I grew up when there was no such thing as a mudroom (and there wasn’t much need for one either).

As a kid I entered my small ranch home at the side door (which BTW had a built-in milk chute – if there is anyone else out there who remembers what one of those was for). I simply flung my coat over on the available hooks by the side of the door and that was that. I didn’t own a bookbag. I don’t even remember anyone having a bookbag back in…

What a perfect world it would be to find a home designed exactly to your family’s needs. This home would include the perfect master suite for you and your husband. A large yard for your 2 young daughters and would be easy for your Mom to navigate (who needs the assistance of a wheelchair) through any floor level of the home. Oh – one last thing – this home would also work within your budget (oops – sorry I had to say the dreaded ‘b’ word!).

If…

Do you feel you have to go on a diet just to walk through your narrow walk in closet?

You’re fighting hanging clothes which are spaced as closely together as weeds in a jungle.

Your single closet rod is under so much pressure you think ‘this baby could blow at any moment.’

Your scarves live in a jumbled mess on a flimsy wire hanger you inherited from the cleaners.

Your sweaters resemble a leaning Tower of Pisa on the rickety wire top shelf.

And oh…

Lou Slangen immigrated to the United States from Holland as a young man with 2 simple suitcases, a boat-load of dreams and the perfect formula for success. He exuded passion, persistence and eventually found the perfect partner for his journey – his wife Linda.

He and Linda raised 4 kids while moving around to multiple cities during his journey. He led large sales teams for a multinational healthcare products firm - rising to become the…

Most closets are a jumbled mess of hanger and clothes scrunched together like a like too many Columbus people squeezed together at the Red, White and Boom Festival. The original home builder who thought this single hanging rod and lonely shelf would keep you and your spouse organized must have been on something!

I’ve seen a lot of closets in my day and ones which look blown apart are the norm, not the exception. Although closets are generally…

I wonder why I decided to writhe this article about accessible closet design? Maybe it’s because:

• (A) I’ve watched my able-bodied Father in Law ultimately need a wheelchair. Now my Mother in Law struggles with a walker. I ask myself, “Will these mobility devices be in my future?”

• (B) I’ve got a dear friend – Rosemarie Rossetti – who 20 years ago was crushed (and her back cracked) when a 3-ton tree fell on her on a summer bike ride through…