Rosemarie Rossetti and her husband, Mark, live in the Universal Design Living Laboratory in Columbus, Ohio, where accessibility and sustainable design are highlighted.
The Laboratory is the top-rated universal design home in North America with three national universal design certifications. It is also very green, having earned the Silver LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, and it is Gold certified on the National Green Building Standard program.
The hardwood flooring in the wardrobe is engineered with a thin layer of hardwood on top, and there is a thin recycled rubber mat underlayment, making the floor quieter to walk and roll on. Hats and folded clothing are on the open shelves in the deep wood closet organizer on one wall, and shoes are neatly arranged on shelves on the adjacent wall.
The center island features 12 drawers for underwear and sock storage, two removable laundry hampers and two pullout shelves at the end facing the washer and dryer. The drawer and door hardware are easy to grip, and the doors feature soft-close hinges. A deep toe-kick at the base of the island gives me space for my feet and wheelchair footrest, and there is ample room around the center island for me to maneuver.
To the right of the sink are a front-loading Energy Star washer and dryer placed on 16-in.-high storage pedestals, which works well for both seated and standing positions. On the floor below the washer is a custom-fabricated drain pan installed as a precaution against a water supply hose leak or washer malfunction. This drains to the basement sump pump.
A built-in ironing center mounted on the adjacent wall contains an adjustable-height folding ironing board that is convenient for a person to use while sitting or standing.