Freedom by Symphony supports independent living with accessible kitchen for wheelchair users
Kitchen supplier Freedom by Symphony is supporting independent living for wheelchair users with its latest range which has been created in collaboration with accessible kitchen designer, Adam Thomas.
Designed for multi-generational households and easy to use for wheelchair users, the Freedom collection includes the Freedom Harvard kitchen in classic Hunter Green, an accessible kitchen with a wide range of features that make it a safe and flexible space.
Adam Thomas, Freedom ambassador and accessible kitchen designer, commented to THIIS: “Freedom by Symphony kitchens are thoughtfully designed to empower individuals with mobility and access needs. Every detail, from the adjustable worksurfaces to the intuitive layout, reflects a deep understanding of diverse lifestyles. These kitchens not only enhance functionality but also foster independence, allowing everyone to engage fully in the heart of their home.”
Accessible features within a Freedom kitchen include a rise and fall adjustable height worktop with waterfall edge. This raised lip reduces the risk of spillages during food prep and cooking onto a wheelchair user while the electric control switch effortlessly moves the worktop up and down to suit the user’s needs. It is available in a variety of sizes including an L-shaped right angle.
A fixed height worktop with open leg space is another functional feature of a Freedom kitchen. It provides wheelchair users safe access to the kitchen sink for washing-up, rinsing fruit and vegetables and draining water from hot pans.
A larder with pull-out drawers meanwhile makes crockery easy to access. In the Freedom Harvard kitchen, putting plates and bowls away after being washed is made easier for wheelchair users, as it is positioned near the dishwasher for effortless unloading.
Keen cooks can also access the NEFF slide and hide ovens, which are installed in a row of three in this kitchen and feature flexible magnetic knob or touch control with doors that can be concealed beneath for safety and extendable shelf runners.
The Freedom Harvard kitchen in Hunter Green also features oven housing with pull-out shelf. This allows for the ovens to be positioned at a comfortable height and includes a heat-proof resting shelf for placing dishes on when taken out of the oven.
There is also a choice of drawer depths beneath the ovens. In this design, the three oven’s housing allows for the transfer of hot dishes from one side of the kitchen to the other, with the pull-out shelves working as a table top.
Clever iMove pull-down baskets come with extended handles to hold onto and pull down to lock into position. A great way to make higher-up contents easy to reach, ideal for wheelchair users.
Another Freedom by Symphony feature is having isolator switches for the ovens positioned at a suitable height above the oven making them easier to reach should they need to be switched off.
A pull-out table also provides additional worktop and preparation space while a front access lever tap has the control fitted to the front fascia of the worktop so users can operate the tap from a seated position without having to stretch over the sink. The tap is also designed with an easy grip to move the tap back, left and right.
In recent news, Habinteg Housing Association and the Centre for Accessible Environments (CAE) launched the Inclusive Housing Design Guide, which aims to inspire and equip built environment professionals to create inclusive, adaptable homes for all.
