Kitchen & Bath Design News

OCT 2015

Kitchen & Bath Design News is the industry's leading business, design and product resource for the kitchen and bath trade.

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October 2015 | KitchenBathDesign.com | 31 The discussion about the fea- sibility of replacing a tub/shower combination fxture in the master bathroom with a luxurious stall shower hinges on the fixtures in other bathrooms within the home. Every survey of consumer prefer- ences stresses that a home must have one bathroom with a bathtub. To me, the best combinations are: » » Hall bathroom with tub/shower fxture replaced with a 60"x32" stall shower. Master bathroom with a separate, generous stall shower and a one-person soak/ bubble tub. » » Or, hall bathroom with tub/shower fxture, and master bathroom with a large stall shower and generous storage/vanity areas. The cost associated with these opulent master bathrooms is a huge challenge for designers. My expe- rience is that prospective clients never have a realistic budget for these bathrooms. Therefore, I believe the establishment of the budget – the in- vestment set aside for such a space – must be part of the preliminary planning. Sharing before and after photos and drawings – along with a range of costs – with adults consider- ing such a project is a good way to start the discussion! The second major challenge is the time and energy it takes to become an expert, and to be aware of all the new products and technological in- novations ofered in better bathroom equipment. Consider partnering with a knowledgeable expert at a nearby plumbing wholesale showroom. The bathroom pictured was cre- ated with both beauty and safety in mind. HALL OR SHARED BATHROOMS These pesky hall bathrooms are often sandwiched between two bedrooms and locked into existing foor space because of the hallway entry and an exterior wall. They are the hardest bathrooms to design and the most difficult to explain the investment required for a renovation to a pro- spective client! These spaces are the primary fo- cus of this article. I would like to share four case studies that may spark your imagination and free-up your creative talents by suggesting how to increase the foor space physically or visually in hall bathroom spaces. CASE STUDY #1 The physical space management strate- gy for this bath involves using products that meet the clients' functional re- quirements while taking up a minimal amount of foor space. For example: » » Note the vanity shape – it is shal- low in depth, with a curved front section to provide space for the generous lavatory. This vanity con- sole is open underneath, increasing the visual sense of space as well. » » An existing hard-to-access, space- wasting built-in closet was replaced with custom cabinetry. The fank- ing tall free-standing cabinets are shallow in depth but taller in height. These tall units were much more accessible for the tall user than base vanity cabinet storage would have been. » » Wall-hung toilets are one of the best solutions for any small space. Designer Alert: Make sure you are CASE STUDY #1 A townhouse featured two bathrooms in the master suite adjoined to closets for each adult. This space was reserved for the husband. Let's review the existing and solution foor plans to highlight the physical and visual changes made to improve both the function and aesthetics for the 6'4"-tall man who used the space. Images courtesy of Ellen Cheever, CMKBD, ASID, CAPS, Ellen Cheever & Associates, Wilmington, DE, www.ellencheever.com, and Pietro Giorgi, Sr., CMKBD, Giorgi Kitchens & Designs, Wilmington, DE, www.giorgikitchens.com. Photography: Peter Leach, Peter Leach Photography, www. peterleachphotography.com

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