Low Vision Home Modification Makeover

Color, Lighting Design & Low Vision Speciality

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Home Sweet Home for Making Friends

REX Award 2012 for Universal Design: Spacious Feeling Studio with room for doll collection and bell collection. New furnishings and bright paint contrast pleasantly for easy independent activities in assisted living community. “Mother was thrilled with her new home. She has plenty of storage space, her apartment is cozy and welcoming, and she is always happy to invite people into her space. Mom was looking forward to the future in her new home.” Hattie’s Daughter Maggie, Seattle, WA

Home Sweet Home for Making Friends

Simple Little Treasures Worth Keeping Handy

Michelle transformed an apartment unit into a home. It is amazing how well the studio has come together, and what a difference this makes on a daily basis for my sister. She is so proud of her new home and constantly wants to “show it off” to other people. Another surprising thing is the way the paint and lighting choices make her furniture “pop.” We notice the warm glow of the wood and the simple beauty of the early-1960’s furniture she inherited from our parents. The design layout simplifies my sister’s life. Important things, like keeping her keys in a beloved blue bowl for easy retrieval, providing ample light on the bureau, installing lights in the bathroom shower and in the closet – all of these design features have helped my sister adapt readily to this new environment. We had never worked with an interior designer before, and had no idea what to expect. Michelle treated my sister with deep respect, ensuring that in each encounter my sister took the lead role in making choices, and, always, listening to what she had to say.” Sister of Low Vision AL retiree downsizing to retirement community

Simple Little Treasures Worth Keeping Handy

Accessible Shower for Low Vision User; 2010 Dream Home Award Winner

Satin nickel metal finish, matte tiles, adjustable LED lighting, color contrasting gab bars and custom inset tile create an inviting retreat for soothing shower suited to the low vision user. AARP Recession Remodel.

Accessible Shower for Low Vision User; 2010 Dream Home Award Winner

Vanity Lighting for Low Vision; 2010 Dream Home Award Winner

Blending finishes in one area and contrasting finishes in others is the key to a relaxing space for low vision user. Lighting that is placed carefully with adjustable features is essential for activities of daily living. AARP Recession Remodel

Vanity Lighting for Low Vision; 2010 Dream Home Award Winner

Cozy and convenient breakfast nook

Reduce Glare with more Light: create even lighting in a space to reduce glare. Use obscure glass relites, contrasting trim and dimmer switches to define the area more clearly.

Cozy and convenient breakfast nook

Bright Ideas for Low Vision Home Modifications Tips Booklet

Conversation starter for caregivers or family members to approach the subject of changes to their environment that improve their independence. Simple information on many topics; selecting paint colors and light bulbs, furniture arrangements, matte finishes and surfaces, light controls and window treatments, and finding local help. Legible graphics, font and layout for readers with Low Vision. Space on the cover for companies to add their own label with their logo and contact information on the front or back.

Bright Ideas for Low Vision Home Modifications Tips Booklet

FTC Light Bulb Labels for 2011

"Coming in 2011: New Labels for Light Bulb Packaging Labels Will Emphasize Lumen, Not Watts, as a Measure of Bulb Brightness: Starting in mid-2011, the Federal Trade Commission announced, consumers shopping for light bulbs will notice new labelling on packaging designed to help them choose among the different types of bulbs on the market – traditional incandescent bulbs, and newer high-efficiency compact fluorescent (CFL) and light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs. The new labels will enable consumers to save money by selecting the most efficient bulbs that best fit their lighting needs. Under the new rule, the back of each package of light bulbs will have a “Lighting Facts” label modelled after the “Nutrition Facts” label that is currently on food packages. The Lighting Facts label will provide information about: brightness; energy cost; the bulb’s life expectancy; light appearance (for example, if the bulb provides “warm” or “cool” light); wattage (the amount of energy the bulb uses); and whether the bulb contains mercury. The bulb’s brightness, measured in lumen, and a disclosure for bulbs containing mercury, also will be printed on each bulb." See FTC government website for more information. (The views expressed in this website are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Federal Trade Commission, nor any individual Commissioner).

FTC Light Bulb Labels for 2011

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  Home Sweet Home for Making Friends

  REX Award 2012 for Universal Design: Spacious Feeling Studio with room for doll collection and bell collection. New furnishings and bright paint contrast pleasantly for easy independent activities in assisted living community. “Mother was thrilled with her new home. She has plenty of storage space, her apartment is cozy and welcoming, and she is always happy to invite people into her space. Mom was looking forward to the future in her new home.” Hattie’s Daughter Maggie, Seattle, WA
• <

  >
  

  Simple Little Treasures Worth Keeping Handy

  Michelle transformed an apartment unit into a home. It is amazing how well the studio has come together, and what a difference this makes on a daily basis for my sister. She is so proud of her new home and constantly wants to “show it off” to other people. Another surprising thing is the way the paint and lighting choices make her furniture “pop.” We notice the warm glow of the wood and the simple beauty of the early-1960’s furniture she inherited from our parents. The design layout simplifies my sister’s life. Important things, like keeping her keys in a beloved blue bowl for easy retrieval, providing ample light on the bureau, installing lights in the bathroom shower and in the closet – all of these design features have helped my sister adapt readily to this new environment. We had never worked with an interior designer before, and had no idea what to expect. Michelle treated my sister with deep respect, ensuring that in each encounter my sister took the lead role in making choices, and, always, listening to what she had to say.” Sister of Low Vision AL retiree downsizing to retirement community
• <

  >
  

  Accessible Shower for Low Vision User; 2010 Dream Home Award Winner

  Satin nickel metal finish, matte tiles, adjustable LED lighting, color contrasting gab bars and custom inset tile create an inviting retreat for soothing shower suited to the low vision user. AARP Recession Remodel.
• <

  >
  

  Vanity Lighting for Low Vision; 2010 Dream Home Award Winner

  Blending finishes in one area and contrasting finishes in others is the key to a relaxing space for low vision user. Lighting that is placed carefully with adjustable features is essential for activities of daily living. AARP Recession Remodel
• <

  >
  

  Cozy and convenient breakfast nook

  Reduce Glare with more Light: create even lighting in a space to reduce glare. Use obscure glass relites, contrasting trim and dimmer switches to define the area more clearly.
• <

  >
  

  Bright Ideas for Low Vision Home Modifications Tips Booklet

  Conversation starter for caregivers or family members to approach the subject of changes to their environment that improve their independence. Simple information on many topics; selecting paint colors and light bulbs, furniture arrangements, matte finishes and surfaces, light controls and window treatments, and finding local help. Legible graphics, font and layout for readers with Low Vision. Space on the cover for companies to add their own label with their logo and contact information on the front or back.
• <

  >
  

  FTC Light Bulb Labels for 2011

  "Coming in 2011: New Labels for Light Bulb Packaging Labels Will Emphasize Lumen, Not Watts, as a Measure of Bulb Brightness: Starting in mid-2011, the Federal Trade Commission announced, consumers shopping for light bulbs will notice new labelling on packaging designed to help them choose among the different types of bulbs on the market – traditional incandescent bulbs, and newer high-efficiency compact fluorescent (CFL) and light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs. The new labels will enable consumers to save money by selecting the most efficient bulbs that best fit their lighting needs. Under the new rule, the back of each package of light bulbs will have a “Lighting Facts” label modelled after the “Nutrition Facts” label that is currently on food packages. The Lighting Facts label will provide information about: brightness; energy cost; the bulb’s life expectancy; light appearance (for example, if the bulb provides “warm” or “cool” light); wattage (the amount of energy the bulb uses); and whether the bulb contains mercury. The bulb’s brightness, measured in lumen, and a disclosure for bulbs containing mercury, also will be printed on each bulb." See FTC government website for more information. (The views expressed in this website are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Federal Trade Commission, nor any individual Commissioner).

Low Vision Home Modifications – By Penates Design ©

Controlling Light helps the eyes adjust to different light levels by filtering or shielding light from:

• Coming into rooms in the home
• Coming into the eyes of the user

Change the Home Environment to:

• Show the edges of things
• Increase light and reduce glare
• Use light controls that are adjustable
• Light things and tasks
• Shield direct light from eyes
• Arrange furniture so light comes over the shoulder
• Use visual and tactile texture to distinguish surfaces
• Use matte finishes, not gloss
• Contrast the value of hues in paint

Control glare by:

• correct light fixtures
• window treatments
• matte sheen on surfaces