Why accessibility now
The last several decades have brought great changes in the lives of Americans with disabilities and limited mobility. Aside from medicine, Architects and home designers may be playing the biggest role in creating accessibility in the home that respects everyone’s needs. Those lives that are limited by mobility can now live normally.

Call on the experts
Accessibility is a process that begins in our hearts, with a desire to eliminate existing physical barriers and replace them with a new design of welcome. At SVA Construction Corp/Design Remodel Build accessibility is one of our greatest areas of expertise. Starting in our own homes, with our own family, we have helped family members with limited mobility live a better, more purposeful life. We can help you to. SVA Construction Corp/Design Remodel Build provides customers in Washington, DC, Northern Virginia and the Maryland area with the professional experience needed to enhance your home with accessible design.

More accessibility starts here
SVA Construction Corp/Design Remodel Build offers the advantage of being a single source for all of your needs. We can design and build everything from accessible floor plans that feature wider hallways and doorways, to enlarged spaces for a wheelchair turning radius, non-slip flooring, ramps, and walkways, special lighting, roll out or pull out shelving, easy-grasp doors, faucets, and drawers, accessible switches, no-step entries, roll-in showers, ADA roll-under countertops and workspaces. Other specialty features include elevators, stairlifts, ramps, and lift chairs. Also, we will eliminate all sharp table and countertop corners that can help families with kids and grandchildren.

Smarter Homes
Today’s technology is fine-tuned to support accessibility needs that make the difficult almost disappear. So-called “smart homes”—with easy electronic control of lighting, temperature, shades and security can meet the needs of almost any homeowner.

Create an Accessible Home Today
An accessibility designed home creates a sense of well-being and safety in which people with disabilities and limited mobility can enjoy daily in a variety of ways. Accessibility design is not a new idea. Some of the objects we use every day, from keyboards to reading glasses and curb cuts, to ramps at public buildings, are the results of America creating adaptations to products and services to serve individual needs.

For over 40 years, SVA Construction Corp|Design Remodel Build has strived to exceed expectations focused on professionalism, clear communication, quality, and craftsmanship.
On every project at SVA Construction Corp|Design Remodel Build we work to ensure that a personal connection is established with our clients to understand how they live and what they want to create. We know that people with disabilities confront hardship every day and SVA Construction Corp can help families lessen it by improving their homes.

For all your additions, renovations and remodeling needs, SVA Construction Corp|Design Remodel Build is the right choice. If you’d like to discuss a new project with a knowledgeable consultant you can contact us on our website or call one of the phone numbers below:
Maryland: (301) 444-4663
Virginia: (703) 832-8159
Washington, DC: (202) 792-7320

• BY RACHEL GALLAHER NOVEMBER 27, 2018

Portraits by Nate Watters

LAST FEBRUARY, I TOOK A TUMBLE WHILE SKIING AND TORE A MUSCLE IN MY LEFT CALF. It wasn’t anything major, but it put me on crutches for a few days. In an instant, I’d gone from being a stereotypically able-bodied individual to someone who needed help not only to get around but also to perform essential tasks.

Suddenly everyday movements I’d taken for granted were significant challenges. A trip from the couch to get a glass of water: an ordeal. Getting in and out of my old-fashioned clawfoot tub: another ordeal. Both my office and my apartment are on the top floors of walk-up buildings. Luckily, my job is flexible and allows me to telework, so I didn’t need to negotiate a commute. Friends and family helped out with meals, as standing to cook was out of the question.

Overall, I was very fortunate: my minor injury healed quickly and didn’t permanently disrupt my life. What it did disrupt was my way of thinking—in a few short days, my eyes were opened to the accessibility and exclusion challenges faced by millions around the globe on a daily basis. With each frustration I encountered, new questions arose: What if I had a job that required me to be onsite? What if I didn’t live near friends and family who were able to bring me food? How would I navigate trips to the grocery store, especially without an elevator in my building? What if I had small children to care for?

During my days on crutches, I experienced what Seattle-based designer, author, and educator Kat Holmes calls a “mismatch” with my environment. In her new book, Mismatch: How Inclusion Shapes Design (MIT Press, 2018), she explores inclusive design, explaining basic concepts that bring into sharp focus the need for accessibility both for people with disabilities and for society as a whole. In short, inclusive design is a methodology in which one designs with people, not for them, Holmes explains. It requires including a diverse set of individuals—of many races, genders, abilities, and socioeconomic backgrounds—in the design process from start to finish to ensure that the widest possible range of people can use, or easily adapt, the end product.

A mismatch happens when the features of an environment, product, or service don’t fit a person’s abilities or preferences. Think of it like this: The people, objects, places, and tech we encounter each day generally help us to access and participate in the world. Mismatches occur when these access points become barriers to our interaction with the world and even exclude us from it. We can all name obvious physical mismatches—e.g., absence of the curb cuts that enable wheelchair users to cross streets; TV shows that lack closed captioning—but we tend to overlook thousands of other, less tangible mismatches, such as public announcements delivered only in a single language, or cupboards and counters built to a standard based on “average” height. Yet according to Holmes, rather than allowing mismatches to overwhelm us, we in the design community can reframe them as opportunities.

“It isn’t about creating one perfect solution that works for every human at all times and in all circumstances,” she says. “It’s about who we include in the process of arriving at a solution, learning something we didn’t know, and letting that insight reshape how we design the solution.”

I’ll admit that before my ski-slope fall, I’d had no idea what inclusive design was. I’d heard the term, and I vaguely knew it had something to do with accessibility (the two are related but different; more on that later). It turns out that my myopia on the subject is common, even in the design field. “Small numbers of people have been working on wider recognition of inclusive design over the past few decades,” says Holmes, “but as far as its becoming a common practice or a part of a design education curriculum, we’re still in the beginning stages.”

Holmes is a whip-smart and empathetic mother of two with large, light-brown eyes, an easy laugh, and cropped platinum-blonde hair. She’s worked in design for nearly two decades—serving as principal director of inclusive design for Microsoft from 2014 to 2017 and taking up a new helm as director of user experience at Google this past July—but when she was growing up in Oakland, California, she didn’t know anyone, let alone minorities such as herself, in the design field.

Holmes enrolled at University of California, Berkeley, to study orthopedic biomechanics, planning to design prosthetic limbs. The first Bay Area tech boom imploded just as she graduated in 2000, so she pragmatically took a job at Tektronix, a stable, decades-old manufacturer of testing and measurement devices. After eight years with the firm, Holmes and her husband found out they were expecting their first child. She left Tektronix, thinking she would stay at home with the baby.

“I was at home maybe seven weeks,” she says with a laugh, “before I met Albert Shum” at an Industrial Design Society conference in San Francisco. Shum, now CVP of the design, experiences, and devices group at Microsoft, had just started at the company, and within two months of their meeting, he’d recruited Holmes to Microsoft’s Pioneer Studios, in downtown Seattle. An incubator for new business and design concepts, the studio was then led by J Allard, who was part of the company’s hugely successful push into video-game consoles.

Pioneer Studios was shuttered after three years, but Holmes had made an impression. After jumping to the main campus in Redmond, Washington, to work on Windows Phone, including the inaugural design and engineering of Cortana, Microsoft’s digital personal assistant, Holmes experienced what she calls a “crystallizing moment.”

“There were hundreds of engineers and designers working on Cortana,” she recalls, “but not a single one had ever had or been a personal assistant. I thought, ‘Why don’t we talk to people who do this for a living?’” It was a realization that launched a broad conversation about designing based on input from actual humans rather than an isolated group’s assumptions about human ability and behavior. “Suddenly we were asking ourselves, ‘What would be possible if our design process started to include the expertise of people who have been listening and talking to their computers for a very long time, like people who are blind or people who can’t use a keyboard?’”

Holmes went on to spearhead development of the Microsoft Inclusive Design Toolkit, a free, downloadable 60-page guide that explains how firms can use human diversity as a resource in their design practices. In 2014, Satya Nadella became Microsoft’s first CEO ever to visit the design studio. “We had a conversation about inclusive design,” Holmes says, “and I was blown away by the quickness with which he understood that we were talking about an approach to innovation that could transform any of Microsoft’s products, and not just developing a checklist that could bolster accessibility.” Over the next six months, one of the largest, wealthiest, and most innovative companies on the planet started championing inclusive design as a crucial imperative across all its departments, an initiative that’s still in process today. The tide was turning, and Kat Holmes was on the crest of the wave.

Holmes left Microsoft in early 2017 to found mismatch.design—a digital magazine and community that advances inclusive design—aiming to use her experience and knowledge to introduce inclusive practices to other tech companies and, eventually, other industries. But only a week after leaving Microsoft, MIT Press asked her to write a book on inclusive design.

Mismatch is a powerful read that not only has the potential to change the way we approach design but also serves as a strong check to our ingrained assumptions about how and why people move, act, speak, and interact (or don’t). According to Holmes, you can’t talk about inclusion without first talking about exclusion. In the design world, exclusion happens when we solve problems using our own biases (examples include the assumption that everyone has the use of two arms, or is strong enough to lift a smartphone, or can perceive a wide range of colors). Usually such assumptions aren’t intentionally harmful; they’re made because of the all-too-human tendency to use our own experience of the world as our baseline. Often designers don’t even think about those who fall outside the range of the “average” person—that mythical consumer whom companies use as a benchmark in product design. Of course, there is no average person, and as a result companies end up crafting products that wide swathes of people can’t use.

Thirty-two-year-old John Porter knows this sort of exclusion on a personal level. His spinal muscular atrophy leaves him unable to walk or lift objects, so he uses a wheelchair to get around and an assistive technology called Dragon (a voice-command software program) to interact with his computer. Holmes met Porter in 2016, and his experience looms large in Mismatch. Like Holmes, he advocates for inclusive design, and he’s adamant that listening to diverse human voices is key to advancing ideas. This August, he joined Microsoft’s Inclusive Design team as a UX designer (meanwhile, he’s also completing his PhD dissertation on video game accessibility and teaching at the University of Washington’s Human Centered Design and Engineering program).

“What we have achieved over the past 100 years of design is now bumping up against a wall,” Porter says. “We’ve plateaued in innovation and fallen into a sort of apathy where innovation is driven by technological progress rather than by a creative design process. The only way to overcome that is to bring in new ideas and perspectives.”

Porter notes that one of people’s biggest misconceptions about inclusive design is that it is synonymous with accessibility. It’s not. As noted above, inclusive design is a methodology in which you design a place or product that a diverse group of people can interact with or use. Accessibility, in contrast, is an attribute that makes an experience open to more people.

Think about a playground; an accessible one might include ramps so that kids who use wheelchairs can reach all the levels of a play structure, and swing seats with back and arm supports for those who need it. An inclusively designed playground, on the other hand, has a distinct goal: to create a shared sense of belonging and an experience in which everyone can take part, in a variety of ways. The process of designing such a playground includes asking for ideas from children of all ages and abilities as well as experts in children’s health and development. The completed playground might offer a mix of physical, sensory, and social activities, as well as multiple challenge levels in each type of physical activity. It also might provide comparable types of equipment in the same area, allowing users of all ages and abilities to play in their own unique ways.

Accessibility features actually can cause issues if people see them as sufficient in themselves and they aren’t part of a holistic inclusive design plan. An elevator might be seen as the sole answer to the needs of those who can’t use stairs; while it certainly helps those with wheelchairs, strollers, or bags of groceries, what about a user who doesn’t have use of his or her arms? An inclusive design process would consider this issue from the beginning, consulting with individuals who can personally speak about such experiences and provide input on potential adaptations. When we design for and not with people, or when we view inclusive design as the “right thing to do” rather than as a necessity, we create an unequal power dynamic.

“When people come from a place of sympathy and say, ‘We need to help these poor excluded communities,’ they automatically assume their knowledge is superior to people’s actual lived experiences,” says Holmes. “That benefactor mentality doesn’t serve the people it purports to serve.”

Architectural designer Tiffany Brown understands the effects of this mentality firsthand. Born and raised in Detroit, Brown grew up in the Herman Gardens housing projects, in what she describes as one of the “rougher inner-city neighborhoods.” Just a few miles east was Brewster-Douglass, the first federally funded housing project in the United States. Built in the 1930s for working-class African Americans, the Brewster Homes (as they were originally called) were family-oriented townhouse residences. In 1951, the Frederick Douglass towers were added to the development. Cramped and starkly designed in Brutalist style, the towers fell into disrepair and become a hotbed of crime over the next three decades as the US Congress steadily reduced funding for public-housing upkeep. Raised in comparable conditions, Brown attended public schools that were similarly run-down and cheaply designed and built.

“It wasn’t until high school that I began to take interest in the built environment and pay attention to the types of spaces around me and how they affected my learning experiences,” she recalls. Like Porter, Brown is featured in Holmes’s book, but her story focuses on the importance of social inclusion, especially in the field of architecture. Despite extreme social and financial barriers, Brown worked her way through college and is now project manager at Detroit’s SmithGroup. In 2017, she founded 400 Forward, an organization focused not only on introducing young girls (especially girls of color) to architecture but also encouraging them to pursue it as a career.

“Last year, the 400th African American woman was licensed to be an architect in the United States,” Brown says on the phone from Detroit. “We’re talking 400th of all time. 400 Forward is a way for me to seek out the next 400 women to become architects. I want these girls to understand that they have the power to change their cities and impact future generations.”

Educating the next 400 is only the first step, however. A huge amount of responsibility rests with architecture firms themselves, historically dominated by affluent white males, to seek out, interview, and employ a diverse workforce. Purposeful moves such as these will give firms a leg up, opening design conversations to unheard voices and a broader range of problem-solving abilities, which in turn gives firms a real chance to make lasting changes to neighborhoods, cities, and the larger social fabric of our country.

“A shift toward an inclusive workforce in the future of design can be a catalyst to end the cycle of socially unjust cities,” Brown says. “Inclusive design leads to good social design, which in turn is a strong predictor of lower crime rates, better-performing schools, and gains in other measures of quality of life.” Inclusive design is not a new idea. People have practiced it for centuries. Some of the objects we use every day, from keyboards to reading glasses to curb cuts, are the results of people creating adaptations to products that allow the product to better serve their individual needs. What’s exciting today is seeing inclusive design formalized and adopted by designers as an integral part of their practices. Microsoft is a leader in championing inclusive design, but one company—no matter how big and influential—is not enough. We need architects, product designers, city planners, developers, and, most importantly, educators to embrace inclusivity as a core part of their businesses and curricula. Teaching the next generation about inclusive design will create a vanguard of thoughtful, open-minded individuals who can drive a paradigm shift in design and architecture that will benefit society as a whole.

In Mismatch, Holmes writes about the Persona Spectrum, an inclusive design method that solves issues for one specific person or need and then extends that solution to many others. I experienced it first-hand when I was on crutches and used elevators instead of stairs. I experienced it again after I was off crutches when I followed a closed-caption TV program in a noisy airport. The point is that we will all benefit from inclusive design at some period in our lives. As we age, changes in our abilities—which might include loss of hearing, diminished eyesight, and limited mobility—are inevitable. We all will need adaptive measures to continue living comfortable, independent lives. As Holmes points out, when we use inclusive design to create new products and technologies, “we’re designing not only for others but also for our future selves.”

KAT HOLMES

During her tenure as Principal Director of Inclusive Design, Kat Holmes helped Microsoft develop the inclusive design methodology that’s now become a core corporate tenet. After leaving the tech behemoth in the spring of 2017, Holmes started drafting Mismatch, the book that’s quickly becoming the primer on inclusive design. “Writing the book forced me to contend with the fact that inclusion happens in many different ways,” she says. “So many people were talking about inclusion through the lens of gender and race, and I had spent most of my time focused on disability.”

JOHN PORTER

A UX designer at Microsoft, Porter focuses on seeking ways to better account for the diversity of human ability in the company’s designs. While pursuing a degree in materials science and engineering at the University of Washington, Porter discovered UW’s Department of Human Centered Design and Engineering, which explores the roles that tech plays in human activity and works with interdisciplinary researchers to build the technologies of the future. He was immediately hooked. Now he’s finishing up his PhD while teaching at HCDE, centering his work on video game accessibility. “I’ve been playing video games since I was three,” Porter says. “Around the time that the N64 came out, I was no longer able to use the controller. My gaming switched over to the computer, which is more inclusive because it allows me to use a wider and more flexible variety of input methods.”

TIFFANY BROWN

Architectural designer Tiffany Brown was born and raised in Detroit and currently works with SmithGroup, an international design and architecture firm with an office in her hometown. Brown wasn’t exposed to design or architecture as a child, but she loved to draw and dreamed of being an animator at Disney. When Brown was 17, she heard a speaker from Lawrence Technological University deliver a talk on architecture, a pivotal moment that sent her on a trajectory toward gaining her own degree in the field. In 2017, Brown won a Knight Arts Challenge grant for her project, 400 Forward, which strives to welcome more black girls and women into the fields of architecture and urban planning. “I want to be the face I was looking for when I was growing up,” Brown says.

Your front door is a first impression, a gateway to and from the world. As we age however, going through that gateway gets more difficult. We’re less mobile. Heavy front doors, crumbling stone steps, poor lighting, no handrails and long uneven driveways can pose serious problems. Even in summer, crossing the front entryway can be as dangerous as a sheet of ice. Accidents are common. Six out of every ten falls happen at home. But most of us want to stay in our home. Assisted living places are so expensive and impersonal. If you want to age in place, changes are vital. Improving the safety of an entryway takes some visionary planning and the decisions you make today will positively impact your life for years. So now is the time to plan and if you live in Washington, DC, Northern Virginia and Maryland area call SVA Construction Corp/ Design Remodel Build.

Safety is personal for us

Universal Design is an important concept to keep in mind as you plan to age in place.
At SVA Construction Corp it’s something we have created and implemented to keep people safe for over 40 years. More accessibility and safer access started within our own family. That’s why our primary goal of Universal Design is accessibility for everyone. From entryway to attic every SVA Construction Corp remodel will be usable, safe and comfortable for people who want to age in place and for those with disabilities.

Making entryways accessible

The best way to start is at the beginning with the front door and entryway. The SVA Construction Corp experts will sit with you and get into the fine details to fit your particular home. But here are some universal necessities: Ideally at least one of the entryways should be completely covered without steps. Widen doorways and hallways to accommodate wheelchairs. You will need to plan for a ramp. Throw rugs in the entryway should be discarded other rugs must to be fastened down. Prevent tripping by keep the entryway clear on objects. Secure electrical cords to the wall. Replace doorknobs with levers. Lower the doorbell to accommodate people with difficulty in raising their arms. Extensive accessibility modifications to the entryway include replacing tile flooring with vinyl or hardwood.

A bigger step for steps

Steps pose a risk of tripping or falling, but they are especially dangerous to seniors. Steps should be widened to at least three feet. All stairs should have handrails on both sides. Handrails should extend beyond the bottom and top of the stairs to provide solid footing for their entire length. Handrails should also be round so they’re easy to grip. A wheelchair ramp is one the most effective ways of improving accessibility. Ramps work for people who are actually confined to a wheelchair and those who simply need a less stressful way of leaving and entering the home. A few changes, working with the careful planners at SVA Construction Corp and your entryway will be welcoming and safe for years.

Plan, design and create a better entryway today!
SVA Construction Corp is the leading firm for home design and remodeling, providing customers in Washington, DC, Northern Virginia and the Maryland area with everything they need to improve front doors and entryways safer and accessible for everyone. SVA Construction Corp was built on a foundation of integrity, care, and understanding. From day one our mission has been providing superior design, remodel and construction services to clients that value their fine homes and want to age in place. For over 40 years we’ve strived to exceed expectations focused on professionalism, clear communication, quality, craftsmanship and meeting unique needs.

For all of your building, renovations and remodeling needs, SVA Construction Corp/Design Remodel Build is the right choice. If you’d like to discuss a potential project with a knowledgeable consultant contact us or call:
Maryland: (301) 444-4663
Virginia: (703) 832-8159
Washington, DC: (202) 792-7320

Stay in your Home and Live Well

You can do more than just hope to remain in your home and community as you age— you can stay in your home and live well. But you need to call SVA Construction Corp Design Remodel Build, the ideal resource in the Washington, DC Metro area for custom solutions to aging in place. Many in this area are calling now to take advantage of SVA Construction Corp’s 40 years of experience. We specialize in providing products and services that allow people to stay in the current residence for years to come. SVA Construction Corp’s goal is to create a safe, accessible and comfortable home that blends universal design usability and with stunningly beautiful appeal.

A Cost Effective Solution for Home Remodeling

Remodeling can be a very reasonable alternative to the high cost of care in an assisted-living facility or even a nursing home. The best way to live at home is to start thinking about it now. And we realize that planning ahead may be difficult because you never know how your needs might change. That’s why the first step is to come and see SVA Construction Corp designers. They are the experts.

SVA Construction Corp will help you think about what you might want in the near future. Maybe you live alone, so there is no one living in your home that is available to help you. Maybe you don’t need help right now, but you live with a spouse or family member who does. Everyone has a different situation.

SVA Construction Corp has designed and created numerous remodeling projects for aging in place. There are many possibilities from a design perspective and our clients are sometimes surprised when they learn there is a functional and beautiful solution to every remodeling challenge.

SVA Construction Corp/Design Remodel Build Project Examples:

Upgrading the bathrooms

SVA Construction Corp designers will conduct a full assessment of your bathroom. During the planning process, our designers keep your concerns and desires in mind as they guide you through the many options available. Your needs drive design – what do you envision in your new bathroom? We will take a look at all the access points to the bathroom with safety being our first concern. If your house was built years ago there will be turn handle faucets, a deep bathtub, a narrow door and a step-up shower with sliding glass doors. We have seen these before and we have ideas for the changes you will need. For example, there are several universal design considerations to make for someone with limited mobility, including safety bars, walk-in showers, wall-mounted sinks, wider doorways with paddle handles, and open floor space.

More than 2/3 of emergency room visits (of baby boomers/elderly) are due to bathroom falls. And the tub and shower are the most hazardous for children and grandchildren. Remodeling, your bathroom can go a long way to preventing accidents.

The Checklist for your Kitchen Remodel

Here are some things to consider for your next kitchen remodel so that it works for you now and as you age in place.
* Counters
* Wall support and provisions for adjustable and/or varied height counters and removable base cabinets
* Upper wall cabinetry three inches lower than conventional height
* Accented stripes on edge of countertops to provide visual orientation to the workspace
* Base cabinet with roll-out trays and lazy susans
* Pull-down shelving
* Glass-front cabinet doors
* Open shelving for easy access to frequently used items
* Appliances
* Easy to read controls
* Microwave oven at counter height or in wall
* Side-by-side refrigerator/freezer
* Side-swing or wall oven
* Raised dishwasher with push-button controls
* Electric cooktop with level burners for safety in transferring between the burners, front controls and downdraft feature to pull heat away from user; light to indicate when the surface is hot
* Miscellaneous
* 30-inch by 48-inch clear space at appliances or 60-inch diameter clear space for turns
* Multi-level work areas to accommodate cooks of different heights
* Open under-counter seated work areas
* Placement of task lighting in appropriate work areas
* Loop handles for easy grip and pull
* Pull-out spray faucet; levered handles

Contact SVA Construction Corp/ Design Remodel Build Today!

To quote Robert Browning:
“Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be…
There’s no reason to leave your home just because you’re getting older. Today you have a great resource like SVA Construction Corp that has the skill, experience and understanding. If you are thinking about this possibility, now is the time to call SVA Construction Corp. We place an emphasis on client communication and we would be more than happy to set up a meeting between you and one of our designers to explore the best and most economical way forward. Set the wheels in motion contact us, or call us at (301) 444-4663.

Creating a  Home Within A Home

All generations are enriched through Mother-In-Law Suites. For aging parents, they can stay close with their children and enjoy the love and satisfaction of grandchildren. For new parents, an In-Law Suite can be real economic help. Sharing a home within a home means the togetherness of more family meals together and fewer expenses for things like nursing home or assisted living. Also, there is an emotional benefit of privacy and togetherness under one roof.

Creating the Living Space Your Family Needs

The first step is to come and see SVA Construction Corp designers. They are the experts. For over 40 years SVA Construction Corp has created all kinds of suite additions. There are many possibilities from a design perspective, and clients are sometimes surprised when they learn about them. Of course, there will be a private bathroom, and the exact details can be customized to suit your needs and your stylistic tastes. You’ll want to assess your home to determine the best possible location. Do you have a garage or enclosed porch that can be converted into a living space? Do you have two bedrooms that can be combined into one, or a basement that can be converted into a separate living area? Or, perhaps you have adequate space to build a room addition?

Private Bathrooms are a Must for In Law Suites

A private bathroom is a staple of any in-law suite. The room should have the necessary supports in the walls for easy installation of handles; grab bars or safety bars at a later time. Pedestal sinks are attractive and easy to use for people with wheelchairs. Another option is adjustable height vanities that can be raised or lowered according to your needs. Choose tubs that are wide enough to handle special lift seats in the future and dedicated outlets that can power a lift chair or other safety equipment when the time comes. You can eliminate the tub and choose curb-less showers that are easy to use for people with limited mobility.

A SVA Construction Corp “In-Law” bath featuring curb-less shower, shower bench seat.

Kitchen Updates for in law suites

A kitchenette or kitchen area is a key component of an in-law suite. Choose raised cabinets with additional kick space underneath. Look for multi-level, pullout counters that can be used by people in walkers or wheelchairs. Faucets with motion sensors are also a smart investment. Induction cooktops are easy to use and safer. Look for wall ovens that can be mounted at a height that’s comfortable for people in wheelchairs. Choose base cabinets featuring drawers that pull out rather than cavernous cabinet spaces. All of these additions make the kitchen more functional for the aging family.

SVA Construction Corp installed induction stove with touch screen and hide-away cabinet- blender

Some other considerations:
* Wider doorways to accommodate wheelchairs and walkers
* Wider hallways (36-42 inches wide)
* Extra floor space
* Easy open, lever door and drawer hardware
* Larger bathrooms with hand-held showerheads and level- entry, curbless showers
* Good lighting to include well-lit outdoor walkways and entrances
* Lower light switches and thermostat controls within easy reach of the bed.
* Easy access to separate heat and air conditioning controls as well as smoke, fire and carbon monoxide

Contact SVA Construction Corp/ Design Remodel Build Today!
Today there’s an ever-changing landscape of the economy. To add value to your home and share the joy of living with parents longer, mother-in-law suites are a popular choice. If you are thinking about this possibility, now is the time to call SVA Construction Corp. We place an emphasis on client communication and we would be more than happy to set up a meeting between you and one of our designers to explore the best and most economical way forward. Set the wheels in motion contact us, or call us at (301) 444-4663.

The future will be here before you know it

SVA Construction Corp is a family owned business operating in the Washington, DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia areas.  We pride ourselves on our craftsmanship, design, and experience to build mobility into any home.

Today technology has made a huge impact. New wiring can be step-saver. A smartphone can now shut lights, open blinds; lock doors even start your morning coffee. For larger needs, SVA Construction Corp is an expert in design and installation for a wide range of stair lifts, accessibility ramps, ceiling lifts, and other residential accessibility products. We know every home, every client has different needs so come in to see us, let’s talk and formulate a plan.

Move down mobility road

The best way to think about mobility is before you need it. Learn more now. SVA Construction Corp has a  comprehensive program taught by building professionals to help you make the right and prudent choices. And SVA Construction Corp seminars are open to all. Some of the topics covered:

*Should you stay or should you move?
*How to implement a master plan?
*Maximizing your homes resale value.
*How to create an In-Law suite.
*Designing functionality without an institutional feeling.
*The convenience of elevators, lifts and ramps.

Go to the experts

For more than 40 years, SVA Construction Corp has been partnering with families, individuals and corporations to create beautifully refined, environmentally conscious, and smart mobile solutions.  Each project is unique. We carefully consider our client’s needs, resources and conditions of the site.  Our aim is to elevate our client’s daily-lived experience through truly captivating and enduring design ideas.

A safer, easier and more mobile, more valuable home

If you would like to discuss how Mobility Design could enhance your home and your quality of life or other home addition projects with a knowledgeable member of our team, SVA Construction Corp can be reached by phone at 301-444-4663. There is also a contact form on this website that you can use to send us a message.

Should we stay or should we go?
In most cases, it’s more economical and emotionally satisfying to remain in your own home. And today help is here. Fortunately, the last several decades Mobility Design practices have brought great changes to the lives of Americans who need greater freedom in their homes. Architects and home remodelers have created better ways to transform everything from entryways to bathtubs into safe zones.

Mobility Design bathroom designed and installed by SVA Construction Corp/Design Remodel Build

One size does not fit all.
Everyone’s mobility needs are different, so home independence should be the driving force behind remodeling decisions. In the Washington D.C. Northern Va, and Maryland area SVA Construction Corp/ Design. Remodel. Build. is the mobility expert that can give you the independence you’re looking for.

SVA Construction Corp offers a variety of customized Mobility Design solutions including stair lifts, platform lifts, residential elevators, threshold ramps, wheelchair ramps, pool lifts, and much more. Today, the humble elevator that led to the rise of the skyscraper, now calls small condominiums home. These residential elevators are an elegant and reliable solution for those looking to facilitate travel between just two floors.

Move down mobility road.
Perhaps the best way to think about mobility is before you need it. Learn more now. SVA Construction Corp has a comprehensive program taught by building professionals to help you make the right and prudent choices. And SVA Construction Corp seminars are open to all. Some of the topics covered:

* Should You Stay or Should You Move?
* How To Implement a Master Plan
* Maximizing Your Home’s Resale Value
* How to Create an In-Law Suite
* Designing Functionality without an Institutional Feeling
* The Convenience of Elevators, Lifts and Ramps

Let’s make your home safer, easier to use and more valuable.

If you would like to discuss how Mobility Design can enhance your home and your quality of life or other home addition projects with a knowledgeable member of our team, we can be reached by phone at 301-444-4663. There is also a contact form on this website that you can use to send us a message.

Dream Goals

It was all about making a safe and accessible master bathroom with beautiful design elements for this Arlington, VA condo owner. Being a walker and wheelchair user, space and ease of mobility were top priorities. The existing bathroom had a large tub and a shower with a cumbersome step making the room a challenge to use. The plan included taking out the existing shower and tub and redesigning the bathroom to include a large roll in shower with a lot more room for the homeowner to maneuver with her walker or wheelchair.

What was Done

Installing a new, roll-in shower was key to this bathroom remodel. Fortunately there was plenty of space to make this happen by removing an existing tub that was taking up a lot of space and not getting used. The floor had to be raised to accommodate the curb-less shower since the drain couldn’t be moved being that this was a condo. The new shower featured; a beautiful glass door with floor to ceiling glass, a seat, a regular and handheld showerhead, no curb so that wheelchair accessible, and a door that swings both ways to allow ease of access. Grab bars were included virtually everywhere but with careful consideration to the design of the overall space. The makeup and sink area took into account the homeowners’ ability to roll her walker or wheelchair underneath.

Mission Accomplished

The new bathroom boasts a current yet timeless look featuring clean lines, beautiful details and peace of mind when it comes to safety and comfort. This is now not only a beautiful but functional space that the homeowner can enjoy for many years to come.

Think home elevators are just a dream? Think again! Home elevators can actually work in almost any home. SVA Construction Corp Design Build is currently designing and building a 3-story home elevator for this Rockville, MD couple. These empty nesters have lived in their 2300 square foot three-bedroom, 2-car garage split level home since 1992. They want to stay in their home as they age and are now looking at ways to make their home more accessible. The new elevator is a big part of this.

One of the homeowners runs a charity out of her basement so a main goal of the project is to give her easy access from the basement level where she spends much of her day working to her third floor master bedroom. When determining how to integrate the new elevator, some structural changes were needed. The elevator needed to line up with three floors and had to take into account a garage and stone patio in the backyard as well as consider setback issues. To accommodate the new elevator, existing windows were replaced with new larger windows, an electrical panel in the basement was relocated, and an elevator lobby and three stops for the elevator on the basement, main level and master bedroom floors were designed. The elevator can easily fit a wheelchair and the lobby has room for full turning radius for a wheelchair should the need arise.

Construction on the elevator began in early February and should wrap up by May. Stay tuned for after photos once the project is complete!