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Charmaine thinks safe and functional kitchens and bathrooms should be in the design of every home , with wheelchair users , the blind , people with other disabilities and seniors being the focus . She also believes the outdoors can be made accessible and esthetically pleasing . In the Caribbean , outdoor living can be effortlessly embraced as that region ’ s climate ensures that space can be enjoyed all year round . Charmaine blurs the lines between the interior and the exterior , subtly bringing the outside in as well taking the inside outside . Interior furniture is used outside and vice versa ; courtyards are covered with transparent roofing to preserve the ability to still enjoy the sunshine , sky and clouds while protecting furniture from rain . Interior design smoothly transitions to the outdoors with trees , plants and flowers incorporated into a setting that looks good and is also therapeutic .
“ We ’ ve recreated this outdoor spirit in our home ,” Charmaine shared , “ we have several different outside ‘ rooms ’: a couple of secluded areas for quiet contemplation ; another that is hidden away and embraced by tropical greenery ; and then a couple of larger spaces for lounging , dining , entertaining , chilling and listening to music . The outside is an extension of the inside , which in turn is framed by the jaw dropping seascape .” And it is all accessible to a wheelchair user as needed .
Seniors in the Caribbean tend to age in place , and as family members try to make a home as safe and comfortable as possible , accessible outdoor living spaces becomes relevant , not only for its esthetic qualities but also for the emotional benefit it brings . Charmaine
remembers working remotely on the home of her friend ’ s parents who lives on a nearby
island . Mom had dementia so it was important to not change things around that much and she was also using a walker . Clean and uncluttered was needed and that was accomplished , but the most fulfilling was the outdoor space filled with vibrant flowers through which mom was able to navigate safely with her walker ! The people of the Caribbean love their gardens . Because of the pandemic with everyone being at home now more than ever , they want to enjoy their
outdoor living , so Charmaine is improving outdoor spaces on the island - balconies ,