Imagine the convenience of controlling the reading lamps at your bedside, as well as the ceiling cans and the pendant lamps on your dresser, with a single control.

Universal design technology is available now with the Maestro¨ sensor/dimmer from Lutron¨. The clear channel radio frequency of the remote only communicates with lighting fixtures or motorized window coverings, so there’s no interference from a TV remote or cell phone. The best feature of the Maestro¨ is that installation doesn’t require cutting into the drywall or replacing existing light fixtures. The control keypad (about 2″ by 4″) can be mounted anywhere on the wall, on a stand, on a horizontal surface, or just be left loose on a counter. Now the controls that turn lights on and off, adjust dimmers and set pre-set lighting scenarios can be conveniently placed for easy accessibility for children or for wheelchair-bound persons.

Since there isn’t any hard wiring, the control panel can be relocated with ease. Wireless controls can communicate with all the lights in the house with a single keypad. Who cares if the porch light is on when you get into bed? Just turn it off using the keypad on your nightstand.

Precisely controlling the light levels in a room provides illumination that is appropriate to the task while conserving energy. The universal design of the control keypad requires a single tap to illuminate a lamp. A double tap turns up the light to maximum brightness; and another single tap turns the light off.

If you are frustrated with searching for a wall switch in a dark room, you can install a motion sensor that illuminates the room to the appropriate light level gradually when someone enters the room. The same sensor will turn off the lights at a pre-set time interval after the room is vacated. This will eliminate tripping over furniture and rugs.

Another luxurious feature of a wireless control is the use of the keypad to raise and lower motorized shades to adjust the natural light level in the room. One motor can pull up to six shades, and existing window coverings can be retro fitted to incorporate this feature. One keypad can speak to as many as nine devices.

Say, “Goodbye” to dangling drapery cords and to lamps left turned on all night!

— Jean Cary, Jean Cary Interiors

Once the children have moved out and retirement is on the horizon, it’s time to consider adjustments to the house that make it more livable. Adaptations to the floor plan or the room arrangements can create a home better suited to a lifestyle of leisure and the pursuit of hobbies. Consider each room and decide whether it has the design flexibility for a home with fewer occupants.

Sometimes it is necessary to create multi-functional spaces in a small footprint. In small spaces such as powder rooms or closets, the use of pocket doors is a good way to gain more floor space and to allow for easy accessibility for persons using walkers or wheel chairs. The dining room and living room can be separated by a sliding pocket or glass barn door so that the dining room can be used as a private study when the owners aren’t entertaining. Frosted glass doorways allow light to penetrate the interior spaces without sacrificing privacy. Pocket doors can also close off one wing of a home for privacy or sound reduction.

Another way to free up floor space is to employ built-in window seats for seating and storage. If the window bay is deep enough, the upholstered bench can also accommodate overnight guests. Cozy seating areas with views to the outside create private retreats within a larger space.

Be conscious of sight lines within the house that improve the view and allow the natural light to penetrate the interior spaces. This will reduce the demand for artificial lighting. When the upper cabinets in the kitchen are eliminated, large windows can be installed which extend from the countertop to the ceiling to provide unobstructed views of the outside. Adding skylights or clerestory windows to vent warm summer air will minimize the use of air conditioning.

A single piece of custom made furniture that has multiple functions can transform a room. For example, a freestanding headboard can be a room divider. When it is constructed with an 18” depth, the headboard can accommodate pull out nightstands and bedside lighting on the front, storage cabinets under the mattress and built-in drawers on the reverse side. One sleek piece of furniture can replace several bureaus and two nightstands!

A home’s design should reflect the owners’ passions and provide inspiration for the next stage of life. Does yours?

— Jean Cary, Jean Cary Interiors

As the Baby Boomers and their parents age, the interest in universal barrier-free design for the interior of homes is skyrocketing. Whether you are recuperating from surgery or adapting your home for an elderly relative now is the time to explore the avenues for making alterations to your current home to allow your family to comfortably age in place. Accessible design has moved beyond clunky looking grab bars and industrial looking finishes to well-planned living environments that are bright, open and adaptable for the future needs of family members.

Since many of the problems with limited mobility after an injury can complicate the use of a regular bathroom, a few changes now can pay big dividends in the future. Designing the entry to a shower so the door is flush with the floor and eliminating the step up removes any barrier to entering with a walker, cane, and wheel chair or with an injured extremity. In some instance the doors can be removed completely if the showerhead placement is well planned. Kohler makes attractive contemporary grab bars with a variety of finishes that can double as towel bars. If you have a tub/shower unit, entrance into the tub can be facilitated with a Sonaris reclining bath chair lift. Once the chair completes its descent into the tub, the relining back can be adjusted with a hand held control. This battery operated lift has multi-position suction feet, which provide maximum stability as they adjust to the curve of the tub. This lightweight durable design will support up to 300 lb. There is still enough room to shower in front of the lift without removing it. Lever handles on the faucets and doors provide ease of operation for those with hand injuries or arthritis. When replacing the toilet, select a 19-chair height model which is more comfortable for adults than the standard height toilets. Finish the bathroom with slip resistant flooring installed over radiant heat and a new set of luxurious towels.

— Jean Cary, Jean Cary Interiors

To find the solutions to your home dilemmas, give Jean a call: of (650) 593-9622

Do the windows in your home allow so much sunlight into the interior that some of the rooms have an unpleasant glare? Are there high decorative windows and skylights that allow the sunlight to directly hit your flooring and furnishings? Ultra-violet (UV) rays can cause color changes in art, fabrics, paint and wood in just three months. Fix the problem now before the damage occurs. Luminette® and Silhouette® window shades from Hunter Douglas will preserve the view while blocking 99% of the UV rays. Another alternative is to apply tinted window film to the problem windows for about $13 per square foot. Window film can be applied on a custom made window (stained glass) to prevent the glass from shattering in case of an earthquake; and it also is a physical deterrent to burglary.

Consider upgrading from mini-blinds. Mini-blinds are installed in many new homes, but after five years the vanes bend, the cords break, and they become a nuisance to clean. Dangling drapery and shade cords become a dangerous attraction to children and pets. Fortunately there are many shades available with cordless adjustments or with a motorized remote control option. If you have tall windows or an unsightly view, installing top down bottom up shades will allow the light to come in the top of the window and still provide privacy to the occupants of the room. Vignette® fabric Roman shades roll up into a 4” head rail to completely clear the glass and create an updated look for sliders and large windows.

If your wall-to-wall carpet or hardwood flooring has faded and you are not going to replace it, consider adding a punch of color with a runner or an area rug that will hide the imperfections. Make sure to use the correct pad between the area rug and the carpet to prevent abrasion of the carpet and further wear.

— Jean Cary, Jean Cary Interiors

To find the solutions to your home dilemmas, give Jean a call: of (650) 593-9622