Connect the everyday rooms
Consider the entrance, kitchen, suitable sleeping space and a full bathroom together.
Aging in place & universal design
Aging in Place Remodeling in Delaware County
A home that works at every age.
Plan around the household you have and the changes ahead. Consider bathrooms, sleeping space, entrances and stairs together, whether you are welcoming a parent, preparing for recovery or staying in the Delaware County home you know.
Aging in place & universal design
Who handles aging-in-place and universal design remodeling in Delaware County?
NK Construction & Design connects remodeling and structural construction for Delaware County households. Founder Nebojsa "Nebo" Keresevic leads aging-in-place planning as a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS). Start with the people who use the home and the rooms and routes that need to work better.
A Delco twin with an upstairs-only bathroom raises different questions from a stone colonial, postwar Cape, ranch or split-level. We consider entrance levels, sleeping and bathing, kitchen use, existing construction and services together. A first-floor full bathroom, wider opening, recessed shower floor or rear or garage approach is explored as part of that connected plan, with qualified design input where required.
The starting point may be a stroller, crutches, a parent moving in, recovery or a plan to stay for decades. Bring recommendations from your occupational or physical therapist when clinical input is needed. NK coordinates the agreed remodeling, professional input and applicable approvals; a written plan can identify priorities, alternatives, costs and possible phases.
Census QuickFacts reports that 19.6% of Delaware County residents are 65 or older, using July 1, 2025 Population Estimates (V2025). Easier daily routes can also matter for younger households and visitors whose needs change.
Work with the existing house
Review levels, framing, openings and services before committing to a room or entrance change.
Set priorities and phases
Discuss the work that matters now, longer-term alternatives and the likely scope with NK.
Start with the change your Delaware County household needs.
Pick the situation closest to yours. These starting points connect a daily difficulty with the rooms and construction questions worth exploring.
6 homeowner situations.
Built for every age, starting now.
The features considered in aging-in-place remodeling can be useful at different stages of life. A level shower entry, a usable doorway or main-floor sleeping space may help a household today as well as support future plans. The right combination starts with your household's routines and the spaces you use most.
For a parent joining the household, a first-floor suite with its own bathroom can be explored alongside mixed-height work areas and routes between the kitchen, living room and bedroom. For families, an entrance used with a stroller, groceries or a laundry basket is a useful place to start the conversation.
Include children's bath time, cleaning and the needs of a nanny or visiting family member in the conversation. An adult's injury, pregnancy or recovery can make the same route difficult; clinical recommendations remain the care team's role.
- Young families
- Strollers, bath time and carrying a child or groceries can reveal awkward thresholds and tight turns.
- Recovery
- Knee or hip replacement, sports injuries, pregnancy and other recovery periods can affect where someone sleeps, bathes and moves through the home.
- Multigenerational households
- A parent moving in or adult children returning home can change privacy, storage, bathroom and shared-kitchen needs.
- Long-term living
- Owners in their 40s through their 80s planning to stay can consider current comfort and future adaptability together, with room to revisit the plan as needs change.
A common starting point
A bathroom that works better can change the whole plan.
Bathroom accessibility is a common starting point for aging-in-place improvements. Easier shower access, comfortable circulation and well-placed supports can address everyday priorities while helping you consider the routes and rooms around the bathroom.
One-day bath remodel or a bathroom built for life?
A tub or shower replacement in a layout that already works is a different scope from moving a bathroom downstairs, changing the shower floor or widening an opening. Look beyond the package name to see which layout changes, construction and approvals are included.
Compare what the contract actually provides. If someone will use a walker, wheelchair or shower seat, consider the whole route and room layout before selecting a shower product. NK can discuss whether a focused change or a more connected remodel addresses the priorities.
Swipe to compare
| Planning question | Focused replacement | Connected remodeling |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Update the tub or shower within a layout that fits the user. | Review where the bathroom is and how the household reaches and uses it. |
| Shower entry | Check the proposed base, threshold and relationship to the existing floor. | Explore a low-threshold or curbless arrangement where framing, waterproofing and drainage allow. |
| Location | Confirm whether the contract retains the existing bathroom location. | Assess whether a new first-floor bathroom is practical in the available space. |
| Doors and walls | Check whether any doorway or wall work is included. | Coordinate opening changes with structure and services where required. |
| Materials | Understand the offered product system, finish choices and maintenance needs. | Choose tile, stone, panels or other appropriate finishes as part of the full room design. |
| Supports | Confirm support-bar locations and the underlying wall construction. | Plan suitable backing and support positions with the wall assembly and user needs. |
| Permits and design | Determine requirements from the actual work, including connected trade work. | Coordinate drawings, professional input and permits that apply to the alterations. |
| Schedule | About a day on site is a planning example for a suitable focused installation; confirm preparation and the actual contract. | Days for a shower conversion; weeks to months for structural work are planning examples, not completion promises. Design, approvals, investigation, materials and connected construction determine the schedule. |
Universal design ideas for a Delaware County home.
Explore design concepts for everyday tasks, from reaching a kitchen cabinet to moving between floors. The layout, finishes and support features can be tailored to your home; lift and elevator options also need an equipment specialist's assessment.
Tell us who lives in the house and what's getting harder. A project conversation can help identify which room, route or connected scope deserves closer attention.
Explore all eight ideas. Swipe or use the controls.
Home elevator
Explore a vertical route where the house and equipment specialist's requirements allow. Floor structure, services, landings, transfers and remaining circulation need to be considered with the connected remodeling. A photograph or house type does not establish elevator suitability.
Home-elevator concept coordinated with a traditional hall and staircase.
Stairlift and second handrail
A stair assessment considers the stair geometry, landings, headroom and remaining circulation. A lift specialist must determine equipment suitability; railings, lighting and any connected construction can be discussed separately.
Stairlift concept with a second handrail and step lighting; equipment suitability needs specialist assessment.
Kitchen for different reach needs
Explore a lowered sink with knee space, seated and standing work areas, a counter-height wall oven, drawer dishwasher and pull-down upper shelves. Individual reach and the appliance or cabinet system need to guide the design.
Kitchen concept exploring seated sink use, reachable storage and appliance placement.
Roll-under vanity
A vanity with suitable knee space can support seated use when the approach, fixture placement and protected plumbing are considered together. A lever faucet and a tilting mirror can be considered alongside the intended user's reach.
Vanity concept exploring seated approach, reach and open space beneath the cabinet.
Support bars integrated with the room
Brass finishes and purpose-made combined support/towel products can integrate supports with the room design. Support locations and appropriate backing belong in the construction plan. A decorative bar or towel rail must not be assumed to provide support; the specified product, installation and user needs determine suitability.
Toilet-area concept integrating support products with room finishes; suitable products and backing belong in the design.
Night-route lighting
Consider the route from bed to bathroom, large rocker switches that are easy to reach, and lighting that reveals level changes without glare. Low-level or motion-controlled lighting may be an option without replacing a broader lighting plan.
Night-route lighting concept following the path from bed to bathroom.
Porch access
Compare the route from parking with the entrance steps. A graded side walk, rear approach, ramp or specialist lift may be explored where boundaries, space, drainage and required approvals allow. Neither a small front yard nor a driveway establishes that a step-free route is feasible.
Graded-entry concept using the landscape to explore an alternative to front steps.
Laundry up from the basement
Moving laundry to the main floor may reduce the need to carry it on stairs. Raised front-loaders and a seated-height counter are options to discuss. Review appliance access, work-surface height, water, drainage, electrical, ventilation and space before choosing the location.
Main-floor laundry concept with raised appliances and a folding work area.
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Next door to Delco, with CAPS-led planning and structural experience.
NK Construction & Design has its main office at 1324 Locust St, Unit 527, Philadelphia, PA 19107, and design studio at 4900 S Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19112. We serve Delaware County, from Upper Darby and Havertown to Media and Glen Mills, as well as Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery and Chester counties. Delaware County coverage does not imply a county office or a completed local project.
Founder and owner Nebojsa "Nebo" Keresevic brings more than 20 years in construction, including beam installation, load-bearing wall removal, sagging floors, bowing foundation walls and staircase relocation. He leads NK's aging-in-place planning as a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS), connecting household priorities with the remodeling and structural work.
CAPS is a designation from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), covering communication with homeowners, livable-home design and practical construction solutions. The programme includes an ethics pledge and ongoing education. That background helps connect the household's changing needs with remodeling choices, while engineering, specialist equipment and clinical advice remain distinct professional roles.
NK remains your project point of contact for the design and construction scope. The company is a BIA member, rated A+ by BBB and ranked in BuildZoom's Top 1%. Explore NK's projects and client reviews, then discuss the rooms, routes and priorities in your home.
What does aging-in-place remodeling cost in Delaware County?
Costs follow the scope of work. The examples below are planning ranges, not fixed quotations or guaranteed completion periods. A support or lighting upgrade, a complete accessible bathroom and a first-floor suite involve different construction and planning. Planning related changes together helps you understand the full investment and choose priorities before construction starts.
Start with a conversation about your plans, the suitability of the project and its likely scope. Following that conversation, NK may choose to provide an estimate without charge, at its discretion. The estimate should account for the work and supporting design, coordination and approvals needed for the agreed scope. Existing conditions, structural changes, trade work, finish selections, material availability and access during construction affect the budget and sequence. Specialist work and applicable design or engineering are included or coordinated according to the agreed contract scope; they are not automatically excluded or separately charged. The planned Home Safety & Longevity Assessment provides written priorities and preliminary budget ranges, with scope, deliverables and any fee confirmed before the visit.
The examples above are planning ranges, not quotations or fixed commitments. Review support backing, future room use and connected work while a remodel is already being planned. Days or weeks of site construction after approvals differ from the overall time for investigation, drawings, review and procurement. NK provides a written schedule for the agreed project scope.
Delaware County's 2025 performance report describes a Whole Home Repair program administered by Habitat MontDelco, with assistance up to $50,000 for eligible work. That historical ceiling is not a current offer. As checked November 4, 2026, Habitat's Home Repair program uses inquiries and later applications when matching funding is available; eligibility, waiting periods and program terms apply. It does not provide emergency repairs. Confirm the current opportunity before relying on assistance.
The Delaware County Office of Services for the Aging can be a starting point for older residents' support. Savings, home-equity borrowing and NK's Project Financing resources are separate options. VA housing-adaptation grants may assist people with qualifying service-connected disabilities. Some medically necessary modifications may be relevant to medical-expense deductions under IRS Publication 502; ask a tax professional about your household's facts. No award or deduction is promised.
Focused upgrades
Discuss support locations and backing, a second rail where suitable, lighting, lever hardware and fixture changes. Access to the existing construction and the selected products influence the work. Planning example: hundreds to low thousands; usually days.
Curbless shower or accessible bathroom
Plan the entry, shower controls and seating, door and fixture layout, waterproofing, drainage and related plumbing/electrical work together. The existing floor and services affect the scope. Planning example: thousands to low tens of thousands; usually days to weeks.
First-floor bathroom, suite or addition
Consider usable room area, new service routes, framing and openings, exterior access and any addition. Professional design and applicable approvals are part of developing a realistic scope before a project-specific price and schedule. Planning example: usually months, including permits; priced after engineering.
Four planning questions for a Delco twin or rowhome.
A porch-front twin or rowhome can combine a raised entrance, upstairs-only bathroom and compact rooms. These conditions are worth reviewing together; they do not establish that every Delco home has the same structure or needs the same solution.
Front steps and a small yard
A first floor several steps above the sidewalk may leave little room for a front ramp. Explore a driveway, rear alley or basement-garage approach, or specialist platform lift, with the full route to daily rooms. Grade, landings, boundaries, drainage, headroom and approvals determine the options; a rear or basement route is not automatically suitable.
The only full bathroom is upstairs
Explore an existing powder room, rear kitchen area, enclosed porch or part of a dining room for a full bathroom, paired with usable sleeping space. New drain routes through the basement, ventilation, floor framing, privacy and the actual proposed use need review before a room conversion is chosen.
A straight, steep stair
An equipment specialist can assess stairlift fit, transfers, landings and remaining circulation. Rails and lighting can be considered where stairs remain; compare a suitable first-floor sleeping and bathing arrangement when relying on the stair does not meet the household's needs.
The shared wall and connected structure
Do not infer a party wall's load-bearing role from the twin or rowhome label. Review the actual framing, load paths, previous alterations, foundations and neighboring-property effects before moving an opening or changing support. Qualified engineering and appropriate protection and sequencing are coordinated for the agreed structural work.
Stone colonials, postwar homes and western Delco layouts.
The home's existing levels and room connections matter more than its label. These Delaware County housing examples guide the conversation without establishing a particular property's conditions.
Stone and Dutch colonials
Havertown, Drexel Hill, Swarthmore, Wallingford, Media and Springfield
In a 1920s–1940s home, review raised entrances, upstairs bedrooms and bathrooms, plaster and narrow doorways. A den, sunroom or suitable suite, a bathroom behind the kitchen, an opening change or a graded side approach may be explored with the existing construction and any designation-dependent review.
Postwar Capes, ranches and split-levels
Broomall, Marple, Springfield, Ridley, Aston, Brookhaven and Glenolden
Review a small bathroom, tub, hall and basement laundry together. A ranch may offer main-floor sleeping; a Cape or split-level may still involve half-flights between the kitchen, entrance and bedrooms. Compare suitable room reuse, bathroom changes, main-floor laundry or an addition around the complete daily route.
Main Line and western Delaware County homes
Wayne, Villanova, Rosemont, Newtown Square, Glen Mills and Chadds Ford
An upstairs primary suite, grand stair or changes in floor level can affect daily living even in a larger home. Consider a library or guest wing for sleeping and full bathing, a suitable garage approach or specialist elevator planning. Structure, services, circulation and the property's approvals determine feasibility.
Follow the everyday route through your Delaware County home.
Trace the route used with groceries, a stroller, crutches, a walker or a laundry basket. Connect the entrance, kitchen, suitable sleeping space and full bathing before selecting an individual fixture.
Parking, porch and entrance
Compare the sidewalk, driveway, garage and rear approach. Review steps, grades, landings, thresholds, rails, drainage and property limits. A ramp, graded walk or specialist lift needs its own fit and approval review.
The main living level
Explore a powder-room expansion, rear-room bathroom or suitable room conversion with the kitchen and sleeping space. Check privacy, heating, emergency escape, services and proposed use; a powder room alone is not full bathing.
Stairs and half-levels
Trace every half-flight in a Cape or split-level and the route beyond any stair. Consider rails, lighting and visible level transitions, with specialist assessment for equipment fit, transfers and landings.
Upstairs and the night route
Where sleeping remains upstairs, consider the route to the toilet, lighting, support needs and the stair or equipment plan. Compare a first-floor suite where appropriate rather than assuming floor area alone establishes suitability.
Basement, laundry and services
Moving laundry upstairs may reduce carrying on stairs. Any proposed basement sleeping space or equipment location needs review of access, emergency escape, moisture, flood information and applicable requirements. A basement room for a caregiver still needs that review; compare main-floor alternatives.
A coordinated plan for your Delaware County remodeling project.
We start with what you want your home to do better, then work through the layout, building conditions and priorities together. The result is a remodeling scope shaped around your household and the spaces you use every day.
Tell us what's getting harder
Call or send us a project inquiry. Discuss who lives in the home, who visits, which routines are difficult and what may change.
Home Safety & Longevity Assessment (planned)
The comprehensive assessment includes a room-by-room walkthrough and measurements of doors, landings, thresholds and circulation, together with bathroom, stair, lighting and visible structural observations. Scope, deliverables and any applicable fee are agreed before the visit; this planned service is not yet bookable.
Written priorities and early cost guidance
Following the assessment, NK prepares a written report with immediate priorities, comfort improvements, longer-term adaptations, remodeling alternatives, preliminary budget ranges and phasing opportunities, providing a basis for the agreed project scope.
Coordinate design and professional input
NK provides and coordinates design and architectural services. We bring structural questions, equipment requirements and any recommendations from your clinician into the planning conversation, with the appropriate professional input for the work.
Confirm the property's approval path
Delaware County has 49 municipalities. NK confirms the applicable building-code authority and current property and project requirements. Required drawings, qualified professional input, submissions, trade permits and inspections are coordinated within the agreed scope; do not assume 49 identical processes or a separate process for every task.
Plan construction around essential rooms
Discuss access to a toilet, shower, sleeping space and the entrance during work. Building a new bathroom before altering the existing one may be an option where the agreed design and conditions allow.
Inspect and walk through the completed scope
Coordinate required project inspections and review the agreed work with the household. Walk through the rooms, controls and daily routes together, and review how the finished work meets the agreed scope.
NK's Home Safety & Longevity Assessment.
Planned to launch alongside Aging in Place Remodeling, NK's Home Safety & Longevity Assessment evaluates how your home supports everyday living and how it could adapt to changing needs. It includes a room-by-room walkthrough, measurements of doorways, thresholds, steps, hallways and circulation spaces, and review of bathrooms, stairs, lighting and visible structural conditions.
NK then prepares a written report identifying priority improvements, longer-term adaptations, remodeling alternatives, preliminary budget ranges and opportunities to phase the work. This comprehensive assessment goes beyond an ordinary project estimate to provide a sound basis for planning and budgeting.
The assessment identifies where architectural, structural engineering, lift-specialist or your own occupational or physical therapist's input may be appropriate. Scope, deliverables and any applicable fee are confirmed before the visit. Detailed engineering investigations, specialist evaluations and permit drawings are separate services where required. The assessment is not yet available to book.
Entries
Porch steps, routes from parking, thresholds, handrails, available site space and drainage.
Circulation
Hallways, openings, door swings, furniture positions and changes in floor level or material.
Stairs
Treads, rails, landings, lighting and any questions that need an equipment specialist.
Bathrooms
The route to the room, shower access, toilet approach, supports and space for a helper.
Kitchen
Seated and standing tasks, storage, appliances and routes used while carrying items.
Bedroom
Space around the bed, transfers, controls and the night route to the toilet, guided by individual needs.
Lighting
Entrances, stairs and night routes, including glare and shadows that make level changes harder to see.
Emergency routes
Exit doors, obstacles and routes from sleeping and living areas, with requirements determined for the proposed use.
When an accessibility plan reaches beyond the room.
- Structure and openings
- Is the wall bearing? Where do the joists land? What would a level shower mean for the floor? A first-floor bathroom or wider route can raise questions about the building around the finished room. Reviewing them early helps connect the room layout with the framing, supports and service routes it needs.
- Floors and connected work
- NK carries out structural construction, including beams, foundation walls, floors and stairs. A licensed structural engineer designs and stamps the load-bearing changes in the agreed scope. One coordinated contract covers the agreed design, engineering, construction and applicable approval and inspection work; NK remains your point of contact. Designs follow the actual building conditions and proposed layout.
- Planning for later
- Planning support-bar backing or possible future equipment provisions while walls are open may be useful, but location, design and future equipment requirements must be established. Equipment installation and connected remodeling are separate scopes to define with the appropriate specialist.
Delaware County permits, historic review, flood information and septic planning.
Identify the actual municipality, proposed work and site conditions early. Local review, historic designation, sewage arrangements, boundaries and flood information can shape the layout and sequence.
Municipal building and trade review
Upper Darby, Haverford, Radnor, Springfield and Media illustrate why the property's actual authority and current requirements must be confirmed. Municipalities administer or arrange UCC enforcement; required plans, qualified professionals and inspections depend on the proposal. NK coordinates the agreed submission and approval work.
Lansdowne historic properties
Lansdowne's HARB advises on certificates in its designated district. Other listed historic properties and neighborhood conservation requirements may also affect exterior proposals. Confirm the address, designation and work before choosing porch changes, railings, a ramp or an addition; do not assume every old house is designated or all interior work is exempt.
Lansdowne historic-review informationDarby Creek and other flood-planning questions
Review the actual address, mapped status and water history near Darby, Cobbs, Crum, Ridley and Chester creeks or the Delaware River. Local officials determine applicable floodplain and substantial-improvement requirements. That review belongs before decisions about additions, basement living space or equipment; neither a nearby creek nor a dry room establishes current flood status or suitability.
On-lot sewage in western Delco
For a home in Thornbury, Edgmont, Chadds Ford, Concord, Bethel, Middletown or elsewhere, confirm whether it uses septic. DCHD's existing-system evaluation considers permits, current and proposed bedrooms and sewage flows. Discuss a room conversion, new bathroom or bedroom early; the actual proposal and system determine the review, rather than a town name or an automatic bathroom rule.
Delaware County on-lot sewage programParty walls, tight lots and rear additions
In Upper Darby, Lansdowne, Yeadon, Ridley Park and other communities, review the actual yard, setbacks, coverage, drainage and boundaries before selecting an addition or entrance change. Shared-wall work may require engineering, appropriate neighboring-property coordination and protection; no approval or neighbor agreement is promised.
Contractor, engineering and equipment roles
NK holds Pennsylvania Home Improvement Contractor Registration #176617. Its Philadelphia Contractor License #059408 is a separate Philadelphia credential. NK carries insurance. Engineering and regulated-trade responsibilities require appropriately qualified professionals. A lift or elevator specialist assesses equipment suitability and installation requirements; NK coordinates the connected remodeling and structural preparation within the agreed scope.
Homeowner resource
How to Hire an Aging-in-Place Contractor in Pennsylvania
Choosing the right contractor means looking beyond the estimate. Learn how to evaluate remodeling experience, understand what's included in a proposal, and check the credentials and paperwork that matter.
Our guide also covers important Pennsylvania homeowner protections before you sign a contract.
Aging-in-place remodeling across all 49 Delaware County municipalities.
NK serves Delaware County with its own crews and project managers. Discuss the address and proposed work to confirm project suitability. Coverage does not guarantee acceptance of every project; NK's offices are in Philadelphia. NK also serves Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery and Chester counties.
Upper Darby and eastern Delco
Upper Darby, Drexel Hill, Primos, Secane, Lansdowne, East Lansdowne, Yeadon, Darby, Colwyn, Aldan, Clifton Heights, Collingdale, Sharon Hill, Folcroft, Glenolden and Millbourne.
Haverford, Radnor and Marple
Havertown, Haverford Township, Bryn Mawr, Wayne, Villanova, Rosemont, St. Davids, Radnor Township, Broomall, Marple Township, Newtown Square and Edgmont.
Media, Springfield and central Delco
Media, Springfield, Swarthmore, Wallingford, Nether Providence, Rose Valley, Upper Providence, Rutledge, Morton, Moylan, Rose Tree, Middletown Township and Lima.
River towns and western Delco
Ridley, Ridley Park, Prospect Park, Norwood, Tinicum, Essington, Eddystone, Chester, Upland, Brookhaven, Parkside, Aston, Marcus Hook, Trainer, Boothwyn, the Chichesters, Glen Mills, Garnet Valley, Concord, Thornbury, Bethel, Chadds Ford and Chester Heights.
Connected scopes
Other work that may be part of your project.
Explore the room and structural services where they relate to your plan, from bathroom and kitchen layouts to openings, walls and stairs.
Start a conversation
Discuss your Delaware County aging-in-place project.
Tell us about the people who use the home, the rooms involved and what has become difficult or is about to change. Discuss the address, priorities and likely scope, whether the starting point is a bathroom, first-floor living, recovery planning or an easier entrance.
Contact NK to discuss your project, priorities and next steps. We'll review the likely scope and confirm how we can help. The conversation does not obligate you to build. Any assessment scope, deliverables and applicable fee are confirmed before a visit; the planned comprehensive assessment is not yet available to book.
Questions, answered
Delaware County aging-in-place remodeling questions.
Explore planning questions about twins, entrances, essential bathroom access, approvals and connected rooms.
Does NK provide aging-in-place remodeling throughout Delaware County?
NK serves all 49 Delaware County municipalities, from Upper Darby, Drexel Hill and Havertown to Media, the river towns and western Delco. Discuss your address and proposed work so NK can confirm project suitability and whether it can take on the work. Countywide coverage does not guarantee acceptance of every project. NK's offices are in Philadelphia; this does not imply a Delaware County office.
Is a one-day bath remodel enough for aging in place?
Compare the actual proposed work with your needs. Replacing a tub or shower in a suitable layout is different from moving a bathroom to another floor, changing floor framing or widening a structural opening. Product selection, access, connected construction and applicable approvals need to be understood before deciding which scope fits.
What is universal design in home remodeling?
Universal design considers how a home can work for people with different needs and at different stages of life. Potential remodeling options include a lower-threshold shower, an easier entrance, wider circulation, main-floor sleeping and bathing, lever hardware and different work-surface arrangements. The right features depend on your household, your routines and the existing home.
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