This is brilliant. What a beautiful kitchen!

Dreamy kitchen and great choice in lighting, it feels light and warm at the same time. I love the other point this video makes, that just because you have a disability, it doesn't mean you have to somehow settle or 'make do' when it comes to the aesthetics of your living environment.

What I love about this makeover kitchen is the dropout access to the cabinets, the fold-in oven door and the wonderful light coming in from all the windows. It is bright , innovative and perfectly designed. This was the just the wonderful video I needed to see to get my day started! Thank you Sue and Clare!

Absolutely loved this story. Clare did an amazing job. There really is no greater feeling than knowing your input made a difference. Great project.

What a thoughtful, wonderful transformation. Well done!

Clare's approach to design is so amazing and functional

This is what good design is all about: positive transformation at physical and psychological levels. Wonderfully life-changing. Bravo!

Fantastic and thoughtfully designed. Ideas for consideration as aging in place or having an older parent live with you is becoming more prevalent. And vinyl flooring has come a long way!

Beautiful!

Thank you to Claire for making my sister’s house so inviting and bright which reflects her wonderful personality! You listened and spent so much time planning together with her making her life so much better and easier. Anyone looking for inspiration will find it here ! Thanks so much

One of my most favorite Houzz stories ever- impressive, thoughtful design work and fantastic result.

I LOVE this. So thoughtful. Really, a home well designed to suit your needs create joy. Much joy to the homeowner!!

A great project and a really interesting story

Form AND function - very very clever.

That’s vinyl flooring?! Amazing from start to finish. Accessible design for all.

Clare, you are a really gifted designer. So functional, thoughtful, and attractive.

Gorgeous kitchen!

A wonderful, heart warming story. Thank you for sharing! How lovely that Sue is able to use her kitchen again. Loved the transformation of her kitchen and dining area. And, I think all ovens should be designed with a fold-in door. I have received many many burns on my arms because of the oven door being hot and trying to maneuver around it.
Great job!

I fell in love with those ovens with the Hide and Slide doors on The Great British Baking Show/Bake Off. They are made by Neff which is a division of Bosch. I wish Bosch would introduce them on Bosch USA or Thermador ovens.

This is a lovely kitchen for a lovely baker.

I realy like it

This really is so lovely and great to see how a home can be both functional and beautiful!

Such a beautiful functional kitchen on every level. So pleased for the very deserving homeowner.

What an incredibly well thought out kitchen and attractive at the same time.

This is a beautiful kitchen. There are so many things I would like to incorporate in my own. Those oven doors are amazing!

Some very nice touches throughout this kitchen, love the sunken units at the sink! Handles are a very nice touch as are the bar stools, great job all round, very stylish!

What a success, Sue. You've taken a decision to make your kitchen fit you, and finding Clare to help you realize it was a stroke of good luck. Together you've created a warm and inviting space, no wonder it's full of visitors to taste your baking. You've opened my eyes up to some really common-sense features all kitchens should have ... fold-down shelves, the oven door, strategic lighting and vinyl flooring. Really, that floor is fabulous. I love the fabric of the blind, the burnt orange chairs and inset wooden shelves. Thanks for sharing your beautiful new space with us, and happy baking.

I love how you inspire people to follow there dreams not matter what, congratulations for such of nice work you do and to touch the spirit too!

Excellent Remodel

absolutely love the folding down cupboards very brainy idea. you should feel happy about this amazing project you have completed Sue:).

Really lovely kitchen and really well thought out. I was really touched by the thought put into ensuring under-cabinet lighting wiring was hidden - just shows how well thought out and designed this renovation was.

Priceless. Precious. So VERY important for people to see and hear. My family went through a similar situation back in the 70's when we 1st started to understand the severity of a situation like this. As I build my house now (approaching my 70's), walls are reinforced for disabilities (bathrooms), the wall oven opens to the side and is lower, a microwave drawer, small things...no thresholds, wider doorways. Better to be prepared than have to deal with it under pressure. Businesses open to the public such as appliance dealers & kitchen companies, need to have a tasteful setup in their showrooms because sometimes people don't know how to ask for assistance or don't know where to start. Bless you Sue, you are incredibly strong and ositive. Thank you Clare for your insightfulness.

What a lovely story! I love the drop down cabinets & the disappearing oven door and the light filled room!! I also love Sue’s courage & love of family & Clare’s compassion & talent !! Bravo to you both!!

What a beautiful story. A gorgeous and functional kitchen - those sliding down cupboards and the tuck away oven door! Really shows the value of hiring a designer - well done!

Cool! It’s very accommodating!

My partner has a T4 SCI and we are at the beginning of a house renovation. He too wants a normal looking kitchen and I will be the main user so we need things practical for us both. Your kitchen looks beautiful and I like how you did the little features of accessibility but without it looking like an overly accessible kitchen. I.e making space in front of the sink and hob for knees in a stylish way. Space at bottom of cupboards for toes! And love the pull out draw by the oven.... so practical!
This has been the first accessible kitchen design that I feel looks like a stylish modern kitchen for the whole family! Thanks for some great ideas!

I love the oven and the way the door slides in underneath so that the wheelchair can pull right up. As someone who is disabled and sensory impaired it is necessary for ingenious design which is practical and most importantly safe. Wish this stove feature was available in Canada.

Wow is all I can say. Not only is the kitchen amazing but what a story. It’s completely moved me to tears!! Well done to Clare for making a wonderful lady so happy again. Loved the design!!

Absolutely stunning
what a difference when you find a designer who has vision and understanding of another’s needs and actively listens to what they require
Congratulations to you and your designer

Well done Houzz for finally featuring an accessible kitchen! I have recently installed two small kitchens in our completely renovated family holiday home abroad with potential mobility issues very much in mind (trying to future proof a home as I don’t intend to change the kitchens - our 3 kids who we hope will take our future grandchildren there will be doing any changes). There are some really good ideas here and why not make your space easier for yourself or guests of all abilities.

Following an accident , we realised how difficult it was for disabled folk

In the process of converting 17C barns into holiday accommodation, we decided to ensure the units were accessible. Valley View , one of our cottages at Thatch Close Cottages incorporates many of the great ideas found in this video .

The cottage now welcomes wheelchair users , who may also be partially sighted and have hearing issues.

It can be done .

So much in life we just take for granted...it's a great article on positivity, and you can do, what you need to, with the help of functional spaces,b your life can be back to where it was. Independence is one of the most valuable assets..your home is beautiful throughout. and its lovely that it represents you too..
A brilliant read and Thank you for sharing your experience with us.

I so agree with JH above. Accessibility makes a huge difference to wheelchair users. What make flooring did you use please?

Hi J H, the flooring is from Moduleo.

Wonderful story. I admire Sue’s courage.

Hi Sue. You are an inspiration for our family . We wish you joy in your new kitchen and living quarters ! I could imagine the home smells absolutely delicious with all kinds of daily bake goods .

In life , we should try not to complain about the little things and appreciate being alive and kind to one another .

I will think of you Sue and pretend we can have a spot of tea together while tasting your pastries .

Best

The Ackerman Family

What an inspirational story. Just goes to show you can stay in your home, with the right modifications, and this is a beautiful as well as very useable space.

The designer is intuitive and empathetic, everything one hopes to find when working with a professional. Sue's new kitchen is welcoming, contemporary and practical. Anyone would love a space like this in their home. Unfortunately, most people cannot afford it. I'd estimate this project cost around £50K.

Great project done beautifully outcome = happy client!

I am just such a fan of HOUZZ videos! This one, however, was so good on so many levels. What a great partnership of client and designer and what an inspiring remodel. Very well done cinematography. I felt like I was right there! Subtitles were a nice addition. Wouldn't you just love to be sitting in that kitchen eating a baked good and chatting with Sue and Clare?

Thermador ovens come with “slide” racks. These racks have absolutely no drag and just glide when pulled. No more burns from the oven door. They are so smooth that you can sit a full raw quiche on the rack and slide it into the oven without any movement in the quiche contents.

Beautiful job on this kitchen!

There is much to love about this story and kitchen. What has my attention now is how honest the photos are. On the counters are a toaster oven, a kettle, a dish-drying rack, knives, a small stack of pots and pans, and more. This is how many people live and cook, particularly people with accessibility needs and/or limited storage. The effect is not busy or cluttered, but shows a space that is inviting, functional, and real. Thank you for sharing it.

I love that Sue gets comments from family & friends that her kitchen reflects who she is. Isn’t that what we all want? To have our home be a mirror and also an extension of who we are? Acceptance truly begins at home - literally.

I also loved seeing how Laura and Sue used the technology and tools available through Houzz to enable a thoughtful dialogue between client and designer. Can’t wait to read or view more stories like this. Practical and inspirational. Thank you!

Fantastic job! I'm happy for Sue. I would love to try out her kitchen! Enjoy!

What a beautiful story- and renovation! Thank you for sharing for others who may have similar needs - or aging issues. Happy happy baking and living in your beautiful space Sue, and glad you found Clare!

INSPIRING! Thank you for sharing. Enjoy that kitchen and life!

Beautiful kitchen! I'm so happy your kitchen works for you again. Our kitchens is part of who we are for some of us. Thank you for sharing the journey with us here. I would love to see more stories of accessible remodels, especially bathrooms. Happy baking!

This is the most awesome article and awesome kitchen I have yet seen on Houzz. Sue - you rock!

I have searched the internet for that oven with the fold-under door and can't find anything like it. Anyone know where to find one, or what brand it is?

This is just what we were talking about in comments on another story: how we'd love to see interior design that's both beautiful AND practical for people who are infirm in some way - which, of course, is going to be most of us!! This kitchen story is a perfect example. A very moving but not sentimental film too. Huge congratulations to all involved.

Love

What a beautiful story. Thank you so much for sharing not only your personal life story but, a dreamy kitchen remodel. I loved your designers personality and heart for the project. I wish you tons of joy filled moments in your new home!

What a wonderful story and a beautiful kitchen!

This was really inspirational. I also have to get around with a walker or a wheelchair for distances. I have completely abandoned my kitchen to my husband. We are update our kitchen which has original cabinets from 1976. I can’t reach anything. I would love to talk to someone about possibilities.

What a dream kitchen/dining area!

Ms. Crabtree did a fantastic job. What a beautiful story---on EVERY level!

What a lovely story, go ahead Sue

Totally amazing Kitchen, LOVE IT. I would give anything to be able to consult Claire on a project I have in process. It is a 4 bedroom vacation rental in Orlando for people with any Neuromuscular Conditions.

Beautiful story, lovely kitchen....all inspiring.

Love this! I am not currently in need of a universal kitchen design, but as I get older I'm already thinking of ways that my home could be designed so that I can comfortably live in place as long as possible. The design is pretty too.

I love everything about this video. One of the best ever. ♿️♥️♿️ the relationship these two had together is a direct reflection of how beautiful and functional this heavenly kitchen is, just beautiful.

Well done, thorough documentation. More of your journalistic efforts should reach this quality.

Great story and some very clever tricks and applications, not just for disabled people but elderly too. Thank you for posting this.

Wow so inspirational!

I just love this kitchen. It's beautiful and gorgeous no matter if you are disabled or not.

Really great! I'm feeling there is an Occupational Therapist behind this ;) And if not, the designer did a really good adaptation job!

What an inspirational story from Sue's positivity, Clare's creativity and a thoughtfully designed kitchen!! Now how do I get some of that mile high cake????

Loved this story and video. Bravo.

Hello, could you please post manufacturer of the flooring and the oven? I love the colors, it’s a beautiful soothing space.

Brilliant - clever - well worked out kitchen - well done - Kitchen Co-Ordination

Wonderfull!!!

What a great story. Our homes are for living in, and need to be accessible for everyone. Small adaptions can make a big difference.

What a beautifully thoughtful new space. It's wonderful and no doubt gives the homeowner the freedom to move freely in her own home, doing what she loves most ❤

Hello, just a quick note to say a huge thank you to everybody who has taken the time to comment on our project and share their thoughts. It's wonderful to see people take ideas and adapt them for their own requirements and I sincerely hope that the project and Sue's story continues to inspire.

I finished working with Sue at Christmas after also redesigning her lounge and study. It was great to watch her confidence grow during the project and start to understand more about herself and positively accept her limitations. I plan to go back to work on the upstairs when my current projects allow as we've stayed in touch.

Designer tip - the thing I found most useful during the project was to always be sat down when I was in the space. It's amazing how different everything looks and feels from a permanent seat :)

I’m dying for those floors! So many warm tones used in the space—it’s just lovely.

Such a beautiful transformation and so innovative!

No need to add much to the comments above except to say I adore this design on its own terms - but to know the underlying story makes it even more wonderful. Awesome work.

I love watching this story! I have been in a wheelchair myself for over 20 years, and I know very well the challenges of trying to use spaces that are designed for people who can walk. I am currently using this app to begin to design a home. Having this resource available makes the entire process so much easier.

I absolutely love my kitchen and I’m extremely grateful for the manner in which Clare approached the project with me. Collaborating with a creative, knowledgeable expert guaranteed an end result which not only looks beautiful but is also functional for me.

I am currently raising money for The BackUp Trust, a charity which benefits those with a spinal cord injury. Please follow this link and consider providing some support. https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/susan-mould6

AMAZING STORY!!!!! Just think how in a split second your whole life could change drastically FOREVER!!!! How often WE take life for granted. Hats off to Clare, the designer; but I want to give thanks to Sue for recognizing her handicap and not allowing it to be a crutch for her. I am so proud that she was not only thinking about herself but others...why walk into my house and think this is for a handicap person....she didn't want that. KUDOS to Sue!!!! I think we all can get a very important message from this story. Sue, I say to you stay strong and keep your faith in a higher being. What an awesome story!!!!

A well timed story for me. I have mobility problems and I am fortunate enough to be building and designing a new kitchen. I may end up in a wheelchair one day, but universal design makes sense for everyone. It’s a shame most builders wouldn’t give this type of design a second thought.

I am a remodel/renovation contractor. My late brother had his leg amputated late in life, and suffered like Sue with having things "hard" to do, like showering, getting in and out of the bath, and all the obstacles involved with moving around and working in the house on crutches. The first thing to fix was the bathroom so he could be NORMAL, like us!!! So I wonder what the bathroom looks like in this home? We did similar things, opening up doorways, fixing transitions from floor to floor and room to room, so I say HATS OFF to Sue and her designer, this is an incredible and wonderful project done with the absolute best quality I have seen. Watching the video is enlightening and heart warming, not to mention, Sue is gorgeous... I really like the touches done to make everything accessible, including the recess cabinet under the sink for her to "wheel up to it". Great job and great article...

Dear Amanda,

Thank you very much for choosing our project for home page story "6 of the Best Before and After Hallway Transformation". Always looking forward to reed your articles.

Warm regards,

Natalia

Great designer, great collaboration, fantastic design.

Beautiful kitchen and so well thought out. Where are the kitchen cupboards from? I love the horizontal handles

Hi, the entire kitchen was from Classics Interiors (also on Houzz) including the fab handles. Glad you liked it......

Wow! Lost for words... rare for me! What a heartfelt story. Concur the dozens of comments above. An amazing living space has been ingeniously created that certainly doesn't shout 'disabled'. Sue, I admire your courage. You're an inspiration to us all. And 'hats off' to Clare who pulled off this project with flair, sensitivity and compassion.

Wow, so impresive! It's a beautiful space, I love it.. and sue is so brave, very touching

I love to see design being used this way. Creative ideas an products to make people’s lives better!

This is a very positive aspect of Design. It becomes practical and makes no difference between people. Indeed making the difference!

This was an amazing video. We love how Clare took in so much consideration and detail in designing Sue's kitchen to be functional for everyone in the house. We love the practicality of it all. There needs to be more examples like this of designing to be accessible for everyone and how you don't need to give up beautiful design work for functionality.

P.s. If you are looking for wheelchair specific functional design products try searching for things that mention ADA (American Disabilities Act). Like with wall sconces, they need to be 4" or less in depth from the wall. There are a lot of companies making accessible products that people just don't know may exist.

Well done to the 3 of you ! Fantastic renovation taking into accounts everybody’s needs. Love the fact that Clare asks for help in a field that was not her specialty. Not every Interior designer makes the effort to REALLY understand their clients’ needs. Also love the fact that Sue took great care that the rest of her loved ones can contribute in and enjoy the kitchen as comfortably as her.

I would like to know more about the flooring

I’d like to know the brand name of the flooring and where it is available. Is it a sheet vinyl or vinyl planks?!?

I found out the flooring is made by Modeleo, but I be been unable to locate it anywhere. Is it available in the U.S.? (I’m in Wisconsin.)

Great job!

Thank goodness you are so lovely

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.