By Michael Clifton, Architectural Technologist, Adaptation Design

Michael Clifton graduated in 2009 with a degree in Architectural Technology. With a creative eye, impressive track record for delivering thoughtful design, securing planning permissions for complex sites and guiding his clients through different project phases, Michael thinks broadly and always puts people first. 

In our new 4-part series, Michael examines the importance of a client-centred approach to accessible design and build – so houses truly become homes.

Part 1 – finding the foundations

In this first of four articles, Michael Cifton, Architectural Technologist, Adaptation Design, outlines how empathy, collaboration and thoughtful guidance form the essential foundations for creating accessible homes that reflect not only functional needs but the individuality and personality of each client.

Let’s start with this question: when does a house truly become a home?

You might say moving day – when the boxes are unpacked and you make that first cup of tea. But in my experience, a home really begins to take shape much earlier, when a client’s personality starts to interface with the design process and we begin to build something together that is truly bespoke and reflective of who they are.

As Adaptation Design work with clients who often have complex needs, the stakes tend to be higher. Functionality is critical but that can’t be the whole story, otherwise we risk losing who they are.

My design ethos, and the heart of our work at Adaptation Design, is that every home has the potential to be transformed into something magical. But that magic doesn’t come from me imposing a vision. It comes from listening – deeply, patiently and often in ways beyond words. All until the client’s essence finds its way into the walls, the textures, the very light and breath of their home.

So how do we make sure personality is not an afterthought, but the foundation? 

Firstly, empathy. We don’t just listen to what our clients (and their wider support network) say, but how they say it. What do they talk about when we’re not discussing the project? Do they light up when they describe cooking Sunday lunch with their family, or when they picture the quiet of their garden? 

These cues are the breadcrumbs of design that go on to find a core understanding of who our clients are and ultimately enable us to tailor their home to their specific needs.  

Secondly, collaboration between all parties is absolutely critical, as the design process is a fluid and ever evolving one. It is a constant dialogue; a back and forth where ideas grow and change together over time. 

True collaboration means holding space for the client’s voice at every stage; from the very first sketch, to walking through unfinished rooms on site, or tweaking colours at the very last moment. 

It also means being transparent with them about the often-critical choices we make as designers. When clients understand why a wall is placed here or a material chosen there, they gain confidence in us and with the final result. 

Finally, this guidance is how we shape a coherent story.

As we know, clients often come in with a flurry of wants and needs that are often contradictory or mismatched to the desired outcome. Our role therefore involves considered challenging. We might say: “That’s great, but does it feel right? Do you think that will give the best result?” Often this is done by providing balanced alternatives with ideas and principles gleaned from deep listening. This reinforces the collaborative relationship and creates a level of trust between us. 

Why is reflecting personality key to successful design?

The moment you live for as a designer is not when the client admires the technical execution – but when they recognise themselves in the space you have created. Something that truly reflects who they are. 

Personality is not just a detail, a tick-box to be incorporated. It’s the key driver.

I have often said: ‘Tell a single story and a world will form around it’. That story must always be the clients. So, if you take one thing from this section, let it be this… the best homes are the ones that feel inevitable; like they could never have been any other way.

That is inclusion. And that is why personality is key.  

Of course, while we are uncovering our client’s personality – we are also beginning a wider process of understanding. Sifting and refining through the information to shape and hone it into something magical. Curation is about shaping that raw material into something coherent, balanced and ultimately liveable. 

Rarely, do we get handed a neat and tidy brief. We usually get fragments – pieces of inspiration and ideas. All of that is precious but if left unfiltered, it’s just chatter. Our role is to listen, honour the intention and gradually tune it into harmony.

How does the process of curation ensure design that resonates for a client?

We all gather inspiration in different ways; sometimes deliberately and sometimes randomly… a Pinterest board overflowing with images, a scrapbook filled with magazine clippings, even a folder of saved posts on Instagram, can all act as modern-day sketchbooks of the imagination. 

These collections aren’t always neat or logical, but that’s the point: they capture raw sparks of curiosity before they fade. In the same way someone might once have torn out a picture of a chair or kept a postcard from a gallery, today’s tools let us assemble a visual diary of what resonates. And while each individual piece might seem random, together they form a chorus of desire, taste and possibility. 

Curation is about refining and elevating that chorus so it’s clearer, truer and more resonant in the final design. It’s the difference between a jumble of notes and a symphony.

Let me share a story that illustrates this…

One client came to me with an enormous Pinterest board… hundreds of images. And it wasn’t just interiors or architecture. Mixed in were pictures of cats, holiday destinations, even recipes. At first glance, it felt chaotic. How do you extract a design language from that? But by stepping back and looking at the collection as a whole rather than each image, a pattern began to emerge. I noticed a strong pull toward classical forms but paired with modern simplicity. The throughline was an underlying attraction to a chic neo-Georgian style, with muted pastels and light airy spaces. That became the seed of my design philosophy for the interiors for their home.

And when I presented the mood boards showing a chic, neo-Georgian direction back to them and their family, they said that was exactly what they wanted and reflected the client’s personality. 

And that’s the heart of curation: taking what the client offers, however fragmented, and helping them see the thread that runs through it – as often they don’t know it themselves.

Now, the process of curation isn’t only about style. It’s also about priorities. 

Clients and their support teams will often bring a long wish list of varying requirements for a property, but of course, not every home can contain every need.

So, with accurate and detailed information given on the client’s needs, curation becomes a process of helping distinguish between ‘wants’ and ‘needs’ – which of these are non-negotiable, which of these are flexible and what could be cut if required. 

This stage is where the designer’s empathy, collaboration and guidance come back into play. This is because refining ideas isn’t about saying ‘no’. It’s about offering structure. It’s about saying: ‘Here are the three or four principles that I think really matter to you. If we hold onto these, everything else can flex.’ That way, clients feel empowered… not shut down.

And here’s another important truth: curation isn’t static. It’s a process of editing and re-editing over time. At the start, the canvas is wide open, but as the design evolves, decisions get sharper. We move from the broad-brush strokes of overall thought and concept to the finer more specific details of production. Each stage is a chance to revisit the client’s story and ensure that we are still on track. 

So why does curation matter so much? Because it’s the stage where we transform inspiration into identity. It’s where we ensure the home doesn’t feel like a catalogue of trends or requirements, but a coherent reflection of the person living there. 

When this is done well, the client feels like they’ve discovered clarity for themselves… distilled, harmonised and made tangible in their home. 

And that leads us naturally to the next question: what happens when a client can’t clearly articulate their style? Well, that’s where the art of noticing comes in. And that’s what I want to talk about in part 2 of this series – driving design through perception.

Contact

If you are a housing, healthcare or legal professional seeking a home for a client with disabilities, Michael is standing by to assist. He can be reached on: 

Michael Clifton
Adaptation Design Limited, 4 Carters Row, Hatfield Park, Hertfordshire. AL9 5NB
Tel: 020 8492 1617 / 07983 735 976 Email: michael.clifton@adaptationdesign.co.uk

Tess Whitehead, Head of Property Search and Occupational Therapist at Adaptation Design, reports on how this year’s event highlighted more accessibility innovations than ever.

In April, The Ideal Home Show ran for nine days at Olympia London and remains one of the most influential events in the home and interiors calendar. The Show Home feature is always an event highlight, showcasing new and innovative products and services that shape how we think about our living spaces.

This year, I was invited to attend the Show Home launch as a guest of Stannah, who were presenting their latest homelift and stairlift solutions.

Personality is key

One of the most valuable aspects of the launch was the opportunity to speak with Sophie Morgan. Sophie is widely recognised as the first woman with a disability to work as a television presenter both in the UK and internationally, including anchoring prime time coverage of major sporting events.

The conversation with her focused on a topic that often gets missed in accessible design – aesthetics. While functionality is essential, the way products look plays an equally important role. For people living with complex needs, homes are frequently adapted with a strong focus on practicality, yet the visual and emotional impact of those spaces can be overlooked.

Sophie spoke about the importance of choice and control in how a home looks and feels. That point resonated strongly with me. A well-designed home should not only meet physical needs, it should also reflect identity, support wellbeing and feel like a place someone is proud to live in. This is something we see consistently in our work and it remains a key takeaway from the event.

Tess (left) at the launch of the Show Home alongside Kate Sheehan, OT (centre) and TV celebrity Sophie Morgan (right).

Challenging trends

Alongside the Show Home, Kate Sheehan, Occupational Therapy Consultant at Adaptation Design, spoke on the main stage about the growing mismatch between housing stock and accessibility needs. Research states that 25% of people aged over 55 feel their current home will not support their long-term mobility, yet bungalows, often seen as the most accessible housing type account for only around 1% of new build homes. This reflects what we encounter daily when searching for suitable rental and purchase properties for our clients who require enabling adaptations.

Advancing accessibility

Attending the show also allowed us to explore emerging products from both specialist and mainstream markets. This is a key part of our role, ensuring we can offer informed and practical recommendations that reflect what is actually available.

Environmental control was a strong theme this year. With more extreme temperatures becoming increasingly common, the ability to regulate internal environments is becoming ever more important. Mitsubishi showcased integrated heating and cooling systems with intuitive, easy to use controls that could be operated via a smart device. The simplicity and accessibility of the displays particularly stood out to us – an area we will be exploring further.

Kitchen design also showed some positive developments. Smile Kitchens presented a range of storage solutions designed to improve access without excessive bending or reaching. Features such as pull-out larders and corner storage systems demonstrate how thoughtful design can make everyday tasks more manageable without compromising on appearance. Of particular interest was their Gate Pull Out Larder and Cornerstone Maxx Larder.

There were also several wash dry toilets on display. While the technology itself is improving, we noted ongoing issues around usability. Some controls were not suitable for people with reduced hand function and in some cases lacked clear, intuitive operation. More importantly, not all products appeared to meet WRAS approval standards, which is a critical consideration in ensuring safety and compliance within UK homes; an essential requirement for products specified by Adaptation Design. 

A positive outing

Overall, the Ideal Home Show 2026 provided a valuable opportunity to review what is emerging in the wider market. It allowed us to assess which products are genuinely suitable for our clients with disabilities and which fall short in real world situations. Overall attending the event enabled us to stay informed about innovative solutions that will benefit the clients and professionals we work with.

If you would like further information about any of the products or themes highlighted or want to discuss how inclusive design can be incorporated into your own project, the team and I are always happy to help. I can be contacted on:

Tess Whitehead
Adaptation Design, Clinical Lead for Housing Occupational Therapy and Property Search Services
Tel: 020 8492 1617 or email here

Kate Sheehan, Consultant Occupational Therapist, reflects on the latest Case Management Society Conference and how its aims synergise with those of Adaptation Design.

The Case Management Society UK, in collaboration with The Society of Research in Rehabilitation, delivered an outstanding conference, Tomorrow’s World, on 17th and 18th March 2026.

The sessions offered a strong mix of practical insight, innovation, research and personal experience.

Crest IT was the main sponsor of the event. David Lees, Managing Director, spoke about AI and its impact on businesses, particularly in relation to data security. Following his session, I spoke with him about the use of AI in expert report writing and whether clinicians can confidently stand by AI-assisted work in Court. He is planning to reflect further on this, as he had not previously considered the implications.

For my first breakout session, I chose to attend one outside my usual area of practice and comfort zone: Neurofeedback in Action: Its Role Within Rehabilitation, led by Dr Maria Walters and Dr Melanie Dakin, Co-Founders of The Brain Collective. They explained how electroencephalogram (EEG), a safe and non-invasive technique, is used to interpret brain activity. Using real-time data, this approach can support clients to regulate their brain function. It was a fascinating insight into the brain’s neuroplasticity and its ability to adapt following significant trauma.

The panel discussion on the power of rehabilitation and the barriers to accessing the right services at the right time, was particularly thought-provoking. A key takeaway was the importance of clear and concise clinical reasoning to support a client’s rehabilitation journey.

Spending time with exhibitors was equally valuable. It was encouraging to see a growing number of occupational therapy-led companies emerging, all focused on delivering high-quality, client-centred services.

As an occupational therapist working from a client-centred perspective, I found it helpful to reflect on two particularly impactful presentations.

Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson shared her journey from elite athlete, winning 11 Paralympic gold medals, to her current role as a crossbench peer in the House of Lords. She spoke about challenging the narrative that “people like you can’t do that”, and the importance of finding allies who support success. This strongly reflects the role of case managers, who act as advocates for their clients, supporting them to achieve their goals and live the lives they choose.

Phillip Eaglesham, a former Royal Marine who contracted Q Fever whilst serving in Afghanistan, spoke powerfully about both his physical and mental recovery. He described his journey back to wellbeing, supported by his family, and his progression to becoming an Olympian. From an environmental perspective, his experience of fighting for essential adaptations to his home, and the time this took, was particularly striking. His words, “every day without an accessible home is a day of my life I will never get back”, resonated deeply.

Ensuring a timely, accessible home environment, whether rented or owned, is fundamental to effective rehabilitation. Without this, clients are unable to fully engage in meaningful activity, which in turn, limits the potential benefits of rehabilitation.

If you are a Case Manager seeking support regarding appropriate home adaptations for a client, contact our specialist team on: 020 8492 1617 or email info@adaptationdesign.co.uk