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NWA Home Show presented by NWA HBA NWA Democrat-Gazette | Sunday, February 25, 2018 18 Whether your targeted consumer is a treadmill-tromping active adult or an older senior with limited mobility, success in the mature market will require a new way of thinking about the kitchen, arguably the most important room in the home. And for the new-home shopper of any age, it remains vitally important to demonstrate the kitchen space with a model, showing the endless possibilities of today's high-tech, high-style kitchens. Here are five current trends to look for when designing kitchens for today's mature market. Location, Location, Location While that is usually the most important tenet invoked when assessing a real estate purchase, it has become equally important to consider that when laying out a kitchen for the over-50 crowd. Rethinking the placement of appliances, sinks, and storage so their locations are more comfortable for bending, reaching, and working will be the key to capturing this buyer. Rethink the double oven, for example. Why not install them in two separate locations — splitting, not stacking them – and eliminate that awkward oven on the bottom? Realize that the over-the-range microwave might be not only difficult, but also dangerous for the average consumer. And the dishwasher? That's something we've all spent too many years bending over to load and unload, so why not raise the dishwasher with separate drawers installed at counter height? "The universal reach ranges from 15 to 48 inches," says Mary Jo Peterson, CKD, CBD, CAPS, a kitchen and bath designer and universal design professional who recommends implementing this sort of out-of-the-box thinking. Consider the array of other appliances in drawer formats, such as microwaves, refrigerators, warming drawers, and ice makers. When dedicating space to a built-in refrigerator, cautions Peterson, make sure that the space allotted never extends What's Cooking? Five Top Trends for 50+ Kitchens A prep sink, in addition to the main sink, will create a separate work zone. Smart sinks, such as Kohler's trough-shaped stainless steel Crevasse, are made especially for food prep, automatically rinsing food scraps and activating the disposal. Continued on page 20 E Monroe Ave Puppy Creek S Lincoln St. S Bloomington St. B U I L D E A S I E R BuildWithBMC.com Perrin Custom Homes We serve those clients looking for a boutique building experience, and who appreciate a concierge level of service for their custom build. We show our clients that truly great building does not cost more, in fact it rewards the client both in the short run and in the long run. Our client references tell our story, we invite you to ask them as well. Jeff rey Lee Perrin Bentonville, Rogers, Beaver Lake, and the neighboring communities. 479-586-4625 & 479-330-8787 homesbyperrin.com