Bathroom remodel makes a 1939 home ready to 'age in place'

DONNA MIDDLETON | West Central Tribune

My husband Rand thought he would like a new pickup. I had a different idea, something that would allow us to “age in place” in our home.

Our tiny main-floor bathroom featured state-ofthe-art fixtures circa 1939. It was 5 feet wide and 5-feet-6-inches deep, with an additional 18 inches with the door closed.

Our master bedroom is on the second floor and the laundry is in the basement. The main floor has two bedrooms, one of which has been used as an office. The bathroom was expanded by installing a walk-in shower that is the size of a standard bathtub, taking the space from the office. If future owners would want a bathtub, the solid surface surround could be cut out and a standard tub put in.

The general contractor was Charles Construction. Shower, vanity, lights and accessories by Interior Design Studio. Shower doors by Total Glass, Inc.

PHOTO 1: This is the original bathroom from the hallway. There were just 10 inches between the toilet and bathtub while the sink hung over the edge of the tub.

PHOTO 2: The bathroom was gutted to the studs. The basement is unfinished, which allowed easy access to move plumbing and heating vents.

PHOTO 3: New walls were built. This view was taken standing in the office.

PHOTO 4: On the office side of the bathroom wall are washer and dryer hook-ups.

PHOTO 5: Back shower wall showing “backer boards.” I was very concerned that we have backer boards in place in case we need to add grab bars in the future. The white box is the washer hook-up in the office. I even took photos with a measuring tape so I would know exactly where they are.

PHOTO 6: Backer boards for toilet grab bars and towel hooks. You can see the tub plumbing has not yet been removed and the walls are framed into the office.

PHOTO 7: Shower before the doors are installed. Walls are solidsurface and go to the ceiling. A ceiling light was installed in the shower. The center of the shower head is removable for hand-held use.

PHOTO 8: The shower with glass doors and the shelves at the end.

PHOTO 9: A granite vanity top on standard (kitchen height) cabinets with the shelves next to the shower and the control for the underfloor heat reflected in the mirror. Besides the electric outlet next to the counter, there is one inside the vanity cabinet.

PHOTO 10: The back of the door has the original hook, and I chose the same type for the towel hooks in the room.

PHOTO 11: A view of the finished bathroom. The toilet is regular height and is a pressure-assist toilet, rated “high efficiency.” Its average consumption is one gallon per flush. The window covering is adjustable top and bottom. The bathroom seemed the perfect place for Rand’s photo of the Athabasca Glacier in Canada.