Aging Beautifully
Last week we heard from Jim Butz of Architecturally Speaking about the importance of Age-in-Place design. This week I’d like to show you how a client incorporated some of these concepts into her bathroom remodel. Her concerns when we began were to be able to live in her condo as long as possible without having to remodel again further down the road.
Here’s the outcome:
Lincoln Park Condo
In this view you can see a few things:
- The faucet is a single handle “joystick” which makes operation easy for anyone
- The toilet is a “comfort height” toilet
- The flooring is porcelain tile but it has a non-slip grooved finish
- You can’t see it but we added lighting below the vanity for a little added night light effect
- The cabinets and drawers open by touch-latch
Another view:
Lincoln Park Condo
Here you can see that we utilized:
- A grab bar above the tub, and we added blocking behind the wall for an additional grab bar near the shower handles
- A separate hand-held shower head
- Low-sided tub for easier access
Several months after we finished the project, the client broke her ankle. She was pleased with the improvements we had made as they allowed her to shower more easily during the time she was in a cast. She simply put a small removable shower seat in the tub and used that while hanging her foot out of the tub.
You can see that while we incorporated several principles of A-I-P design, we kept the look from becoming “institutional”.
Does this change your mind about what A-I-P design looks like?
Design Project Diary- Day 28
- At August 30, 2010
- By catherineschager
- In Case Studies
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As of tomorrow, the client will have a fully functional if not completely finished bathroom. Yea! The last few days have been interesting and a bit of a challenge for our patience.
We were originally scheduled to have the granite countertop delivered on Thursday. I had made arrangements with the contractor to be onsite to accept delivery and make sure that the sink and faucet were available. Well, I got a call very early on Thursday to say that the contractor wouldn’t be available. Great. He didn’t have anyone that he could send to accept the countertop. The client was willing to run home and accept it, but after discussing it further, we didn’t want her to sign off on it in case there was a problem. I wasn’t available to get down there in time, and the contractor really should be the one confirming that it’s all ok. We decided to cancel the delivery. Disappointing, but after working it out with the contractor, I rescheduled for the next day, and was told delivery would be at 8:30 am.
Well…..Friday morning I got a few calls from an unhappy contractor who had been waiting for two hours with no delivery. Crud. Called the granite people and they don’t quite understand how it happened, but no, we’re not on the schedule for today and no, they don’t have anyone to deliver today and will call me back to let me know when they CAN schedule it- after all we did cancel yesterday’s delivery. What?! Is that supposed to be customer service?
Ok, take a deep breath, exhale slowly, be polite and let people get it worked out. While I like to have an immediate resolution- especially since the ball got dropped on their end- I decide to wait a specific amount of time before calling them back to raise hell. The woman calls back before that time arrives. She is now much more pleasant, has a resolution and an apology, and assures me that the delivery can happen Monday.
I hate to have to disappoint the client yet again. She takes the news well and is very understanding. I also call the contractor and apologize for the mix-up. He is pretty nice about it as well.
Now for the good news! Our plumbing salesman has managed to get the missing shower part to my house on Friday. He is a god! I let the contractor know that I can drop it off at his house as he lives only about 10 minutes from me. That means that the client can have a fully operational shower on Tuesday because the shower doors get installed on Monday.
The sconce and the under-cabinet lighting was installed on Friday, so now all we need to do is get a smaller towel bar (the original one is too long due to the new light switch placement) and wait for the legs- which should be here in about a week. Yee ha, we’re almost there!
Here are the latest pictures for your viewing pleasure.
The new shower doors
The granite. Pretty!
Ta daaa! The new sink, faucet and countertop!
Design Project Diary- Day 21
The client is getting weary of not being able to shower at home. For some reason, the pieces needed to finish up the shower were not installed on Friday. 🙁 I’m hoping the contractor resolves that today.
The good news: we’ve selected a new coverlet fabric (yay!) which is in stock (double yay!) and have chosen the finish for the bedroom furniture. The headboard is in, and the chair is on its way. Now we’re waiting on the countertop, and the legs to finish off the vanity (ordered). Then I just have to get all the fabrics and trims off to the fabricator and in a couple of weeks, voila’! The rooms will be magically transformed!
As those of you who have been reading this know, it only seems like magic once you’ve seen the finished project. I like to think of the process as being like childbirth. Once it’s done, you forget the pain. Truthfully, this hasn’t even been that painful.
The things to remember when doing a project are:
- It rarely goes without some sort of hitch. Recognize that going in and know that if you have chosen good people to work with, they’ll figure out ways to resolve it quickly and properly.
- It almost always takes more time than anticipated- see bullet point above. You can lay your best plans, but when that unexpected glitch comes up, it may slow things down a bit.
- Be sure to build in a little flexibility in the budget just for the unexpected.
- Lastly, you cannot underestimate the value of working with good people. Sure, you can find people to do something for less money- but are they people that you know and trust to resolve issues correctly and in a timely fashion?
Here are some new project pictures- enjoy!
Almost done!
I think she really likes her shiny new tub!
Design Project Diary- Day 17
- At August 16, 2010
- By catherineschager
- In Case Studies
- 0
Today is one of those days when there’s not a lot going on. Our project is nearly completed, and the day’s work (so far) consists of follow-up work.
- Check with client to see if she’s received and approved new fabrics for coverlet and bolster pillow
- Check with vendor for shower doors to see when they’ll be installed
- Now that new tub spout has been selected- check with plumber to confirm that he will purchase it and ask him if client will be able to shower today. He suggests installing something that she can use temporarily until her spout comes in. (Client is VERY happy!)
- Confirm with artist creating vanity legs on design and materials and schedule meeting with him later this week.
- Check on progress for dresser and night stands for bedroom.
Ahh, it’s nice to have a day that doesn’t have an issue demanding immediate attention! Check back later in the week for new updates. Today’s treat: A picture of my client (and no, she doesn’t look this way all the time- only on special occasions.)
She's really very friendly!
Design Project Diary- Day 16
- At August 14, 2010
- By catherineschager
- In Case Studies
- 0
We’re in the home stretch now! The paint is done, the trim on the baseboard tile has been resolved, the lighting is up, and I have even come up with a design for the vanity legs that the client likes. Not only that, but I’ve found another fabric for the coverlet which is similar to the first, and a new bolster fabric because the original- which is beautiful- may take forever to get here. There isn’t any of that fabric in stock here in the States, and the mill is in Italy- which shuts down for the month of August. Considering that we need only a whopping 2 yards, I’m thinking that it’s very likely that we could be waiting a long time for a pillow fabric.
Ok so far, having a happy Friday and then the contractor calls. At 2:30. The plumber doesn’t like our choice of tub fillers (spout). He feels that the length and weight of it and the way it’s attached, make it a likely candidate for breakage if it’s leaned upon in any way. Hmmm. And, it’s missing a part. Ok, I call the client to see how she feels about the recommendation. I’m surprised that the plumber would voice a concern- but grateful that he’s giving us the benefit of his expertise. I’m glad that he cares enough about what he does to want it to be right for the client.
After talking to the client, I jump on the internet to try to find an alternative. I come up with a few that are reasonably close to the look we’re trying to achieve. I also decide that once we pick something we like, we’re checking in with the plumber to make sure it will work as the way the spout gets attached can vary.
Rats! The alternative doesn’t attach in the same way and would cause more modifications to the existing plumbing in order to attach. I suggest to the contractor that maybe it would be best for the plumber and I to discuss the situation. The plumber calls and explains that he understands our design intent and is working on finding an alternative which will keep our look, but also not create more problems in attaching. I’m impressed. He calls back shortly with a model number to look at. I think it can work. Client likes it!
Yippee! Now we can finalize on those vanity legs. Next week we’ll work on the finish for the dresser and night stands for the bedroom and get cuttings ordered for the new fabrics. The headboard should be on its way shortly, as should the chair. We’re getting closer and closer to completion!
Here are some new progress pics!
The new lights
floor tile and baseboard with stainless finishing strip
The paint color alongside the tile- note the white squares of paint color!
Design Project Diary- Day 13
- At August 10, 2010
- By catherineschager
- In Case Studies
- 0
Two notes to self:
- Don’t go on vacation while a design project is underway.
- If you must go- take your file with you!
Ok, so nothing horrendous happened- just had to schedule things, make decisions, and confirm that what we wanted was getting done. My husband and I left on Friday for a long-awaited weekend away with the kids, their dogs and our grandson. A four day weekend on the lake- sounds idyllic, no?
Well…. on Friday I got a call from the contractor that we need to schedule the field measure for the vanity counter top for Wednesday. Of course, we were already on the road and I had no file with me. Fortunately I wasn’t driving and did have the phone numbers for the granite supplier in my phone (which had its own little meltdown the day before. Always get the data back-up plan. It’s a life saver.) Called the supplier and the gal that I needed to speak to wasn’t in- would I please send them an e-mail? Fortunately, the woman I spoke to was incredibly helpful when I explained the situation and got the info to the right people.
The contractor also needed the paint colors by early Tuesday, which I had sent to the client earlier in the week for her to finalize. I had wanted to view the samples in the room before giving the colors to the contractor, but as I wouldn’t be home until Monday evening- it would prove to be a bit of a challenge.
Fortunately my e-mail was getting to my phone and we were able to confirm some things that way over the weekend. She selected the color and I suggested that eggshell would be a better looking finish than semi-gloss. Also wanted to pick a ceiling color that wasn’t white as it would be too stark. After returning Monday evening, we decided that I would come to her house very early Tuesday morning so that I could assist with the final paint selection and we could choose a ceiling color.
Then, I got the call. The contractor had not installed the metal strips that were supposed to finish off the baseboard tile. Crud. She was really excited about those. Well, we’ll just call him tomorrow and he’ll have to fix it. Hopefully it won’t involve having to wait for more tile- but we’ll see. A snafu to be sure, but one that can be fixed.
Last item for today- the 4th cutting for approval for the bedroom coverlet still isn’t quite right. Client and I agree that we go for plan B and find another fabric as I don’t think it’s going to get any closer. Not a huge deal, just one that makes everything take a little longer.
Client asked me this morning if I was a bit of a control freak. Hmm, you think?
Ok, here are the latest progress pictures! Enjoy!
Niche
Floor Tile
More of the floor
