More and more home builders and developers are listening to what homeowners want and responding. One of the primary changes we'll be seeing in the coming years will be in the incorporation of "universal design" in every room of the house. If you don't already know, universal design is defined as being "an approach to the design of products and environments to be as usable as possible by as many people as possible regardless of age, ability or situation."
In my job as a Realtor I'm getting more requests from my empty nester clients for a first floor master bedroom; single-level homes; and wider hallways and doors. And they're smart to think ahead to the day when stairs become a challenge and perhaps getting around in a wheelchair requires more room to maneuver.
Here's one great article that I wanted to share that speaks to simple ways to incorporate some facets of UD into your current homes. It's always a smart idea to make living in your home as easy for you, your family and your guests. To read the article, simply click the following link or paste the URL directly into your browser: http://www.houselogic.com/blog/universal-design/universal-design-tips/