In this basic 5x8 bath in a 1980’s duplex, the owners, both in their late 70’s, wanted a redo that removed the tub and gave them a semi-accessible shower (they still insisted on a curb). As they age, if more access is needed, the glass door will give way to a curtain, and a transfer bench provided to get into the shower.
As they are both ambulatory, but with orthopedic challenges, we provide a variety of assistive hardware, starting outside the shower where the towel bar is actually an assist bar. It is mounted on a decorative wood piece because we couldn’t put blocking behind the drywall, as a duct and plumbing vent were in the way.
A vertical grab bar at the shower entry helps getting in, while a long horizontal on the back wall provides security while showering. The slide bar for the hand held shower is also rated as an assist bar. The first two bars are additionally knurled, which makes them non slip for wet or soapy hands.
At the back of the shower a teak fold down seat is firmly mounted to blocking in the wall for use as needed. Finally, a surface mounted soap dish and shampoo tray store needed accessories.
Inspiration for the bath started when they found a rustic cabinet from Indonesia at a local showroom. Given that the bath was already painted a dark brown, it started a discussion about a tribal design theme. The owners had a prized African wood sculpture to add. Then their daughter, an artist/social worker volunteered to paint an elephant on one wall, and a fantasy night forest on another.
The lav is a hammered copper piece that was mounted above the low countertop, with the faucet and all hardware being black for contrast. The extravagance in the bath was the Toto toilet with heated bidet seat, and amenity that most tribes do NOT have!
