Bathroom of the Week: Grab Bars and a Curbless Shower
A designer gives a 55-square-foot bathroom a tranquil and expansive feel while also making it safe for aging in place
Their mother needed more help adapting her 100-year-old Craftsman house for aging in place, so two devoted daughters decided to hire a professional designer for the first time. They discovered kitchen and bathroom designer Tiara Lewis online and invited her to assess the 55-square-foot bathroom.
“They had tried small renovations of the bathroom over the years and nothing was working out,” Lewis says. “They thought they might have to relocate the bathroom to a bigger space. But I saw it and told them that I could absolutely make it work.” After carefully studying how the homeowner moved around the space and identifying where she needed grab bars for support, Lewis, who uses Houzz Pro software, designed a bathroom that is not only fully accessible but also tranquil and stylish while honoring the home’s historical character.
“They had tried small renovations of the bathroom over the years and nothing was working out,” Lewis says. “They thought they might have to relocate the bathroom to a bigger space. But I saw it and told them that I could absolutely make it work.” After carefully studying how the homeowner moved around the space and identifying where she needed grab bars for support, Lewis, who uses Houzz Pro software, designed a bathroom that is not only fully accessible but also tranquil and stylish while honoring the home’s historical character.
Before Photo
After: Lewis began by having her client demonstrate how she navigated the bathroom and used the shower, including where she needed support without her walker. Armed with this information, the designer placed ADA-compliant grab bars attached to supports inside the walls on the left (not visible here), next to the toilet and inside the shower on the pony wall.
“A lot goes into placing grab bars and other surfaces they can lean on, such as the person’s height and whether they are right-handed or left-handed,” Lewis says.
“Safety always comes first in my designs,” she says. “I recommend everyone install grab bars, especially in a shower. You may be young, but you never know when something will happen. You may have an injury, get sick or be pregnant and need the extra support.”
“A lot goes into placing grab bars and other surfaces they can lean on, such as the person’s height and whether they are right-handed or left-handed,” Lewis says.
“Safety always comes first in my designs,” she says. “I recommend everyone install grab bars, especially in a shower. You may be young, but you never know when something will happen. You may have an injury, get sick or be pregnant and need the extra support.”
The shower is curbless and has a wide opening. Lewis considered that her client would need assistance inside the shower and designed it accordingly. The shower includes a handheld wand and a teak stool. Lewis replaced the original window with privacy glass and added a ledge that’s not only deep enough to hold products but also able to provide extra support.
“The ledge is marble, but it has a matte surface that is not slippery,” Lewis says. “My client is right-handed, so the grab bar is on the right wall, but she can also hold herself up by placing her left hand on the ledge.”
The floor is covered in digitally printed porcelain tiles that are shower-rated and slip-proof. They run throughout the bathroom into the shower, which makes the compact space feel larger.
“The ledge is marble, but it has a matte surface that is not slippery,” Lewis says. “My client is right-handed, so the grab bar is on the right wall, but she can also hold herself up by placing her left hand on the ledge.”
The floor is covered in digitally printed porcelain tiles that are shower-rated and slip-proof. They run throughout the bathroom into the shower, which makes the compact space feel larger.
Though safety and functionality came first, the homeowner didn’t want to scrimp on style. “I checked out the whole house and asked lots of questions to feel out what she liked,” Lewis says. “She wanted a tranquil and soothing feeling in the bathroom, so I used elongated blue tiles to bring in that energy. I used a vertical pattern to draw the eye up.”
The blue tile continues across the shower ceiling, creating an enveloping, calming atmosphere. “Her old shower felt claustrophobic, and you especially don’t want it to feel that way when you’re aging,” Lewis says. To avoid a sterile look, she installed Delta grab bars with a champagne bronze finish.
The homeowner didn’t want a built-in bench, so Lewis found an outdoor-rated teak stool that can stand up to water. This was the most versatile option, and the teak adds a natural touch.
See why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software
The blue tile continues across the shower ceiling, creating an enveloping, calming atmosphere. “Her old shower felt claustrophobic, and you especially don’t want it to feel that way when you’re aging,” Lewis says. To avoid a sterile look, she installed Delta grab bars with a champagne bronze finish.
The homeowner didn’t want a built-in bench, so Lewis found an outdoor-rated teak stool that can stand up to water. This was the most versatile option, and the teak adds a natural touch.
See why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software
A new 33-inch-wide pocket door is on the right. Often pocket door hardware is not easy for someone with limited dexterity to grab and close, so Lewis was mindful of finding some that was. Although a 36-inch door opening is needed for wheelchair access, 33 inches was the widest possibility here, and it allows comfortable passage with a walker.
Lewis chose some stylish but affordable items, including the floor tile and a ready-made vanity, to keep costs down. “A lot of the budget was spent behind the walls because we needed new plumbing and new electrical,” she says.
“This vanity is great because it has the texture of wicker on the doors,” Lewis says. The champagne bronze Brizo faucets have levers that are easy to operate. “When designing for aging in place, you have to be mindful of dexterity with faucet handles and drawer pulls,” Lewis says.
Instead of a medicine cabinet, the homeowner chose a simple wall mirror. “While this house is about 100 years old and Craftsman, I like to mix styles to make it look like it changed over time,” Lewis says. “The mirror and the light fixture add midcentury modern style, and the vanity adds some natural character and textures that are in keeping with Craftsman style.”
Lewis chose some stylish but affordable items, including the floor tile and a ready-made vanity, to keep costs down. “A lot of the budget was spent behind the walls because we needed new plumbing and new electrical,” she says.
“This vanity is great because it has the texture of wicker on the doors,” Lewis says. The champagne bronze Brizo faucets have levers that are easy to operate. “When designing for aging in place, you have to be mindful of dexterity with faucet handles and drawer pulls,” Lewis says.
Instead of a medicine cabinet, the homeowner chose a simple wall mirror. “While this house is about 100 years old and Craftsman, I like to mix styles to make it look like it changed over time,” Lewis says. “The mirror and the light fixture add midcentury modern style, and the vanity adds some natural character and textures that are in keeping with Craftsman style.”
Lewis also incorporated small details to create positive energy in the room. “A bunny rabbit brings good fortune and prosperity, and it’s a happy animal that brings joy,” she says. “I also put eucalyptus in the shower for aromatherapy and to help with breathing.”
The homeowner’s daughters live next door, and the homes are connected by a breezeway. “My client tells me her daughters come over to her house to shower sometimes because they love the new bathroom so much,” Lewis says. “None of them had ever worked with a designer before and they were skeptical at first. Now they’ve all signed me up to redo both of the houses entirely.”
More on Houzz
Read more bathroom stories
Browse bathroom photos
Find a remodeling professional
The homeowner’s daughters live next door, and the homes are connected by a breezeway. “My client tells me her daughters come over to her house to shower sometimes because they love the new bathroom so much,” Lewis says. “None of them had ever worked with a designer before and they were skeptical at first. Now they’ve all signed me up to redo both of the houses entirely.”
More on Houzz
Read more bathroom stories
Browse bathroom photos
Find a remodeling professional
Sponsored
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A woman
Location: New Orleans
Size: 55 square feet (5.1 square meters)
Designer: Tiara Lewis of Nsight Designs Nola
Before: This photo shows an earlier renovation attempt. The bathroom was extremely tight. A small circular shower stall with a high curb was tucked into a corner opposite the window, and the doorway was only 24 inches wide.
“The homeowner often needs the help of a walker, and sometimes she needs one of her daughters to assist her with showering,” Lewis says.
Find an interior designer on Houzz