Worthwhile Design Style: My Trip to SC with GE Profile

If you’ve been following my Instagram for the last month or so, then you know I’ve been extremely excited to talk to you about Adaptive Design and the Southern Living Adaptive Cottage. Partnering with GE Profile has been one of my favorite campaigns, and as you read this post you’ll understand why! 

If you ever get the pleasure to visit Beaufort, SC there is a charming community called “Habersham” that is home to the cottage. Back in June, my friend/photographer Antwon, the hubs and I traveled down for a 3-day stay, where I got to learn all about Adaptive Design.

There are a ton of different design styles out there: Modern, Coastal, Bohemian, Art Deco, Mid-century Modern, and the list goes on. I thought I’d encountered them all until I learned about Adaptive Design. So, what is Adaptive Design? You could say that Adaptive Design is less about aesthetics (though aesthetics are involved) and more about functionality. Another term for Adaptive Design is “Universal Design”. The goal is to design something that is easily usable by people at any stage or phase of life; From the elderly, to children, to those with disabilities and physical challenges, an adaptive home ensures that people are best equipped to function effectively.

So, how does this look practically? For instance, the Southern Living Adaptive Cottage’s kitchen is designed with GE Profile’s Induction Range, which is equipped with innovative technology like an in-oven camera. For people with mobility issues, features like the camera make life much easier so that they can check on their food as it’s cooking and don’t have to worry about getting out of their seat every now and then to walk into the kitchen. In my interview with Scott Rider, the kickstarter to the Adaptive Cottage, he explains how much the in-oven camera helps him as someone who is living with Parkinson’s disease.

Another adaptive design element of the cottage is the placement of the outlets. All of the outlets throughout the home are placed higher on the wall, around waist height. This way anyone can reach the outlet, and the difficulty of bending down to plug something in is completely eliminated. It’s a subtlety, and something you and I may have never considered, but for some people the normal low outlets can be a major challenge. Other adaptive elements include doors with levers instead of knobs, wider hallways and entryways, and zero-entry or curb-less showers. Check out more adaptive design aspects of the cottage in this IG post or below in the recap on my YouTube channel.

PRO TIP: One of the most crucial design aspects of this and any home are the appliances you choose. It’s a decision that really should be made from your design’s inception. From the washer/dryer to the range, you want to make sure that your appliances fit the aesthetic and most importantly the functional needs of your home. This is where adaptive design and GE Profile’s innovative appliances really intersect.

For example, the GE Profile 4-Door Refrigerator has a sleek, fingerprint resistant stainless finish while having some of my favorite universal design aspects. First off there is a door-in-door storage feature that allows you to reach items right at the front of the fridge. This is super convenient for families with small children and elderly people living with them. When you think about aging in place, it’s seemingly small conveniences like these that go a long way. I also had so much fun trying out the hands free auto-fill! The auto-fill uses sensors to dispense the exact amount of water you want. It senses the size of the container, so you can simply place your glass under the dispenser and walk away. It even knows when ice is in your cup. Trust me I tried to trick it, and it didn’t work. It’s smart and so convenient because you no longer have to stand around and wait for your big water bottle to fill up. Just press and get back to another task.

GE Profile’s innovation truly enhanced the look and function of this thoughtfully designed home. Other appliances include the UltraFresh System Dishwasher with Microban technology, and the Front Load 950 Series washer with Adaptive SmartDispense that holds up to 32 loads of detergent and dispenses the right amount every wash. See more of the cottage’s GE Profile appliances here.

Check out this picture of Jasen and I on the porch of the adaptive cottage. Don’t we look like we live there? LOL! In all honesty this home is so inviting that you feel like you’re supposed to stay. Habersham in general has that feeling. If you visit you won’t want to leave! I hope you guys enjoyed learning more about GE Profile’s innovative appliances and Adaptive Design. It should make us all change the way we think about the functional needs of our home!