3 things I love in my kitchen: 1. incorporating the paper towel holder into a drawer front next to the sink with saran, foil etc in back of drawer. No need to open anything to access paper towels (as in the photo for island storage tips except right next to sink- my pull out garbage and recycling are under the paper towels). 2 . Lower cabinet bases double as storage for larger items suc as serving platters, cookie sheet pans (much easier that upright storage). Push to open using foot. 3. Pull out cabinet under sink. Soooo much easier to find something and a great place to store dog food as well!

In my next house, I want the wall mounted toilets. I discovered these in Iceland and I wonder why you never see them in the USA? I've heard they are more expensive to install and need to go on an inside wall if you live where it freezes, so maybe it's the cost? They free up all the floor space underneath making it easier to keep clean and you can mount them at any height you want. We are tall, so we like a higher toilet.

I also like the idea of a toilet room where there is a little sink for hand washing and a door that closes.

Our entire home was built a year ago based on UNIVERSAL DESIGN and AGING IN PLACE. There are practically no extra costs, just smart planning, especially in new construction. In the kitchen especially, do not forget COLOR-CONTRAST edging on the front edges of counters because aging also means lower visual acuity and loss of depth perception. My husband discovered this concept of Universal Home Design on CNN one night night and it is THE BEST thing we ever did. My friends were snickering at all my comments on preparing our bathrooms to be wheelchair friendly, cabinets to be accessible in case one of us had a stroke but this is really a hme accessible for all ages and all handicaps. Please, I advicate this for all. We got pur free deocument from Vital Aging Network at www.van.umn.edu or the Senior Linkage Line at www.tcaging.org or Wilder Research Center at www.wilder.org/research. My mom was keen on this 40 years ago even if this had probably not been heard of (at least in our country , the Philippines) when I heard her insisting to my Dad that he instruct our elctrician to put the outlets higher on the walls so they wpuld not have to bend to baseboard level just to plug something in. What foresight!