Accessible Living

McShane Construction Company was selected by repeat client Impact Seven in partnership with Harmony Housing Partners to build Rivers Crossing, a 52-unit affordable housing community in Portage, Wisconsin. Positioned on a 2.12-acre site at 2941 Hunters Trail, the development will consist of a podium-style building with three stories of wood frame construction atop a one-level underground concrete parking garage with 52 spaces.

What if smart home technology were designed for everyone, not just tech enthusiasts? In a new episode of the ASHB Smarter Homes & Buildings Podcast, host Nicholas Fonteix of Full Automation Marketing sits down with Ashley Williams, founder of Serenity Smart Homes, to discuss how the smart home industry can become more accessible, practical and people-centered.

The Kitchen & Bath Industry Show is now accepting speaker submissions for NEXTStage and the LUXURY Lounge. The KBIS Podcast Studio is also seeking its own lineup of industry voices to record live on the show floor. KBIS will stage three days of robust and enriching conversations at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Feb. 2-4.

By Cara Godwin Photos by Shelsi Lindquist Accessibility is often associated with permanent disability or aging in place, something many people view as a design consideration for someone else or for a much later stage of life. But temporary mobility changes caused by injury, surgery or other life events may be more common than most people realize. In those moments, the home either works for them or it doesn’t.

Lisa Sallstrom, MS, CAE, PMP, CRP, took the helm of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry on June 24. Sallstrom joins NARI at a pivotal time for the organization, as remodeling professionals nationwide navigate evolving consumer expectations, workforce shortages in the skilled trades and growing demand for the professionalism and trust that NARI certification and membership represent.

National Association of the Remodeling Industry announced 111 remodeling professionals have earned NARI certifications during its May 2026 exam period. The May 2026 exam period marked a historic milestone for the association, producing the largest class of newly certified professionals in NARI’s history. This record-breaking achievement underscores the growing recognition of NARI certifications as the gold standard for excellence, expertise and professionalism in the remodeling industry.

Across the country, many homeowners struggle to afford the critical repairs needed to remain safe in their homes. Through the Wells Fargo Builds program, Rebuilding Together and Wells Fargo are investing in a solution  often overlooked in conversations about housing affordability: preserving existing homes through essential repairs, accessibility modifications and community-based housing solutions.

Oregon-based Sierra James Construction is partnering with LiveAble Homes, a leader in accessibility, universal design and aging-in-place education on its projects. The partnership will work to change the conversation around accessibility, shifting it away from clinical or institutional associations toward something that feels integrated, intentional and genuinely beautiful.

California, Texas and Florida continue to account for the largest shares of remodeling activity nationwide, according to first quarter results from the National Association of Home Builders’ State Projections of Remodeling. The SPR offers a quarterly state-by-state analysis of remodeling activity based on total dollar volume, market share and changes in remodeling spending.

Allesin has launched a no-drill smart blackout shade lineup, introducing a damage-free window treatment solution designed to make motorized shading simple. The new shades allow users to measure, customize, order and install smart window coverings without drilling, professional installation or permanent changes to window frames.