Third Street Project – Master Bathroom Renovation
| Room | Master Bathroom |
|---|---|
| Project scope | Integrate aging-in-place features to accommodate current and future needs. |
This 3rd Street remodel was a classic aging in place project. The Owners, in their late 60’s, discovered that the small, plastic corner tub in the master bath was becoming difficult to get in and out of. This made it scary to get in and out of, and posed a slip-and-fall hazard. They decided to remodel the whole bathroom. They were on a budget so they kept the original cabinets, but we raised the height to 36” like kitchen cabinets, to make it easier to lean over and brush teeth, etc. The Owners love their home and neighborhood. They intend to stay there “until they carry us out feet-first,” so the modifications were planned for their needs now and in the future as they age in place.
The biggest change was taking out the old plastic tub and creating a larger, safer, walk-in shower. This will be especially functional if either of them needs to use a walker or wheelchair someday. Compare the wide entry into the shower to the narrow entry into the old tub.
Attractive hand rails were installed at strategic locations and a teak-and-stainless steel fold-down seat was installed. It will very handy in case either spouse needs to sit for bathing someday. The knee space in the old cabinets was kept because it is the right dimensions for seated grooming. We added lighting as people need more and more light as they grow older.
Note the generous shampoo niches in the shower. These are placed so they can easily be reached from a standing or sitting position. These also keep shampoo bottles and other bathing items off the floor where they can be a trip hazard.
These “before” and “after” photos show how a few changes in a bathroom can make a huge improvement in functionality and safety for seniors for many, many years. Most importantly, the owners love the new look of their beautiful bathroom!
