
The owners of this large, open loft see the kitchen as the heart of their home. Randy, the husband, uses a wheelchair much of the time, so accessibility is a prominent feature of the space’s design. To make the kitchen safe and easy to use, a crew from Thomas Jacobson Construction integrated an anodized steel grab bar into the 1-1⁄2-in.-thick ApplePly island top. The bar’s support tabs were let into and screwed to the first layer of 3⁄4-in. ApplePly. The second layer, with matching recesses to accommodate the tabs, was then attached.
The bar was set 1-1⁄2 in. from the top’s edge and provides Randy with a comfortable grip. The bar allows Randy to pull himself around the working side of the island, which is particularly useful when one hand is full.

Photos: Dale Christopher Lang