Ken & Lana’s bathroom was no longer serving their needs, and was only going to become more difficult to use as they age in place. The only aspect that was working for them were their vanities. We needed to address their tub function, walking path, and shower, while also adding a lot more aesthetic value to their whole bathroom!

For one, getting into their tub was dangerous. The sides had super high lips to step over, and in the one area with a lower lip sat the tub filler. It was a tub they could never even get in to clean, let alone enjoy a nice soak. We spent some time researching the perfect tub for this uniquely sized space, and ended up going with the Aquatic Valencia Tub, which only has a 1” lip. Relocating the tub filler to the side and selecting a narrower tub to give them more surface space allows them to age in place and finally use their tub!

Additionally, their shower had moisture retention problems. We installed a proper Schluter-Kerdi waterproofing system to ensure all moisture stays on the tile surface instead of within the walls. We also used an epoxy grout, which is more mildew resistant than traditional grout, and a more powerful vent fan outside of the shower pulls moisture out more effectively. (Vent fans inside of showers tend to rust over time). Ideally, a more spacious shower with plenty of ventilation room is best. However, the footprint of this bathroom just didn’t allow for that. Often times in remodeling, you have to get creative and work with what you got! We love helping our clients problem solve for unique situations like this, all while making their space more beautiful. A lower curb, grab bars, and bench will all help them use this shower for years to come.

Lastly, their tall cabinet storage was so deep that it was creating a choke point to the master closet. We removed & deconstructed the cabinet, cut down the sides so that it was only 18″ deep at its widest point, and reinstalled it. It’s now about 6″ more shallow and makes a huge difference in the flow of this space. No more bruising their hips trying to round the corner to the closet!

Aesthetically: the pop of lavender in the toilet closet, the arabesque tile accent wall in the shower, upgraded shampoo storage and fixtures, Icaria field tile, and of course that stunning wallpaper (which provided the basis for all of our selections), make this bathroom a true retreat! With the exception of the one cabinet modification, we maintained the existing layout, and even reinstalled the existing vanity cabinets. Even so, this feels like a completely new space!