Bathroom reno dilemma - YouLookFab Forum

DH and I have been going back and forth over the idea of renovating our ensuite bathroom in order to spruce it up and make it more friendly for ‘aging in place’. Our main wish is to have a curbless open shower (no glass). Our second wish to replace the jacuzzi tub (came with the house) for a soaker tub. Then install all the safety features - but with hardware that doesn’t look institutional.

The tub is the dilemma. The built in is actually super convenient. There is space for towels and toiletries, and getting in and out - if one is uncomfortable stepping over the edge - is as easy as sitting on the edge, and swinging one’s legs around.

All the showcase bathrooms seem to feature freestanding tubs, and claim the built in ones are ‘so 90’s’. (The house was built 1992 and the ensuite from that time.) Often there are caddies and stools near the freestanding styles to store toiletries, towels, and for a place to sit.

We’ve talked to renovators and bathroom specialists and asked the question of what’s best for 60+ yo’s and they all focus on the shower - curbless with all the mod com shower attachments and built in seating - and avoid the tub issue - other than to say, when converting bath spaces into showers, make sure to keep at least 1 bathroom with a tub!

Has anyone who’s gone through a bathroom reno or upgrade got any advice? Our last bathroom reno was 35 years ago, and a lot has changed since then. (At the time, an extra height shower for 6ft 2in DH was an extra expense, but it paid off when the DS’s ended up both taller than DH!)

FWIW, we’ve already replaced all the regular height toilets with the taller ‘comfort’ versions!

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3 months ago

Helena

Veteran

Hi Carla, we redid our master bathroom about 3 years ago now and had a similar built in tub. We did replace it with a freestanding tub BUT in my research I did find a lot of built ins that had been refreshed with updated tile, such as Carrera marble-look stone that looked good, and it's more cost efficient too so you could invest the savings elsewhere in the room. If the practicality is there, then I think you could consider that a reasonable option. It may not be "perfect" but you have to reno first for yourself! I will say the tub we have is rather tall to get in and out of (although I bet you could install some grab bars that would help). I think many if the newest designs are taller. Not the most practical to be sure.

Not sure if that is any help at all!

Indigoprint

Do you have access to an Occupational therapist input?
They are not salesmen, but are the resource brought in when accessibility is in question.
I learned a lot when an OT made visits to my Dad after a fall.
Prevention is the best medicine!

Carla just sharing a few of my screenshots

2 months ago

Eliza

Carla- Happy renovating. As Angie says, ‘horses for courses’, so I offer this in case it’s helpful. While I love the look of a free standing tub, it lost me on function and cleaning around the perimeter. The ins and outs are indeed trickier for aging in place; you also may forfeit convenient places for toiletries.
I have had 3 foot surgeries in the last 10 years and they all involved months without weight bearing on the involved side. Here are thoughts based on my experience: I had a decent sized shower (3x5 feet) interior without a built in bench. Post-op, I sat for showering on an elongated shower bench that allowed me to sit right at the door and slide over. Perfect for function and safety (no balancing on a wet floor-never touched it), but not where a permanent bench would ever be installed. I am glad to add in whatever seat works for circumstances. Of course in a larger shower, both would approaches could more easily co-exist.

On the attractive grab bar front, we just re-did another bath with a tub shower combo. Our plumbing supplier easily matched two attractive grab bars to our faucets and towel bars design. Most new builds near us incorporate some features for aging in place, so there are many more options now.

Hope it all goes smoothly!

Janet

(website)

We are doing this RIGHT NOW. I can relate to almost everything about your post. Our house was built in 1989 and our en suite bathroom is the last space on which we are doing a big renovation. Everything was falling apart in it, so it was a huge relief to finally do this.

I hated the huge jetted tub in our bathroom because it ate half the room. It's an awkward space anyway -- vaulted ceiling, a beam running through it, trapezoidal window and skylight... There used to be drywall separating the toilet and shower (it rendered the shower tiny and dark, I called it the shower closet), which made the tub feel even more overwhelming. We have a hot tub on an outside deck if we really want the jetted treatment.

We opted for a soaking tub and I like it (I've only used it once since the bathroom is not yet finished). It needs a portable stand/table to use to hold a drink or book, and our contractor is a woodworker who will make one for me. I'm also going to invest in a small wooden step to make entry and exit easier. It will also serve as a stepstool to make cleaning the tall shower glass easier (my husband is 6'6" -- we design for height in this house!).

We also chose a curbless shower as you can see in #2, but our bathroom is not large and some open door showers in hotel rooms convinced us that we want a door on our glass shower enclosure -- the splash and water escaping onto the floor outside the shower would drive me crazy. I think there will be room in it for a small fold-down or portable teak bench once the glass is installed. At the very least I want a little corner "shelf" to prop my foot on for shaving. We are going to wait and decide once we see how it all feels when the glass is in place.

Pics below of the room in progress. The shower in #1 is currently only defined by the floor tile -- glass will be installed next week. #2 shows the soaking tub. A heated towel rack will go to the left of it. The red box to the right and visible in the mirror is a mockup of a cabinet I designed as a small privacy partition and storage in between the tub and toilet. It will be done in the same walnut as the vanity cabinet and will be "faux floating" with a support underneath and a top that matches the quartzite on the vanity countertop.

#3 shows the vanity, sinks, and medicine cabinets. Walnut shelves will be put in the niche. As we speak, a painter is here working on finishing the trim around the window and door.

Angie

Fashion Stylist

Carla, we just finished remodeling both our bathrooms - well the entire loft, actually! - every square inch is new and custom-built.

My tips for bathroom remodels , FWIW:

Floating vanities are incredible. Put lights under them. You can keep the lights on at night. They look magical! Janet has floating vanities too, I see.
Opt for double sinks. DEEP! Then the water stays contained.
Mirrors need lights. BIG mirrors are worth it.
Get Japanese toilets with all the features. Toto and Signature are brilliant! We love them.
Get the BEST glass for the shower doors. Keep the doors minimal. Walk-in showers are wonderful.
Underfloor heating is nice.
We kept our taps VERY minimal. One lever.
Go BIG in the shower. As big as you can. We did that - no bath. It's luxurious.
Use tiles that are forgiving and easy to clean.
The best bathmats are from Ruggable. We have three of them!
Make sure the towel racks are practical and not in the way. Go as few as you can manage.
Allow for many outlets. We have outlets in the drawers too.
We keep everything in the drawers and closets. Nothing on the vanities for soap and my perfume. No clutter.

Our decor and design aesthetic in Scandinavian - (my fave along with Asian design). So very white with light oak and silver. Pearl grey toilet accessories. Clean, clean, clean. Bright artworks in the bathrooms! Fun mats too. We are VERY pleased with the results!

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