LAYOUT The ADA states the minimum clearance for wheelchair accessibility is 32 inches wide. To improve flow, Soheil Nakhshab of Nakhshab Development & Design prefers a distance of 48 inches between the kitchen cabinets and the island (1). LIGHTING LED lights are long-lasting and easy on the eyes. In addition to task lighting above work stations, install lights in storage spaces to spotlight hard-to-see areas. STORAGE “You want daily-use items at waist-height,” says architect Karen Braitmayer, who recommends rolling cabinets (2) and pull-down shelves (3). Rotating lazy susan trays (4) and full-extension slide shelving also give easier access to deeper storage spaces. Child-safety locks on cabinets keep contents secure (5). DRAWERS Lever-style door handles and wide drawer pulls (6) are easier to grasp. Nakhshab also suggests a touch system “where you push the door and it pops open.” COOKTOP Induction cooktops (7), which conduct heat only when in contact with a magnetic cooking vessel, are safer for homes with children, as well as for adults who may forget to shut off the burners. Braitmayer likes burners set side-by-side with controls at the front. APPLIANCES Drawer-style appliances and side-opening doors can be game changers. “Imagine if you have a bad back,” says architect Robert Kahn. “The side-opening oven (8) is an ADA design that benefits the general population.” Light signals, which can be clearly seen from a distance, can also complement or replace audible alerts like buzzers. SINK Wheelchair users require clearance below the sink (9). Covering exposed pipes with insulating wrap can prevent burns or abrasions, says Braitmayer. Lever-style fixtures (10) are easier to grip than twist knobs, and motion-sensor technology gives users hands-free control. WORK SURFACES Countertops installed at varying levels (11) offer easy-to-use work spaces, regardless of the user’s height. Rails installed along the perimeter (12) offer extra support. FLOOR Surfaces like cork and rubber are comfortable, provide extra traction, and are smooth for wheelchairs plus, they hide nicks and scuffs.

314 Park (Coda Design + Build) Star also made aging in place a focus. The freelance writer’s first floor office, which boasts a Minka Fan and street-facing windows, and the powder room, can be converted into living quarters when stairs become difficult.

Golden Age This poll about people’s perceptions of their ideal age revealed that “most people are very happy with their current age,” according to Domestic Data Streamers member Pau Garcia.

Joseph Coughlin is the founder and director of AgeLab, a research center dedicated to exploring quality of living for the elderly and those who care for them.

Bill Thompson sits on his deck.

In a similar scenario, architect Eric Höweler and Meejin Yoon devised a layout for Yoon’s parents, Hannah and Jason, in Arlington, Virginia. The pair incorporated a gently sloping ramp and an open kitchen for the single-level house.

In development in Los Angeles is architect Barbara Bestor’s Blackbirds community. Scheduled to open in 2015, it consists of 18 stand-alone units in the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles designed to accommodate people in all stages of their lives. Bestor will join fellow architect John Dutton onstage to discuss their projects that renew the notion of aging in place. See more of their work here.

When JAC Interiors was commissioned to revive an old 1,200-square-foot Hollywood home, the clients—a young couple who the designers call "fun and quirky"—requested the firm find a way to transform the space with as little construction as possible. The fireplace is a custom-made, three-dimensional feature that stands in stark contrast to the soft woods and white walls that make up the rest of the room.

Though the couple currently utilize all three levels, they could live comfortably on one, with the walk-out basement and the room over the garage both serving as caregiver space.

“There’s onsite bike sharing, an electric vehicle charging station, and a common area that invites interaction between residents,” Soheil says.

In San Diego, brothers Nima and Soheil Nakhshab built Sofia Lofts, a multigenerational micro-community with 16 units ranging from 600 to 1,000 square feet designed to accommodate tenants of all ages and abilities.

Inside, open spaces and natural light keep the main living area accessible and uplifting.

Architect Gary Gladwish designed a house on Orcas Island, Washington, for his mother, Marie, an artist. With wide, open planes, the home incorporates lasting solutions for all mobility stages.

Pork Chop, the dog, has plenty of comfortable places to nap between meals.

In the kitchen, Dedo stools by Simone Simonelli for Miniforms pull underneath a poured-in-place concrete countertop.

Linen Place Mat From festive gatherings to everyday breakfasts, the Linen Placemat adds warmth and style to any meal. Made from durable and machine washable 100% linen, the Linen Placemat from Fog Linen Work will become softer with each use making it ideally suited for everyday dining rituals and special occasions.

The original leather sofa introduces an additional texture to the living room, and loud wallpaper brings a splash of visual interest. JAC also incorporated a new loft railing and ladder to climb to the next level.

Adds Soheil: “Whether they’re retirees or students or young couples, the idea was to create an environment they’ll never want to leave."

The Orcas Island house, whose steel exterior has patinaed to a rusty hue has a wide doorway with a pivoting door and a zero-step threshold.

The all-ages crowd on opening night.

The table’s base, which itself is an additional storage container, rolls easily into place to support the surface.

A long, linear window brings light into the Heath Ceramics tile-covered shower, which is curbless, so as to accommodate aging-in-place.

The home created by Patternity, the design duo comprised of Anna Murray and Grace Winteringham, plays with geometric shapes.

The collection of essays places the foundation in context with historical ways of organizing knowledge while anticipating new methods and systems for handling information.

Crawford's design incorporates various audio-visual elements. "We had two projections on loop," she says. "One is a film of all the daily actions and rituals that take place in any home throughout the course of a day. The second is a stop motion slideshow of all the objects and 'things' we touch and interact with in the course of a day. These run to a soundtrack that captures the sound of home, and are offset by a fragrance we have developed with London-based fragrance expert Azzi Glasser. We wanted to capture the smell of an old sofa, aging wooden floorboards, and extension cables."

Placed Places by William Wegman

KANVA designed this addition to an existing warehouse in Montreal's industrial east end as the headquarters for a mid-sized landscaping firm. Transparent and opaque elements intermingle to create an open space reminiscent of a greenhouse.

"We wanted to create a sensory installation that engages visitors with sight, sound, smell and touch," Crawford says. "The hope is that people will connect to these and be triggered to think about their own experience and the concept of home."

The Studioilse installation by Ilse Crawford is a multisensory experience showcasing the "layers of life" within somebody's home.

Place Saint Sulpice in Paris.

The home contains a trio of kaleidoscopes that create optical illusions.

Opening in September of 2012, The South Place is the first hotel project by restaurateurs D&D London who nestled this new 80-room Design Hotel on the extremities of Shoreditch, making it a go-to for well-heeled creatives and their bespectacled cohorts. Conran and Partners peppered the bright rooms with macro houndstooth loungers, craft gin stocked minibars, and glass-sided tubs—a daring and sexy take on the ubiquitous clawfoot. Rooms from $299.

MU Flatware Place Setting, $90 at the Dwell Store Created by award-winning Japanese architect and designer Toyo Ito for Alessi, this distinctive cutlery set draws on the tactile sensation and minimalist look of chopsticks.

Another place for locals to go is Federation Square, a public gathering place.

Large windows with stark black trim welcome plenty of natural light into the space.

As part of the London Design festival's annual Landmark Project, Airbnb commissioned four designers to create custom homes for Trafalgar Square.