Wheelchair-accessible kitchen

Hello everyone,

my brother and I have gotten a new apartment. I have now started planning the kitchen. My brother uses a wheelchair, so, for example, the cooktop and the sink should be accessible from a wheelchair. There should also be work surfaces at different heights. Are there any "ready-made" solutions from Ikea, or can you give me tips on how to realize something like this properly?

I would be very happy to receive tips and suggestions from you!

Best regards,
Mac :)

Hello,

IKEA does not offer prefabricated solutions, only individually plannable ones. Just ask the employees in the kitchen department. They have surely encountered such a case before.

In an Austrian house, there was once a wheelchair-accessible kitchen that I found quite clever. The cooktop was, for example, freely accessible underneath, installed in the countertop between two base cabinets. So cabinet on the left and right, the countertop mounted in between and lowered (to a comfortable working height). The sink was the same, and the refrigerator was in a 141 cm tall cabinet so you had a "ground-level" access.

I hope you understand what I mean? It is of course easier to show when you draw it. The kitchen was not more expensive than any other; you just need a few ideas, or discuss on-site with the customer what they are able to do. (That is, up to what height cabinets are reachable for them, etc.)

Hi,

wheelchair accessible is definitely doable but certainly a challenge and therefore sounds really interesting. Basically, you would have to see what the room is like where it will be installed, how high it is allowed to be, and what should be in the kitchen. Of course, essential things like the sink, stove, etc., but what else? I already have something in mind that will surely require some effort but is definitely feasible. However, it cannot be represented in the planner.

So give me a few key details, Mac. :)

NfU

Na.

Hello!

First of all, thank you for your answers. We went to IKEA and were quite disappointed. You can hardly customize the kitchens anywhere. Regarding the working height, the consultant's suggestion was: "Legs from the hardware store" :(

There are also no solutions for the accessibility under the sink and hob. Other kitchen manufacturers seem to be a bit more flexible there.

Best regards,

Mac

I had already described further above how it can be made possible, for example... countertop recessed between two cabinets and properly attached with brackets on the left and right – possibly also a support post on the wall. Furthermore, install mostly drawers in the base cabinets (easier access), place the refrigerator at floor level (e.g., in a 141 high cabinet) and so on, and so forth....

I don’t want to badmouth the employees in your IKEA, but I have the feeling they didn’t feel like thinking a bit about what can be done and how.

You can do incredibly much with Ikea kitchens if you are just a little creative and have ideas.

Can you draw a plan with the dimensions and upload a photo of it? Then I’ll give it a try – there are some people here who really know their stuff. Together we can manage it.