Kitchen Tour: A Stylish, Wheelchair-friendly Open-plan Space
This homeowner needed a super-functional kitchen, but she also wanted it to be beautifully designed
Amanda Pollard
24 April 2019
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors and architecture.
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors... More
Trying to navigate around her house in a wheelchair was proving frustrating for Sue Mould, but the last thing she wanted was a home that was all function without the style. She found interior designer Clare Crabtree on Houzz, and asked her to design a kitchen-diner that was both accessible and gorgeous. Sue explains, “I hoped Clare would help me love my home again.”
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here? Sue Mould
Location Lichfield, Staffordshire
Property A detached house with four bedrooms and one bathroom
Room dimensions Around 30 sq m
Interior designer Clare Crabtree of ClaranDesign
Kitchen designer Cathy Davis of Classic Interiors
Photos by Kasia Fiszer Photography
Interior designer Clare Crabtree is used to creating beautiful and functional spaces for homeowners, but for this project she had an added responsibility to her client. An accident had left Sue Mould paraplegic, unable to move her lower body and devoid of feeling in that region.
The huge change to her previously active lifestyle was exacerbated by trying to navigate a home that didn’t accommodate a wheelchair, so Sue asked Clare to help her design a kitchen and living area that would restore her independence.
Watch now: See Sue in her new kitchen.
Who lives here? Sue Mould
Location Lichfield, Staffordshire
Property A detached house with four bedrooms and one bathroom
Room dimensions Around 30 sq m
Interior designer Clare Crabtree of ClaranDesign
Kitchen designer Cathy Davis of Classic Interiors
Photos by Kasia Fiszer Photography
Interior designer Clare Crabtree is used to creating beautiful and functional spaces for homeowners, but for this project she had an added responsibility to her client. An accident had left Sue Mould paraplegic, unable to move her lower body and devoid of feeling in that region.
The huge change to her previously active lifestyle was exacerbated by trying to navigate a home that didn’t accommodate a wheelchair, so Sue asked Clare to help her design a kitchen and living area that would restore her independence.
Watch now: See Sue in her new kitchen.
Before Photo
The renovation included the transformation of the whole ground floor, including the living room. Originally, the kitchen and dining area were two separate rooms, which made it tricky for Sue to move around in her wheelchair. So the wall between them was removed to create a larger, open-plan space.
To ensure everything was safe and would work perfectly for Sue, Clare asked an occupational therapist (OT) to help. The OT observed Sue as she moved around her home, identifying her needs and advising them both on the best ways to meet them.
Using this information, and by listening closely to Sue, Clare was able to form a picture of exactly what needed to be done.
Using this information, and by listening closely to Sue, Clare was able to form a picture of exactly what needed to be done.
Clare also collaborated with kitchen designer Cathy Davis to help create a space that Sue would be able to use easily – but would look stylish, too.
The worktops are lower than usual, but Sue didn’t want them to be inaccessible for others using the space.
“Worktops are normally 900mm high, and Sue needed them to be 700mm high,” Clare says. “However, she felt that 800mm was right, so she can reach everything, but others using the kitchen feel it’s their space as well.”
“Worktops are normally 900mm high, and Sue needed them to be 700mm high,” Clare says. “However, she felt that 800mm was right, so she can reach everything, but others using the kitchen feel it’s their space as well.”
To work out the room’s colour scheme, Clare tuned in to the shades that Sue was drawn to. “I paid attention to things such as what she wore and which flowers she bought to get a feel for the colours she liked,” Clare says. “I do this with all my clients.”
She shared images with Sue on Houzz, as well as samples of autumnal shades, and explained which accent colours would work with them. “Burnt orange is a favourite and became the featured colour,” Sue says.
She shared images with Sue on Houzz, as well as samples of autumnal shades, and explained which accent colours would work with them. “Burnt orange is a favourite and became the featured colour,” Sue says.
Sue wanted friends and family to be able to sit and socialise with her at the breakfast bar, so Clare designed two surfaces at different heights. The circular section is slightly lower than a normal bar height, as are the bar stools.
The wooden surface brings warm texture to the room, and the curved design adds softness.
Stockholm bar stools, Cielshop. Artificial bouquet, Emerald.
Watch now: See how Clare designed the space for Sue.
The wooden surface brings warm texture to the room, and the curved design adds softness.
Stockholm bar stools, Cielshop. Artificial bouquet, Emerald.
Watch now: See how Clare designed the space for Sue.
As Sue makes tea next to the breakfast bar, it made sense to locate the fridge nearby, so she could have easy access to the milk.
The worktop here is slightly higher, as the fridge and the adjacent slimline dishwasher are only available at 835mm tall. Clare also wanted to raise the fridge slightly, so Sue could access the bottom shelf.
The worktop here is slightly higher, as the fridge and the adjacent slimline dishwasher are only available at 835mm tall. Clare also wanted to raise the fridge slightly, so Sue could access the bottom shelf.
Sue was keen to have a ceramic sink, which proved challenging in this space, as it was vital there was ample room for her to tuck in her wheelchair below.
“You can get shallow-drop sinks, but the only ones available are in stainless-steel. Ceramic sinks are deeper and need a support below,” Clare says.
“However, we found discreet plumbing, which goes to the back before it forms the U-bend,” she says. “We then ordered the kitchen unit, cut it to fit and attached a false drawer front.”
“You can get shallow-drop sinks, but the only ones available are in stainless-steel. Ceramic sinks are deeper and need a support below,” Clare says.
“However, we found discreet plumbing, which goes to the back before it forms the U-bend,” she says. “We then ordered the kitchen unit, cut it to fit and attached a false drawer front.”
“The old space impacted on my enjoyment of cooking and particularly baking,” Sue says. “The oven door made it difficult to reach for and remove hot items.”
To help with this, Clare planned a baking zone on the opposite wall to the sink. “Sue has a lower surface here, so she can press down while kneading and mixing,” Clare explains.
There are no units beneath the baking work surface, so she can wheel herself directly below.
Kitchen scales, Distinctly Living.
To help with this, Clare planned a baking zone on the opposite wall to the sink. “Sue has a lower surface here, so she can press down while kneading and mixing,” Clare explains.
There are no units beneath the baking work surface, so she can wheel herself directly below.
Kitchen scales, Distinctly Living.
The corner unit has pull-out cantilevered shelves for easy access to Sue’s bread-maker and mixer.
There’s enough room in this space for Sue to spin around easily, which allows her to quickly move to the oven.
Wine rack, Decor Love.
There’s enough room in this space for Sue to spin around easily, which allows her to quickly move to the oven.
Wine rack, Decor Love.
The two ovens are at eye level, and beneath each one is a pull-out work surface. “Sue can prepare her baking mix, spin on her chair and put it onto the work surface,” Clare says. “Then she can simply pop it in the oven.”
The trays also serve as a place to put things after Sue’s taken them out of the oven. They can even be left to cool here, before she takes them to serve guests at the breakfast bar or dining table.
“The oven has a slide and hide door, to enable close access to the oven,” kitchen designer Cathy Davis says. “Within the oven, I included a set of telescopic shelf supports, so Sue can pull the shelf towards her while the oven tray is fully supported.”
The trays also serve as a place to put things after Sue’s taken them out of the oven. They can even be left to cool here, before she takes them to serve guests at the breakfast bar or dining table.
“The oven has a slide and hide door, to enable close access to the oven,” kitchen designer Cathy Davis says. “Within the oven, I included a set of telescopic shelf supports, so Sue can pull the shelf towards her while the oven tray is fully supported.”
Wall cabinets at the side of the hob and in the baking area are fitted with pull-down baskets. Sue can bring them down to her level to access everything easily.
Watch now: See what Sue loves about her new kitchen.
Watch now: See what Sue loves about her new kitchen.
Overhead lighting in the room is complemented by lamps and under-cabinet LED strips. “Sue could see the wiring of these from her line of sight,” Clare says, “so we built plinths in front to make them look more attractive.”
Set of six footed fruit bowls, Costa Nova. Artificial plants, Melody Maison.
Set of six footed fruit bowls, Costa Nova. Artificial plants, Melody Maison.
Before Photo
The dark, cramped dining room was transformed with wide, sliding doors to the patio. “I put in huge windows for more light and to give Sue access to the back of the house,” Clare says.
Originally, Sue had decided to go for bifold doors, but these would have been very heavy to open and almost impossible to close, as she would have needed to stand up to do it.
“These frameless sliding doors are really light,” Clare says. “They open to 2m wide on each side, so Sue can go out both ways.”
The team raised the patio to the same level as the kitchen and dining area, so it’s easy for Sue to access the garden.
“These frameless sliding doors are really light,” Clare says. “They open to 2m wide on each side, so Sue can go out both ways.”
The team raised the patio to the same level as the kitchen and dining area, so it’s easy for Sue to access the garden.
The flooring was carefully thought through, as it needed to be smooth and not susceptible to scratches and dents from the wheelchair. Clare put a box of this luxury vinyl down first for Sue to test, and they ended up using it throughout the ground floor. “It’s quite warm and Sue freewheels and turns easily on it,” Clare says.
Thanks to this kind of attention to detail, Sue now has a home that works perfectly for her needs. “Finding Clare has resulted in a final outcome I could never have achieved myself,” she says. “I just love the whole thing.”
Herringbone vinyl flooring, Moduleo.
Watch now: See Sue share her story.
Tell us…
What do you think of this functional and beautiful kitchen? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Thanks to this kind of attention to detail, Sue now has a home that works perfectly for her needs. “Finding Clare has resulted in a final outcome I could never have achieved myself,” she says. “I just love the whole thing.”
Herringbone vinyl flooring, Moduleo.
Watch now: See Sue share her story.
Tell us…
What do you think of this functional and beautiful kitchen? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
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Thank you for sharing this story. ❤️
Amazingly practical kitchen and so beautiful too. Will keep these ideas.
Heart warming story and great transformation. Absolutely stunning.