BATH RECOMMENDATIONS PROJECT
Jane & John are remodeling the en suite bathroom of their master bedroom. Surfaces could use an update and it needs to be more functional for long-term use.
Their wishlist for improvements includes:
1)Removing a seldom-used corner tub.
2)Reconguring the shower to be free of doors or curtains, and to be more spacious to t a bench.
3)Keep 2 separate lavatory areas.
4)Keep the toilet behind a walled area.
5)Future-proof and apply Universal Design concepts to ease use with aging.
6)Find material solutions for lile or no tile grout to keep maintenance easy.
Key design recommendations include:
1)Leaving shower and toilet in same general locations but arranging walls to be more spacious.
2)Creating a low- or no-threshold shower entrance paired with a rainfall shower head for a barrier free layout.
3)Move one lavatory to the corner where tub was and make use of that wall location for storage.
4)Consider a oating or console vanity for the other lavatory, open underneath for seated use.
5)Other Universal Design concepts utilized include geing as close to 36" wide walkways and openings where possible, and using single lever faucets for lavatories and shower.
These concepts and our meeting notes are covered in more detail on the following pages.
SMALLTOWERS FLANKMIRROR, ORCOULDBE LARGERLINEN ONRIGHT ANDMOVESINK LEFTCLOSER TOSOUTH WINDOW
UNDERFLOOR HEATING BELOW EXISTINGOR NEWFLOOR
ORAFLAT RUNTALTYPE RADIATOR HERE
HAIRDRYERIN OUTLETDRAWER
ADDSTORAGE INTOILET COMPARTMENT (NWALLORSHELVES)
MOVEWALLAPPROX414" TONCREASETOLETAREA TO36"WIDE
BATHROOM CLHT=96"
ADDBLOCKING TOWALLSFOR GRABBARS (FORNOWOR INTHEFUTURE)
LAUNDRY HAMPERS UNDER COUNTER
CONSIDER FLOATINGOR CONSOLE VANITY, OPENBELOW FOR SEATEDUSE
NOTE:DRAWINGSAREFOR DESIGNCONCEPT,ROUGHIDEAS, ANDRECOMMENDEDCHANGES ONLY.NOTTOBEUSED FORCONSTRUCTIONWITHOUT CONTRACTORVERIFICATION ANDFINALSPECIFICATIONOF ALLITEMS.
ALTERNATIVEVIEW:
1)COUNTERTOPSRAISEDTOONELEVEL
2)SOUTHWALLVANITYWITH1LARGELINENTOWERONRIGHTANDSINKMOVEDTOTHELEFTCLOSERTOSOUTHWINDOW
Key concepts discussed:
1)Overall goal is to make the new space as accessible as possible (space requirements for wheelchair use being at one potential extreme) without moving closet walls or windows, while keeping in mind resale value and space appealing to variety of future users. Applying Universal Design concepts where possible addresses these needs, accommodating a wide variety of users across different life stages.
2)Entrance to the space from bedroom is an immediate challenge to the ideal width of walkways (34” to 36” minimum recommended for wheelchair use) as hallway is 31 7/8” and the pocket door opening is only 27 1/2”. I think it’s ok to put on hold for now, just keep in mind the closet spaces may need future changes (such as reconguring to use some of bedroom space), but that could be dealt with down the road only if/when increased hallway width were to become necessary. (I can send a separate rough sketch for closet recommendation if desired).
3)Concept for shower has a partial wall topped with glass to allow daylight in. A paerned nish on the outside of the wall matches the shower interior so it visually recedes and feel less like a box blocking the center of the room. Materials for the shower walls could be rectied tiles (can be ed with 1 mm epoxy grout lines that are nearly invisible and easy to keep clean). For zero grout a 1/2" composite material such as Wilsonart Thinscape could be used which will have a quartz-like appearance, or Wilsonart WetWall which is their new 7/16” waterproof laminate panel.
4)Shower in new plan accommodates a standard 36” x 48” shower pan or sloped tiled oor, with goal of curb being ush or less than 1/2" high. A resource I liked for textured resin pans in this size is Duplach Stone Plus. I also liked Aquabella, Marmite, and Quare. There are many similar styles on Wayfair. Surface should be non-slip rated, and sloped but at since bench is to be used.
Waterproof entire shower interior and perimeter around shower & toilet areas, also consider barrier/ membrane such as Schluter Kerdi under entire bathroom oor to 6" up from oor on non-shower walls.
5)Shower has been drawn with controls on the north wall so they can be accessed from outside of the water stream. Both a rainfall shower head and a separate adjustable hand held unit are included for Universal Design.
6)Opening to the shower should be 22” minimum per code. 36” is recommended for wheelchair full access, but if user can wheel up to the entrance and then stand and take steps in (referred to as a “transfer”) then 32” is workable. Current plan is at 31 3/4" which is very close. Bench shown in shower is moveable so it can be out of the way or moved inside the pan area when seating is required. Another option would be to also mount a folding teak seat inside the pan area on the south wall.
7)Blocking for installing grab bars now or in the future should be added to framing. I’ve indicated several key positions on the plan. Horizontal bar height is recommended to be between 33” and 36”. Small vertical bars are useful at compartment openings. I can help ne tune grab bar placement and size recommendations as you make more nal decisions about them. I like standard “peened” nish but there are many decorative bars on the market now too including styles that can be tiled. Remember grab bars can hold towels, but never use a towel bar as a grab bar, it is not designed to support sufficient weight.
8)For vanities, if one or the other of you should end up using a wheelchair (or maybe you'll just nd it more comfortable to sit even if not using wheelchair) it's worth considering the east wall vanity being open below for the exibility of seated use. This could be a oating style or an open-front console style. I’ve drawn it at a lowered 32” height but you should evaluate what the right height might be for you. 34” could be a good height for both standing and seated use.
Counters open below could accommodate waste basket and hampers for laundry. A hairdryer outlet can be installed in any drawer and may be especially handy near seated user.
The south wall vanity could also be open below or have front doors that open for knee space for a seated user. Towers were added on both sides of mirror for storage, but a single larger linen tower could also be placed only on the right side with the sink placed closer to the window to feel more open to natural light.
9)Heat sources discussed included underoor heating or a at Euro-style radiator as well as a towel warmer in shower area. Underoor heating could tie into your hydronic system or could be electric. I've used WarmUp for electric (and my mother-in-law used it too in her studio). Insulation boards are a good idea to install below in-oor heating to help with efficiency & direct heat upwards. Typically underoor heat is beer to put under tile so it can act as mass to hold and spread the heat, but there are systems ok to use under wood also if you wanted to keep ooring as you have now. Again a good option is rectied tiles with 1 mm epoxy grout if you want easy to clean tile oor. Make sure they are non-slip specied for wet areas. One I like is Arizona Tile's "Anthea" 12" x 24" in warm-toned color Gray.
The at hydronic radiator we installed in our living room is by Runtal. They’re steel, come in many colors, and only protrude from the wall 2”. They also make hydronic towel warmers, or a combo towel & room heater (electric or hydronic). Several other suppliers make standard hydronic towel warmers.
10)Toilet wall was moved to increase compartment width to 36" with center of toilet 18" from each wall. Shelving or a wall cabinet can be added for storage. For storing plungers and cleaning supplies out of sight I like the Hy-dit cubby, designed to recess into a framed wall between standard 16” stud space.
Materials
Time for this initial project phase was spent primarily on a new oor plan layout & a meeting to review recommended options that could be discussed with contractors. From there more decisions can be made to nalize xtures, cabinetry, and surface nishes. As a starting point, I used shades of white & warm grey, drawing inspiration from the existing grey windowsills in the space. I've pinned example photos to your Pinterest board to help illustrate concepts and possible options. (All of the branded items mentioned in the above notes are pinned also). A few more specics are as follows:
1)Cabinets: There are many brands from stock to custom and good options will vary based on your region, needs, and budget. A few that I like to start out suggesting for style, price, and quality are Kraftmaid, IKEA, and semi-custom Diamond At Lowe's (they also have the stock line Diamond Now there).
Based on your survey and on seeing a bit of Craftsman style in your photos I think cabinet colors could be white, grey, or a classic medium wood tone.
2)Countertops: Natural stone such as quartzite or soapstone could be good options with the vibe of your home. Engineered alternatives that I also like are Corian solid surface or Silestone quartz.
3)Faucets & Shower Controls: Brands I like for style, price, and quality are Moen & Brizo. I recommend following Universal Design guideline of single lever handles on faucets and shower (easy to use with one hand). Touch on/off or motion sensors are more available now too for even easier universal use.
4)Toilet: There are many features these days and worth some time researching if replacing. "Comfort height" of 17" to 19" above oor is gaining populariy compared to standard 15". A wall mounted unit can be easily set at any height, and is out of the way for oor cleaning, along with taking up less oor space due to water tank being concealed in the wall. Nightlights are becoming a common feature too.
5)Lavatories: I primarily like undermount or vessel sinks. In the drawings I’ve provided one of each so you can evaluate. One of each type can work too so that each vanity has its own style yet they could be coordinated to each other by color and shape.
6)Lighting: Once the layout, cabinetry, and vanity selections are nalized, a lighting plan should take into account general ambient light as well as task lighting in each area. Vanities should have light coming from both sides rather than just from above. A night light plan can also be incorporated under cabinets and in shower, toilet, and other areas for safe but subtle lighting for trips to the bathroom during the night.
As you get further along in decision making, and if you'd like to provide inspiration photos showing any additional direction for the look or feel you're seeking, I'd be happy to help source other specic products, make additional CAD drawings, or work out lighting and closet plans, etc... in a Phase 2 project.
MEETING & MATERIALS NOTES
(FROM 03/08/22 ZOOM)