As part of our project to transfer our News Archive to the new web site, we are posting an article about the KBB Review Industry Awards 2006, when Adam Thomas was awarded the first Designer Award for Accessible Kitchens.

In January 2006 Adam Thomas of Design Matters KBB Ltd was awarded the inaugural Designer Award for Accessible Kitchens by the KBB Review Industry Awards 2006 for his expertise in designing kitchens for disabled and older people in the UK. Designer Awards are given each year to the best designers in their field as an acknowledgement of excellence and success, and 2006 was the first year that an award was made in this category.

Being a wheelchair user himself, Adam has an inherent understanding of the requirements of specialised kitchens and is an acknowledged expert in his field. The Designer Award for Accessible Kitchens was made specifically for a kitchen Adam designed for a young wheelchair user who needed a fully accessible kitchen to maximise independence, yet in a modern, contemporary style. Another crucial part of the brief was to take account of the fact that the client uses both manual and electric wheelchairs, as they have different specifications in terms of height and depth of leg space needed. Adam solved these and many other problems with some unique ideas. He created additional space by knocking through into a small porch area next to the kitchen. Then he changed the layout in order to bring the oven, hob and sink together. The worktop height was then set to suit both wheelchairs and the client’s personal assistants.

Adam accepted the award at the gala KBB Review Industry Awards dinner at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole on January 23rd 2006.