Brava

February 2012

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Retirement Living Special Advertising Section additions kitchens & baths universal design Preparing Your Home for Life By Larry Taff, UDCP, CAPS, MCR and GCP 2009 NARI Local & Regional Winner Contractor of the Year 2009-2010 Local Winner Contractor of the Year in Residential Universal Design Your Life. Your Home. We know the art of universal design. In fact, we've been incorporating its principles into our projects since the 1980's. When it comes to making your home safe and comfortable with life's changing needs, our award-winning certified staff can create the home you need. Whether modifying your existing home or building a new home, we are the universal design experts that can assist you with your project. We create spaces that are universally YOU! If you are like the majority of baby boom- ers in the United States you would prefer to live safely and comfortably in your home for as long as possible. Who wouldn't? With the costs for medical and limited care housing increasing, it makes smart finan- cial sense to be proactive and prepare your home now…for life. You plan for retire- ment; you can also plan for your family's future comfort in your home. Most uni- versal design strategies can be employed with very little fuss. While some folks may require a significant remodel to make their home live up to its universal design poten- tial, most homeowners only need very ba- sic modifications, and perhaps a new way of looking at their space! Preparing your home for life can be virtually invisible when done well. There are hundreds of innovative products in the market today that allow for both ease of use and let your personal style shine through. To get started, your home can be evaluated with a Universal Design assess- ment. Key questions to consider are: Do I need a bedroom and bathroom on the main level? How can I make my kitchen more functional? What are the best ways to prevent falls or injury? How is the ease of movement from room to room? Are light switches and door handles easy to reach and use? Are bathrooms, work areas and hallways well lit? Can I easily enter and exit my home? Universal home improvements add im- (608) 241-2967 View our award winning projects at tzofmadison.com mediate value and at the same time en- hance your personal comfort and safety. It is much easier and cost effective to plan for these improvements prior to a sudden need. Many times this can be accomplished when remodeling is planned for your home. With a little forethought, you can easily have a home for life. Larry Taff is president of TZ of Madison, Inc., which specializes in residential remod- eling and is a three-time award winner of the NARI Contractor of the Year Award in Residential Universal Design. Visit tzofmadison.com for more information. February 2012 bravamagazine.com 51

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