It is when we realize we have been exposed to "the best" and don't want to return to what we had before. Our measure of quality and excellence has moved up a notch. We have just experienced what I have come to know as "catastrophic education."

Due to numerous factors, we live in a very different time in the remodeling and residential construction business (among most other industries). Change is always with us and, as we know, is inevitable. We experience it daily with new products and technology released at 80% functionality to allow the market to correct any issues. Our cars, toys, and homes aren't as simple and work differently than they once did. Our goods and services are now developed with research and data to make them safe, environmentally sound, efficient, and health conscious. Sometimes the enhancements work, and sometimes they remain a work in progress.

Accessibility and appliances should go hand in hand. Max Isley, Certified Master Kitchen and Bath Designer at Hampton Kitchens in Raleigh, NC, discusses a common flaw in appliances that creates problems for seniors and people with disabilities.

We often hear the term “luxury” when it comes to premium products such as watches, clothes, and cars, but what elements does a luxury living space such as a kitchen entail?