Working with Architect Carol Sundstrom, Consultant Karen Braitmayer, and Contractor Thomas Jacobson, we signed up for AIA’s Tour of Architects. We all thought it crucial to showcase our space, one based on universal design principles. We wanted to prove that good design and wheelchair access were not mutually exclusive or prohibitively expensive. Given the dearth of examples, we vowed to shine a spotlight on the issue. Everyone on the team agreed. At the beginning of our project. And since.
In the last six years, Carol hustled to get a write-up in Architectural Record and a full-spread in Pacific Northwest Magazine. Our place was featured in Deborah Pierce’s collection of case studies, The Accessible Home. Recently, we came close, so very close, to winning a coveted space on HGTV’s “Home Diaries.” A local tour seemed like a great opportunity to continue our combined advocacy efforts.
But that was before my health went haywire.
I woke at dawn with a nagging headache. Our little household had been topsy-turvy since my extended hospital stay. Leslie tackled the cleaning. I saw to some clutter consolidation, most of it mine. Gus barked at the vacuum, his nemesis. He made half-hearted nips at the mop, too.
Reinforcements arrived at a more decent hour. Carol has the eye of an interior designer; she could style a sewer. Karen’s can-do attitude energized us all. Thomas has an artistic outlook and a way with tricky lighting. Did I mention they brought lattes from Café Umbria and delicious pastries, too? By show time, we were ready to go. Just.
One of our earliest visitors was anxious for resources and details. His nephew has Muscular Dystrophy. His family was flummoxed and frustrated in their quest for adequate housing. I could empathize. Completely. I wish I had an early inkling of how my own search for sanctuary would confuse and confound me for over a decade. What a relief to provide some answers. Not the answers. But some. Enough to plot a path forward.
Discussions in the condo quickly became round robins. Carol fielded design questions. Karen added details about considering the needs of both wheelchair users and caretakers. Thomas talked about particulars. I described the difference a fully accessible space made in my life. Exactly the type of conversation I anticipated. Authentic. Expansive. Grounded in experience. Involving a number of perspectives. Based on a specific set of needs. And, ultimately, helpful.
Almost 40 people filed through our condo on a chilly but sunny Seattle afternoon. Most said they came because they wanted to see universal design. But where were those features, some wondered? I showed them how the iron handrail around the stove provided safety and security. Carol and Karen and Thomas pointed out which fixtures had specific functionality.
I believe all our visitors left with a better understanding of the principles in action. I trust we gave some of them a clearer vision of the future. I hope we changed a few hearts and minds in the process.
Randy you are amazing. You had every right to excuse yourself from this commitment considering your recent hospital stay, but you went ahead. I am so proud of you and the way that you and Leslie follow through with your activism. You will make a difference.
In late afternoon, one couple noted that the photos they’d seen didn’t do justice. They didn’t convey the loft’s expansiveness and beauty. They almost skipped it. “Let’s go see other places on the tour first. If there’s time, we’ll come to Pioneer Square.” It was their favorite stop of the day. They were surprised. They loved it. As did many others whose preconceptions went by the wayside. Kudos to both Randy and Leslie for opening their home.
“Yet they still try and push you around
But they can’t keep a good man down.”
Song by another Randy. Congratulations to our Ran: from ICU to U2
The last time I was in your place, I didn’t have adequate time to note the features. I was overwhelmed with your hospitality. My best to all. I look forward to my next opportunity for a closer perusal.