This picture from J Tribble Collection offers many choices for special small spaces with interesting details.
Bathrooms
My Very Own Age-In-Place Bathroom
After many years of design-new builds and remodels, it was time to create an updated bath for our own home! I kept two parts: the tub (rarely used) and the glass door! Originally there was an angled wall facing the entrance for privacy in the shower but baths are more open now. The restriction was exterior walls on two sides. There was not enough drop for a side drain but we could move the shower to the one outside wall and the door allows for full access to the shower area if needed. The new quartzite Taj Mahal tub surround is deep enough to sit on two sides. Great for sitting while facing the shower or applying lotion after. It’s also a safety feature as you can sit on the surround, pivot and lift your legs into the tub. The limestone floor and shower walls combine with the spa rock, natural stone deco band and Porcelanosa tub facing. The Toto Washlet has been an excellent experience. Shower shelves, hand held spray and grab bar complete the new look. The bath looks much more spacious and inviting plus the new materials are easier to clean.
A Cleaner Bathroom
As we have all experienced a year with increased focus on cleanliness, here are some options for your bathroom.
Changing to a bidet may be as easy as adding a Toto Washlet C5 bidet seat to your current toilet! Touchless faucets and self-closing toilet lids make for less contact on germy surfaces. Faucets may be voice activated, have temperature memory and a 20 second washing mode. Look at these Grohe Ladylux L2 Smartcontrol Faucets!
A Beautiful and Practical Design Solution
On a current project in an apartment complex, the client just wasn’t happy with the existing dark brown accent tiles in the master bathroom. Of course, whenever there is contrast your eye goes to the dark color. So you don’t use contrast unless it is the intended focal point! Up 5 floors, down a long hallway and over new white carpet is not the most ideal tear-out. And let’s not forget that grout is made of sand and water! I called one of the detail painters I have used for thirty+ years as we have done many custom backsplashes. Would the same paints work to just paint the existing dark tile to a lighter color? Yes! With all of her past experience painting columns to look like stone, blending the new paint with the existing stone would look seamless. Voila! We saved the client time, money and achieved the end result we all wanted!
Correct Ceiling Height for Bathrooms
It happens all the time! The ceilings are high in the main part of the home and the bathroom ceilings are left at the same height! This is a design flaw that reflects on your architect!! Ceilings in smaller spaces need to be lower to maintain proportion. Either with a new build or a remodel, corrections can be made. The ceiling can be framed out, drywall added and the scale of the room is back to a more comfortable height. In the two baths pictured, we elected to add details to avoid the feeling of too much overhead space. Often air conditioning ducts need to be considered. Lighting fixtures can extend down and fill the space.
In the bath with the arches, we welded together pre-made squares to fit the space and the lighting is above, creating interesting designs within the powder room.
The other bath had an atypical flow as the homeowner added a urinal after the fact. To fill the space, medallions that are typically at the ceiling around the top of a chandelier were extended with custom poles enclosing a LED lamp. The design adds interest, corrects the space issue and creates a path to give the bath flow.
Who Needs Toilet Paper!
Certainly a blog post for the times! Who needs toilet paper! We have Toto Washlets! If you have an existing Toto, you can get a new seat added with electricity. Everyone I know that has one loves it! A plumber with electrical abilities can get you on track for a stress-free, paperless experience! It washes and drys. The units and parts are available at Ferguson’s, Arizona Central Supply and Clyde Hardware.
Custom Tile for a Powder Room
Hand painted hexagon shaped tiles lighten the powder room. Once a design motif and colors were established, Betty Hahn cut stencils and painted the tiles. Caution! The longer the tiles dry, the more stable the paint. The installer did have to avoid washing grout over the pattern.
Replacing or Framing a Bathtub
Today’s “in” look is a free standing tub but if one wants to age-in-place, a lower tub is a better option. You can specify the tub you want. Most showrooms have tubs you can try for comfort. The back slant and length are important. If the tub is to have a deck so you can use it to sit, put your shoes on, lotion up or swing your legs into the tub, the distance from the tub rim to the edge detail can be close to 10”. This is sufficient for sitting and easier cleaning than a deeper deck. A separate spray located on the outer side will allow for rinsing the tub. The height of the deck should be chair height – 17” so adjust the flooring under the tub for this height and tie in any windowsills with back-splash material. Specify a honed finish on the floor and a soft rug to step on with your wet feet! The comforts of home!
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
