Design - Custom Cabinetry Can Solve Difficulties