In this episode, host Veronica Theodoro talks with Gretchen Kingma and Tiffany Dill, co-founders of Custom Joy, a St. Louis-based construction company with a focus on accessible home solutions. Kingma and Dill discuss how universal design can help people of all ages live safely and comfortably in their homes. They share practical solutions that can be implemented in the home, and explain how Universal Design Ready (UDR) homes can make future modifications easier and more cost-effective. They also discuss the limitations of ADA compliance in residential spaces and emphasize the importance of proactive planning for accessible living. Tune in to learn how thoughtful design choices can support aging in place and create a home that adapts to your needs over time. Listen and follow House of Lou on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

This episode is sponsored by Karr Bick Kitchen & Bath.

Whether you want a new kitchen, laundry room, or children's nursery, Karr Bick Kitchen and Bath can handle it all, creating spaces that are #NothingOrdinary. Schedule a free design consultation today.

Got an idea for a future House of Lou episode? 

We love hearing from our audience. Send your thoughts or feedback to Veronica at vtheodoro@stlmag.com or to podcasts@stlmag.com. We can't wait to hear from you!

Looking for more inspiration?

Subscribe to our Design+Home newsletter to receive our latest home, design, and style content in your inbox every Wednesday. And follow Veronica (@vtlookbook) and St. Louis Magazine on Instagram (@stlouismag).

Interested in being a podcast sponsor?

Contact Lauren Leppert at lleppert@stlmag.com.

Mentioned in this episode:
Custom Joy
David Deatherage Design 
Busy Bee Candies Company
Interior Motives LLC
Wonderwall Rugs 
Ättlingar
North Carolina State University, Center for Universal Design 
AARP Home Fit Guide 
Essentials for making your home accessible, including threshold ramps and toilet paper assist bars
Kirkwood Lifestyle Home Tour 
Trees of the Missouri Botanical Garden 
Lustron House Tour 

You may also enjoy these articles from SLM:
In a historic city house, the magic is in a mix of modern vintage furniture and traditional details
Clayton Welcomes a New Place to Shop for Home Decor
Meet the interior designer behind a line of rugs handmade in India
Ättlingar elevates the bathroom with bespoke medicine cabinets and mirrors
More episodes of House of Lou

In this episode, host <a href="http://www.stlmag.com/api/pv/SYiRfitmFz4sLpzjVNyS1VnSW5mmASSCbrQlcMIHsftMws5fozIWPoFIyhONlUFY/++/topics/veronica-theodoro/">Veronica Theodoro</a> talks with Gretchen Kingma and Tiffany Dill, co-founders of <a href="https://customjoystl.com/" aria-label="Link opens in new window (Custom Joy)">Custom Joy</a>, a St. Louis-based construction company with a focus on accessible home solutions. Kingma and Dill discuss how universal design can help people of all ages live safely and comfortably in their homes. They share practical solutions that can be implemented in the home, and explain how Universal Design Ready (UDR) homes can make future modifications easier and more cost-effective. They also discuss the limitations of ADA compliance in residential spaces and emphasize the importance of proactive planning for accessible living. Tune in to learn how thoughtful design choices can support aging in place and create a home that adapts to your needs over time. Listen and follow House of Lou on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/house-of-lou/id1715504359" aria-label="Link opens in new window (Apple Podcasts)">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3ovIC1dt19FiByFhMjlgIc?si=be8613d8b3e849c4" aria-label="Link opens in new window (Spotify)">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwYnyrcREHGkbLFLTZPyJz12erwKdMl6d&amp;si=WYpW1hKYd1tbyB-K" aria-label="Link opens in new window (YouTube)">YouTube</a>, or wherever you get your podcasts.
This episode is sponsored by <a href="https://karrbick.com/project-consultation/" aria-label="Link opens in new window (Karr Bick Kitchen &amp; Bath)">Karr Bick Kitchen &amp; Bath</a>.
Whether you want a new kitchen, laundry room, or children's nursery, Karr Bick Kitchen and Bath can handle it all, creating spaces that are #NothingOrdinary. Schedule a <a href="http://karrbick.com/project-consultation/" aria-label="Link opens in new window (free design consultation)">free design consultation</a> today.
Got an idea for a future House of Lou episode? 
We love hearing from our audience. Send your thoughts or feedback to Veronica at <a href="mailto:vtheodoro@stlmag.com" aria-label="Link opens in new window (vtheodoro@stlmag.com)">vtheodoro@stlmag.com</a> or to <a href="mailto:podcasts@stlmag.com" aria-label="Link opens in new window (podcasts@stlmag.com)">podcasts@stlmag.com</a>. We can't wait to hear from you!
Looking for more inspiration?
Subscribe to our <a href="https://info.stlmag.com/newsletters" aria-label="Link opens in new window (Design+Home newsletter)">Design+Home newsletter</a> to receive our latest home, design, and style content in your inbox every Wednesday. And follow Veronica (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/vtlookbook" aria-label="Link opens in new window (@vtlookbook)">@vtlookbook</a>) and St. Louis Magazine on Instagram (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/stlouismag/" aria-label="Link opens in new window (@stlouismag)">@stlouismag</a>).
Interested in being a podcast sponsor?
Contact Lauren Leppert at <a href="mailto:lleppert@stlmag.com" aria-label="Link opens in new window (lleppert@stlmag.com)">lleppert@stlmag.com</a>.
Mentioned in this episode:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://customjoystl.com/" aria-label="Link opens in new window (Custom Joy)">Custom Joy</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.daviddeatheragedesign.com/" aria-label="Link opens in new window (David Deatherage Design )">David Deatherage Design </a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.stlmag.com/api/pv/SYiRfitmFz4sLpzjVNyS1VnSW5mmASSCbrQlcMIHsftMws5fozIWPoFIyhONlUFY/++/history/inside-downtown-busy-bee-candles-company-headquarters/">Busy Bee Candies Company</a></li>
<li><a href="https://shopinteriormotives.com/" aria-label="Link opens in new window (Interior Motives LLC)">Interior Motives LLC</a></li>
<li><a href="https://wonderwallrugs.com/" aria-label="Link opens in new window (Wonderwall Rugs )">Wonderwall Rugs </a></li>
<li><a href="https://attlingar.com/" aria-label="Link opens in new window (Ättlingar)">Ättlingar</a></li>
<li><a href="https://design.ncsu.edu/research/center-for-universal-design/" aria-label="Link opens in new window (North Carolina State University, Center for Universal Design )">North Carolina State University, Center for Universal Design </a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.aarp.org/content/dam/aarp/livable-communities/livable-documents/documents-2015/HomeFit2015/AARP-HomeFit-Guide-2015.pdf" aria-label="Link opens in new window (AARP Home Fit Guide )">AARP Home Fit Guide </a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.blueday2.com/post/10-amazon-prime-day-essentials-for-making-your-home-accessible" aria-label="Link opens in new window (Essentials for making your home accessible)">Essentials for making your home accessible</a>, including <a href="https://www.blueday2.com/post/10-amazon-prime-day-essentials-for-making-your-home-accessible" aria-label="Link opens in new window (threshold ramps)">threshold ramps</a> and<a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=toilet+paper+holder+for+grab+bar&amp;hvadid=697436279907&amp;hvdev=c&amp;hvlocphy=9060420&amp;hvnetw=g&amp;hvqmt=b&amp;hvrand=12356035534875452377&amp;hvtargid=kwd-2297985725745&amp;hydadcr=11720_13302119&amp;tag=googhydr-20&amp;ref=pd_sl_3iepr6r7dh_b" aria-label="Link opens in new window ( toilet paper assist bars)"> toilet paper assist bars</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kirkwood-lifestyle-home-tour-tickets-972961884187" aria-label="Link opens in new window (Kirkwood Lifestyle Home Tour )">Kirkwood Lifestyle Home Tour </a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/plan-your-visit/the-garden/tours/group-tours/private-guided-walking-tours" aria-label="Link opens in new window (Trees of the Missouri Botanical Garden )">Trees of the Missouri Botanical Garden </a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.tickettailor.com/events/landmarksassociationofstlouis/1374340" aria-label="Link opens in new window (Lustron House Tour )">Lustron House Tour </a></li>
</ul>
You may also enjoy these articles from SLM:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.stlmag.com/api/pv/SYiRfitmFz4sLpzjVNyS1VnSW5mmASSCbrQlcMIHsftMws5fozIWPoFIyhONlUFY/++/design/clayton-welcomes-a-new-place-to-shop-for-home-decor/">In a historic city house, the magic is in a mix of modern vintage furniture and traditional details</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.stlmag.com/api/pv/SYiRfitmFz4sLpzjVNyS1VnSW5mmASSCbrQlcMIHsftMws5fozIWPoFIyhONlUFY/++/design/clayton-welcomes-a-new-place-to-shop-for-home-decor/">Clayton Welcomes a New Place to Shop for Home Decor</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.stlmag.com/api/pv/SYiRfitmFz4sLpzjVNyS1VnSW5mmASSCbrQlcMIHsftMws5fozIWPoFIyhONlUFY/++/design/meet-the-interior-designer-behind-a-line-of-rugs-handmade-in/">Meet the interior designer behind a line of rugs handmade in India</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.stlmag.com/api/pv/SYiRfitmFz4sLpzjVNyS1VnSW5mmASSCbrQlcMIHsftMws5fozIWPoFIyhONlUFY/++/design/attlingar-elevates-the-bathroom-with-bespoke-medicine-cabine/">Ättlingar elevates the bathroom with bespoke medicine cabinets and mirrors</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.stlmag.com/api/pv/SYiRfitmFz4sLpzjVNyS1VnSW5mmASSCbrQlcMIHsftMws5fozIWPoFIyhONlUFY/++/podcasts/house-of-lou">More episodes of House of Lou</a></li>
</ul>

Take a step inside the city’s creative community with St. Louis’ first design podcast, House of Lou. Join Veronica Theodoro, St. Louis Magazine's Design editor-in-chief, for a front row seat to the worlds of local interior design, architecture, gardens, and fashion. Whether your home is a brick bungalow or a contemporary high rise, you’ll come away informed and inspired, with new ideas for living a beautiful life. There’s so much to see in St. Louis, if you know where to look.

Take a step inside the city’s creative community with St. Louis’ first design podcast, House of Lou. Join Veronica Theodoro, St. Louis Magazine's Design editor-in-chief, for a front row seat to the worlds of local interior design, architecture, gardens, and fashion. Whether your home is a brick bungalow or a contemporary high rise, you’ll come away informed and inspired, with new ideas for living a beautiful life. There’s so much to see in St. Louis, if you know where to look.

House of Lou

Take a step inside the city’s creative community with St. Louis’ first design podcast, House of Lou. Join Veronica Theodoro, St. Louis Magazine's Design editor-in-chief, for a front row seat to the worlds of local interior design, architecture, gardens, and fashion. Whether your home is a brick bungalow or a contemporary high rise, you’ll come away informed and inspired, with new ideas for living a beautiful life. There’s so much to see in St. Louis, if you know where to look.