Client
Duration
Aug 14, 2025
Restoring Independence at Home with the Elevate AVA Reach Home Lift
A South West England homeowner regains full access to their two-storey property with the installation of an Elevate AVA Reach through-floor home lift — matched by Platform Lift UK and installed by a vetted specialist with minimal disruption.
About the project
The Challenge
The client — a homeowner in the South West of England — contacted Platform Lift UK after finding that accessing the upper floor of their two-storey property had become increasingly difficult. A mobility condition had made using the staircase painful and unsafe on a daily basis, and the homeowner was concerned about their long-term ability to remain in the property they had lived in for many years.
The property was a traditional two-storey home with a carpeted living room at ground floor level and the main bedroom on the first floor. The homeowner's priority was clear — to regain safe, independent access to their bedroom without major disruption to the home and without the need to relocate to a single-storey property.
A stairlift had been considered but ruled out. The homeowner used a wheelchair part-time and needed a solution that would allow them to travel between floors without transferring out of the chair. A through-floor home lift was identified as the most appropriate solution — providing fully independent floor-to-floor access while leaving the staircase intact for other household members.
The homeowner submitted an enquiry through the Platform Lift UK website, describing their property, their mobility needs, and their preference for a lift that would integrate naturally into the living room without dominating the space.
Challanges
The Solution
latform Lift UK assessed the homeowner's requirements and matched them with a vetted lift specialist covering the South West region with specific experience in residential through-floor home lift installations. A free survey visit was arranged within one week of the initial enquiry.
During the survey, the installer assessed the ground floor living room and confirmed that the Elevate AVA Reach through-floor home lift was the most appropriate solution for the property. The AVA Reach was selected for several reasons specific to this installation.
The lift's compact footprint — suitable for installation directly through the living room ceiling into the bedroom above — meant that no significant structural alterations were required. The fully enclosed white cabin with glazed vision panels was chosen to complement the neutral décor of the living room, ensuring the lift added to rather than dominated the space. The automatic door, low-profile entry point, and powered folding arms were identified as key features for a wheelchair user requiring fully independent operation.
The installation was completed within two days by the vetted installer's trained engineers. The floor opening was created cleanly, the lift was installed and commissioned, and the room was left in a clean and tidy condition on completion. The homeowner was given a full demonstration of all controls, safety features, and emergency procedures before the engineers left the property.
The Elevate AVA Reach was installed with the following specification for this project — white fully enclosed cabin with glazed door panels, automatic powered arms, backlit LED display showing lift status, four-button control panel with up, down, stop, and door controls, internal cabin lighting, and battery backup for emergency lowering in the event of a power failure.
Summary
The Outcome
The homeowner reported an immediate and significant improvement in their daily quality of life following the installation. Access to the bedroom — previously a source of daily difficulty and safety concern — was restored fully and independently. The staircase remained intact and accessible for other household members, and the lift's white finish and glazed panels allowed it to sit naturally within the living room without the intrusive appearance the homeowner had initially been concerned about.
The lift's compact footprint when in the parked position meant the living room retained its full usability — with furniture arrangements requiring only minor adjustment to accommodate the installation. The homeowner noted that visitors to the property frequently commented that the lift looked more like a piece of contemporary furniture than a mobility aid — a reflection of the AVA Reach's design-led aesthetic.
From initial enquiry through Platform Lift UK to completed installation took six weeks — including the survey visit, manufacturing lead time, and installation. The homeowner confirmed they would recommend the Platform Lift UK matching service to anyone researching home lifts, citing the independence of the advice, the speed of the process, and the quality of the vetted installer as the key factors in a straightforward and stress-free experience.
The Elevate AVA Reach is now in daily use and subject to an annual service agreement with the installing company — ensuring the lift remains safe, compliant, and reliable for years to come.
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