Kitchen & Bath Business - September 2017 - 49

A BATHROOM
BUILT FOR

TWO
LEFT Vanities at different

heights provide function for
both users, and the roll-in
shower features an accessible
bench. Controls next to the tub
and shower provide a variety of
temperatures. The judges were
impressed with the designer's
use of CAPS principles.

A MASTER BATHROOM REDESIGN in a California house originally began
with the goal of adapting it for wheelchair access for the client, who was
also the designer in charge of her whole-home renovation. It then evolved
into creating a space for aging in place not just for the designer but for her
husband as well.
"My philosophy is that all spaces in a home should be usable by all people,"
said designer Sandra Murray of Redding, Calif.-based Interspace Design.
"This project grew into our dream home, incorporating many of the innovative ideas I have wanted to use during my 36-year career."

USER-FRIENDLY IMPROVEMENTS

The designer, who used ArchiCAD for this project, made several modifications to the space to make it accessible for everyone using it, including removing the existing dysfunctional shower area and inaccessible toilet room and
opening up the bathroom for a full 5-ft. turning radius.
Vanities. Separate horizontal-grain walnut units at different heights look
identical, except one features pocket doors that open and close under the
sink to provide knee space for a wheelchair user. Murray says the recessed
crown-and-slab doors add sleekness and uniformity, and the bronze pulls
are almost undetectable to add to the modern, clean feel of the master bath.
Touch-free faucets finish out the look of the vanities.
Flooring. An attractive honed Indian copper slate tile was installed for
uninterrupted wheelchair use. According to the designer, honed stone has
sharply squared edges so that grout can easily be kept level with the top of
the tile surface. A similar tile with a cleft face on the shower floor provides
a cohesive look and better traction. Radiant heated flooring is also used
throughout the space.

Designer creates a
functional, attractive space
for both her and her husband
Toilet. Murray chose a slightly-higher-thancomfort-height unit that doesn't require a riser
ring underneath and makes it easy to clean. An
in-wall flushing system allowed the designer to
choose the appropriate height to hang the toilet
before closing the wall.
Shower. A roll-in shower features a curbless
shower pan that slopes toward a trough drain.
An accessible teak bench folds down when not
in use to increase the space for and decrease
the risk of injury to an able-bodied user. Two
electronic controls, one in the shower and one
next to the tub, prevent scalding and provide a
variety of temperatures.
Lighting. To increase natural light into the space,
the designer added casement windows around
the bathtub, as well as transom windows above
one of the vanities and a skylight in the ceiling. LED recessed lights in the ceiling provide
ambience, and sconces at the vanities provide a
source for task lighting.
According to Murray, the shape of the new tub
allows a clean turning radius and a barrier-free
turning space to enter the shower. Slate slab countertops are warmer to the touch than granite and
are easy to maintain. Finishing out the multi-use
luxuries in this bathroom are heated towel warmers by the shower and tub.
"It is not necessary to make an accessible space
unattractive,"said Murray."Aesthetics are often the
number one purpose of a renovation, but once it is
functional, it is pretty simple to make it look good."
The designer explained that if she meets a potential client with special needs, the two already
have a camaraderie, and it is an easy conversation.
On the other end of the spectrum, some people
are in denial.
"A disability is, in some cases, accelerated aging,"
added Murray. "Once they accept their position,
they begin to realize that things can be modified
to make them more comfortable."


BEST

UNIVERSAL
DESIGN
SOURCES
DESIGNER: Sandra Murray,

Interspace Design

PHOTOGRAPHER: Jack

Knox

CABINETRY: Shasta Wood

Products; GRAB BARS,
SHOWER COMPONENTS,
SINK FAUCETS & TUB
FILLER: Kohler; IN-WALL
FLUSHING SYSTEM:

Geberit; LIGHTING: Elco
Lighting & Hubbardton
Forge; MEDICINE
CABINETS: Robern;
POCKET DOOR: Rogue
Valley Door; SHOWER SEAT:
TEAKWORKS4U;
SINKS: Inax; STONE
FABRICATION & TILE

SETTING: Norcal Granite

and Tile; STONE SLATE

SLAB & TILE: Echeguren

Slate; TOILET: TOTO;
TOWEL RINGS: Alno;
TOWEL WARMER:

Mr Steam; TUB: Duravit

Kitchen & Bath Business - September 2017

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