When my mother decided to remodel her home and add a second story, I was able to convince her to take some simple steps now so that she can plan to age in place, in her own home.

Some easy updates now would make her home elegant and comfortable for an able-bodied and active person. And even though she’s active, there are those days when she has balance issues, her arthritis flares up, or her back hurts, limiting her mobility and desire to stand. So adding these convenient design elements now will allow her to seamlessly ease into her golden years at home, without the institutional look.

The kitchen was a perfect place to add some simple changes to make the kitchen accessible and convenient. My mom loves to cook and bake, but standing is sometimes difficult for long periods of time, and we wanted to prepare for a time when her mobility becomes decreased. Her mobility might change down the road, but her love for being in the kitchen will never change!

For the kitchen sink, we installed a brand new Touch faucet by Delta. This wonderful faucet turns on and off with a touch to the nozzle – no handles to mess with. Great for salmonella hands after handling a chicken, or anyone who has difficulty with arthritis and struggles to turn faucet handles. This would be convenient now, and down the road.

We added a workstation in the kitchen that was lower so she could sit and prepare food. We put a cute stool, upholstered in outdoor fabric for easy cleaning, where she can sit and chop or mix, for those days where she can’t stand for long periods of time. And down the road, it will be extremely convenient for cooking in her golden years as well. We placed it within access to the sink, so down the road she can have the option of lowering the sink as well.

We lowered the height of her microwave so that she wouldn’t have to reach up too far to pull food out, or struggle with the buttons being too high.

Dishwashers with drawers, instead of the traditional ones, are much more convenient and reduce the amount of bending the user has to do. This was a great solution for my mom who finds bending difficult now and then. Even the simple act of raising the height of a dishwasher can be a tremendous help to those with limited mobility.

Roll-out shelves and drawers were installed to help her reach items in the back much more easily, instead of bending and reaching. Instead of knobs on the cabinets, we installed old-fashioned pulls that are elegant and chic; these are very easy to use if one has arthritis or difficulty opening a cabinet or drawer by grabbing onto a knob.

The refrigerator had to be replaced, so we selected one that has the freezer on the bottom with the pull-out drawer. My mom doesn’t use the freezer as often, so it’s much more convenient for her have the refrigerator part on top. Now she doesn’t have to bend down to get items out.

Fatigue is a common issue for anyone who stands at their kitchen counters too long. But throw in decreased mobility, arthritis or back problems, and standing at the kitchen counter can be a real problem. For my mom’s kitchen, we installed cork floors that are not only non-skid and safe, but they are soft and give beneath your feet. An added bonus, cork floors are also green!

These simple adjustments to make my mom’s home convenient and accessible to her in her golden years, are also easy changes that make her home comfortable now. Preparing the home for years to come has become less institutional and can look chic and elegant. My mom’s visitors would not notice the subtle amenities we’ve added during this remodel , but her daily life will be much more convenient.

Enter the designer. Working with a design professional isn’t as perplexing or out-of-reach as it may seem. A designer will help you get focused and create a beautiful space that not only meets your needs, but works within your budget. From consulting by the hour, to the planning, shopping and finishing touches, a designer will help you make the choices to get the most out of your dream and your dollar.

First, figure out the scope of the job. Do you just need help picking color? Perhaps just one room needs a makeover, or even the whole house.

Some designers will come in to consult by the hour to help you pick paint colors, fabrics or even do a furniture plan or some shopping.

If you need a room or the whole house spruced up, a designer will work with you in creating a design plan. Armed with fabric and paint swatches, furniture plans, sketches, specifications and drawings, the designer will present you with a creative vision – a beautiful, budget-friendly space to meet your needs and match your lifestyle.

After you’ve settled on a design scheme, the designer will work to put all of the pieces together: ordering and tracking fabrics, ordering or designing furniture, arranging vendors, coordinating work schedules, keeping track of the budget, shopping, and pulling together every last detail.

Designers have an intimate knowledge of resources you may not have access to. They coordinate the entire project, saving you time from calling and orchestrating contractors, vendors and the like. They will see it through from start to finish, down to the last piece of art or final accessories.

Once you’ve figured out the scope of your job, interview designers by having them come over for a consultation. At this point, they will give you a general vision, but not a comprehensive design plan – that comes after they are hired. This step is important to find out if you and the designer are compatible and share the same ideas.

You may be drawn to a designer because they have a certain signature style. But most professionals are trained to work in every genre, from very traditional to super modern. It’s all about delivering the client’s vision in the design business.

Be sure to ask how their payment works. Some designers require a retainer if you have a large, comprehensive project. Others may have an upfront design fee, paid in advance, based on the whole project, or per room. Some designers will charge by the hour, based on the actual time they spend on the project.

Markups are another part of a designer’s charge, and may be combined with the fees mentioned above. It’s a percentage designers charge for buying your fabrics, to-the-trade items or furniture at wholesale. This gives you access to items you wouldn’t discover on your own, especially specialty items. In essence, it’s what you pay for personal shopping; it not only saves you the time, but the designer has the knowledge of materials and access to products that will make your design project unique.

Design budgets can go over, like a construction job, so be forthright with yourself and what you want to spend. But it’s the designer’s job to make your budget stretch the farthest and get the most for your money.

Once you hire a designer, remember that you’re the boss! Listen to their suggestions, because they are the experienced professional; but in the end, you have to live in the space and feel comfortable. They are there to guide you, but they are also there to give you exactly what you envision.

In the end, working with a designer can be a rewarding experience, taking the pain and frustration out of a design project. You are paying for their creative insight, in-depth knowledge and experience at managing all the work of a project, and it can be worth every penny.