What is accessible or universal design?

Basically a universal design is barrier-free design. It is a holistic approach to designing a space to suit anyone. These considerations include: eliminating steps or stairs, roll-in showers, wider doorways to accommodate walker or wheelchairs, lower or adjustable countertops.
Many people have to stay in their current home longer. Many of these homes are not designed with aging in mind. Steps into a shower or tub, stairs to the bedrooms, steps to get in and out of the house, all will be barriers as we get older. Any one may end up on crutches or a wheelchair due to an accident and builder never really take that into account.

Universal or accessible design allows ample room for maneuvering a wheelchair in every space. During a remodel, changes can be made to bring many of these features into an existing home: Replace the tub with a roll-in shower, create room under countertops to allow for a wheelchair to pull up close,  install attractive ramps outside next to steps, widen doorways, and many more. You should consult a design professional about these changes however before you take on such renovation.

An accessible bathroom will have enough clearance under the countertops to allow for a wheelchair, but elegantly hide the plumbing pipes. It is equipped with a roll-in shower with a seat and an area for dressing.

disguising unsightly A/C condenser unit- Avid carpenter handyman's advice

The lattice box on the right disguises the unsightly condenser unit.

I received a note from my friendly carpenter/handyman regarding how to disguise an A/C compressor.
I hope you enjoy his idea.

I have a client who lives in a Condominium where the  Condenser Unit is located on  her small deck.
The unit is rather large and (to her) ugly. She wanted me to do something to hide it.
My first thought was to build a couple of walls made of redwood fencing lattice to allow good air flow
 all around the unit which is a manufacturer's requirement.
She also wanted to be able to decorate it with a plant of some type, so I made a top to accomodate that too.
We decided to paint it the same color as the exterior siding so that it wouldn't stick out like a sore thumb.
Here's what the finish product looked like.

Mike Fair
"Handy Is The Man Who Can"

Thanks Mike for your suggestion. It's a great idea.

After

Before