Ellen Farber Strategic Design

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Ellen Farber Strategic Design

15 Reviews

Center City One - An Accessible City Apartment

Our client, who is over 65, blind since birth and in a wheelchair after losing a leg in an accident over 25 years ago. She was moving from a one bedroom apartment in Center City Phila to a two bedroom unit in the same building. Our goal was to make the space beautiful, comfortable and wheelchair accessible and to help her to continue to live independently now and into the future. This project is truly an example where we were able to collaborate with our client, her family, her friends, her physical therapist, the contractor, plumber and every tradesperson involved to make the best design decisions given the apartment limitations to benefit our client. The result was incredible, and we are extremely proud of how well she is learning to get around the new space, technology, appliances and plumbing while loving the relaxing, comfortable and inspiring decor.

Project Year: 2021

Project Cost: USD 200,001 - USD 500,000

Country: United States

Postcode: 19107

Others who worked on this project: Annie Kirkpatrick Interior Design

The new open plan living/dining room. The countertop that contains all the appliances is at standard height of 36". Although the sink has a recessed wheelchair accessible approach, maintaining the 36" counter height allows our client to stand and put dishes away in the cabinets above. The kitchen...

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

The original space was characterized by a lot of smaller hallways, choppy space, multiple doors that closed off space, narrow hallways, small doorway entrances, inaccessible closets and bathrooms. These limitations contributed to a space that couldn't easily accommodate a wheelchair and also...

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

The furniture was purchased from Bassetts. It's amazingly comfortable, practical and so well priced!! The blues chair swivels and rocks while the striped ottoman rolls, and provides for a foot rest or table top when we place an oversized tray on top. Beyond the sitting area are sliding doors to a...

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

The kitchen island is table height at 30" so meal prep can be easily done in a wheelchair while guests are seated in a chair or wheelchair around the island. The dining chairs can also be turned around to add extra seating in the living room area. Pendant lights above the kitchen island light up...

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

The original space was characterized by a lot of smaller hallways, choppy space, multiple doors that closed off space, narrow hallways, small doorway entrances, inaccessible closets and bathrooms. These limitations contributed to a space that couldn't easily accommodate a wheelchair and also...

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

The kitchen was originally planned to mimic the location of appliances in her current kitchen to minimize re-learning of appliance locations. The only change was adding a trash cabinet between the fridge and the sink. A french door fridge allows someone in a wheelchair to easily access frozen and...

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

The original space was characterized by a lot of smaller hallways, choppy space, multiple doors that closed off space, narrow hallways, small doorway entrances, inaccessible closets and bathrooms. These limitations contributed to a space that couldn't easily accommodate a wheelchair and also...

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

The hallway provides easy access to the kitchen, the laundry area and then directly into the Master Bath. The Master Bath is separated from the rest of the space with a pocket door, which provides for privacy without taking up space like a traditional door.

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

The original space was characterized by a lot of smaller hallways, choppy space, multiple doors that closed off space, narrow hallways, small doorway entrances, inaccessible closets and bathrooms. These limitations contributed to a space that couldn't easily accommodate a wheelchair and also...

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

The kitchen was originally planned to mimic the location of appliances in her current kitchen to minimize re-learning of appliance locations. The only change was adding a trash cabinet between the fridge and the sink. A french door fridge allows someone in a wheelchair to easily access frozen and...

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

The kitchen was originally planned to mimic the location of appliances in her current kitchen to minimize re-learning of appliance locations. The only change was adding a trash cabinet between the fridge and the sink. A french door fridge allows someone in a wheelchair to easily access frozen and...

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

The original space was characterized by a lot of smaller hallways, choppy space, multiple doors that closed off space, narrow hallways, small doorway entrances, inaccessible closets and bathrooms. These limitations contributed to a space that couldn't easily accommodate a wheelchair and also...

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

The kitchen was originally planned to mimic the location of appliances in her current kitchen to minimize re-learning of appliance locations. The only change was adding a trash cabinet between the fridge and the sink. A french door fridge allows someone in a wheelchair to easily access frozen and...

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

Pictured here is a closeup of the gas cooktop. The knobs are easy to use and at the front of the cooktop for easy reach. The knobs are labeled in braille to remind our client the location of the burner being turned on. The kitchen was originally planned to mimic the location of appliances in her...

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

Pictured here is a closeup of the gas cooktop. The controls for the oven functions are all digital which is not the easiest for someone blind to navigate, but braille has been placed on top of the controls for identification. The knobs are easy to use and at the front of the cooktop for easy reach....

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

Pictured here is a closeup of the fridge water dispenser with braille labeling which allows her to identify the location of the controls since they are only printed on the door, and otherwise could not be located. The kitchen was originally planned to mimic the location of appliances in her...

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

Pictured here is a closeup of the microwave and island storage which includes 4 pantry drawers, under cabinet microwave, drawers for pots and pans easily located near the cooktop and drawers for kitchen supplies, napkins, and other items. The kitchen was originally planned to mimic the location of...

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

There is a front loading washer and dryer providing for easy access from the wheelchair, although she can stand up at the counter and fold laundry and put other supplies away. The laundry is open to the rest of the space for easy access. Pictured here is the washer with braille labeling. The washer...

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

There is a front loading washer and dryer providing for easy access from the wheelchair, although she can stand up at the counter and fold laundry and put other supplies away. The laundry is open to the rest of the space for easy access. Pictured here is the washer and dryer with braille labeling....

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

The kitchen was originally planned to mimic the location of appliances in her current kitchen to minimize re-learning of appliance locations. The only change was adding a trash cabinet between the fridge and the sink. A french door fridge allows someone in a wheelchair to easily access frozen and...

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

The original space was characterized by a lot of smaller hallways, choppy space, multiple doors that closed off space, narrow hallways, small doorway entrances, inaccessible closets and bathrooms. These limitations contributed to a space that couldn't easily accommodate a wheelchair and also...

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

The kitchen was originally planned to mimic the location of appliances in her current kitchen to minimize re-learning of appliance locations. The only change was adding a trash cabinet between the fridge and the sink. A french door fridge allows someone in a wheelchair to easily access frozen and...

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

The original space was dark, dated and would not provide accessible access with a wheelchair.

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

The kitchen was originally planned to mimic the location of appliances in her current kitchen to minimize re-learning of appliance locations. The only change was adding a trash cabinet between the fridge and the sink. A french door fridge allows someone in a wheelchair to easily access frozen and...

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

The original space was characterized by a lot of smaller hallways, choppy space, multiple doors that closed off space, narrow hallways, small doorway entrances, inaccessible closets and bathrooms. These limitations contributed to a space that couldn't easily accommodate a wheelchair and also...

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

There is a front loading washer and dryer providing for easy access from the wheelchair, although she can stand up at the counter and fold laundry and put other supplies away. The laundry room is open and inviting for easy access and continue on to the Master Bath, separated by a pocket door. There...

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

The original space was characterized by a lot of smaller hallways, choppy space, multiple doors that closed off space, narrow hallways, small doorway entrances, inaccessible closets and bathrooms. These limitations contributed to a space that couldn't easily accommodate a wheelchair and also...

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

Access to the Master Bathroom is made easy from the kitchen/laundry area. Upon entering the bathroom, the roll up sink and medicine cabinet are easily accessible. There is wainscoting wall protection that is carried in from the adjacent hallway that easily blends with wainscoting height tile in the...

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

The original space was characterized by a lot of smaller hallways, choppy space, multiple doors that closed off space, narrow hallways, small doorway entrances, inaccessible closets and bathrooms. These limitations contributed to a space that couldn't easily accommodate a wheelchair and also...

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

Access to the Master Bathroom is made easy from the kitchen/laundry area. Upon entering the bathroom, the roll up sink and medicine cabinet are easily accessible. There is wainscoting wall protection that is carried in from the adjacent hallway that easily blends with wainscoting height tile in the...

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

Access to the Master Bathroom is made easy from the kitchen/laundry area. Upon entering the bathroom, the roll up sink and medicine cabinet are easily accessible. There is wainscoting wall protection that is carried in from the adjacent hallway that easily blends with wainscoting height tile in the...

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

Not a very accessible shower!!

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

Access to the Master Bathroom is made easy from the kitchen/laundry area. Upon entering the bathroom, the roll up sink and medicine cabinet are easily accessible. There is wainscoting wall protection that is carried in from the adjacent hallway that easily blends with wainscoting height tile in the...

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

The hallway provides easy access to the kitchen, the laundry area and then directly into the Master Bath. The Master Bath is separated from the rest of the space with a pocket door, which provides for privacy without taking up space like a traditional door. The hallway on the guest side of the...

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

The original space was characterized by a lot of smaller hallways, choppy space, multiple doors that closed off space, narrow hallways, small doorway entrances, inaccessible closets and bathrooms. These limitations contributed to a space that couldn't easily accommodate a wheelchair and also...

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

The master bedroom continues the same color pallet as the rest of the apartment, and creates a calm space to relax. You can access the kitchen through a pocket door directly from the bedroom, or exit through the bathroom through another pocket door. The hallway between the bedroom and bathroom was...

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

The master bedroom continues the same color pallet as the rest of the apartment, and creates a calm space to relax. You can access the kitchen through a pocket door directly from the bedroom, or exit through the bathroom through another pocket door. The hallway between the bedroom and bathroom was...

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

The master bedroom continues the same color pallet as the rest of the apartment, and creates a calm space to relax. You can access the kitchen through a pocket door directly from the bedroom, or exit through the bathroom through another pocket door. The hallway between the bedroom and bathroom was...

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

The original space was characterized by a lot of smaller hallways, choppy space, multiple doors that closed off space, narrow hallways, small doorway entrances, inaccessible closets and bathrooms. These limitations contributed to a space that couldn't easily accommodate a wheelchair and also...

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

The hallway provides easy access to the kitchen, the laundry area and then directly into the Master Bath. The Master Bath is separated from the rest of the space with a pocket door, which provides for privacy without taking up space like a traditional door. The hallway on the guest side of the...

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

The original space was characterized by a lot of smaller hallways, choppy space, multiple doors that closed off space, narrow hallways, small doorway entrances, inaccessible closets and bathrooms. These limitations contributed to a space that couldn't easily accommodate a wheelchair and also...

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

The hallway provides easy access to the kitchen, the laundry area and then directly into the Master Bath. The Master Bath is separated from the rest of the space with a pocket door, which provides for privacy without taking up space like a traditional door. The hallway on the guest side of the...

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

The original space was characterized by a lot of smaller hallways, choppy space, multiple doors that closed off space, narrow hallways, small doorway entrances, inaccessible closets and bathrooms. These limitations contributed to a space that couldn't easily accommodate a wheelchair and also...

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

The original space was characterized by a lot of smaller hallways, choppy space, multiple doors that closed off space, narrow hallways, small doorway entrances, inaccessible closets and bathrooms. These limitations contributed to a space that couldn't easily accommodate a wheelchair and also...

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

The guest bathroom has a 36" high vanity with plenty of storage. The flooring from the hallway continue into the bathroom which eliminates threshold and floor changes making it easy for someone in a wheelchair to move in and out of each room. The door is 36" wide, and includes a pocket door...

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

The original space was characterized by a lot of smaller hallways, choppy space, multiple doors that closed off space, narrow hallways, small doorway entrances, inaccessible closets and bathrooms. These limitations contributed to a space that couldn't easily accommodate a wheelchair and also...

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

The guest bathroom has a 36" high vanity with plenty of storage. The flooring from the hallway continue into the bathroom which eliminates threshold and floor changes making it easy for someone in a wheelchair to move in and out of each room. The door is 36" wide, and includes a pocket door...

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

The guest bathroom has a 36" high vanity with plenty of storage. The flooring from the hallway continue into the bathroom which eliminates threshold and floor changes making it easy for someone in a wheelchair to move in and out of each room. The door is 36" wide, and includes a pocket door...

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

The hallway provides easy access to the kitchen, the laundry area and then directly into the Master Bath. The Master Bath is separated from the rest of the space with a pocket door, which provides for privacy without taking up space like a traditional door. The hallway on the guest side of the...

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

The guest bedroom continues the same color pallet as the rest of the apartment, and creates a calm space for guests to relax. The guest bedroom closet has space for guest clothes as well as providing additional storage.

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

The original space was characterized by a lot of smaller hallways, choppy space, multiple doors that closed off space, narrow hallways, small doorway entrances, inaccessible closets and bathrooms. These limitations contributed to a space that couldn't easily accommodate a wheelchair and also...

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

The guest bedroom continues the same color pallet as the rest of the apartment, and creates a calm space for guests to relax. The guest bedroom closet has space for guest clothes as well as providing additional storage.

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

The original space was characterized by a lot of smaller hallways, choppy space, multiple doors that closed off space, narrow hallways, small doorway entrances, inaccessible closets and bathrooms. These limitations contributed to a space that couldn't easily accommodate a wheelchair and also...

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

The hallway provides easy access to the kitchen, the laundry area and then directly into the Master Bath. The Master Bath is separated from the rest of the space with a pocket door, which provides for privacy without taking up space like a traditional door. The hallway on the guest side of the...

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

The original space was characterized by a lot of smaller hallways, choppy space, multiple doors that closed off space, narrow hallways, small doorway entrances, inaccessible closets and bathrooms. These limitations contributed to a space that couldn't easily accommodate a wheelchair and also...

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

Original door into guest hall/bath. The door was eliminated and entry widened, while the closet was reduced to increase access to the guest bath.

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

Existing floor plan and revised floor plan which highlights improved flow through space, wider hallways and door openings, a fully accessible Master bathroom, Master Closet, kitchen and guest bathroom. Standard doors are eliminated and replaced with 36" wide pocket doors in most instances which can...

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

Existing floor plan and revised floor plan which highlights improved flow through space, wider hallways and door openings, a fully accessible Master bathroom, Master Closet, kitchen and guest bathroom. Standard doors are eliminated and replaced with 36" wide pocket doors in most instances which can...

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

This rendering shows the hallway from the front door to the Master Bath.

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

This rendering illustrates how the wainscoting would look in the space.

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

The wall panels are located wherever she can easily come into contact with walls with her wheelchair. Using this material as wainscoting protects the walls while looking great!

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home