Two Hammers

More people today plan to grow old in their own home, as opposed to an assisted living facility.  And the  temporary disability often times makes living alone in the home difficult.  So, plan for accessibility when designing a bathroom remodel.  Your design should incorporate grab bars in the shower, in the tub, and around the toilet.  Fixture manufacturers like Moen have designer grab bars to match their fixtures, these look much nicer than the commercial chrome models.  Plan for adequate maneuvering room for someone in a wheel chair or with a walker, i.e. space around the toilet, and a wide doorway.  The shower should have a dam less roll in floor for accessability with a wheel chair, a bench seat, and a handheld showerhead.  Change the lowboy toilet to a high rise model to make standing up easier.

A little forethought in the bathroom design can future proof your new bathroom for years to come.  For additional remodeling tips go here.

I had never received a request for glass countertops until this last spring; and within weeks I had two clients request them.  They are beautiful, however, rather expensive.  I believe that the market will be for higher end trendy bathrooms, the mechanics for a custom kitchen may prove to be too complicated.  This is a trend worth watching in case it does develop into a mainstream product. Or, it could be just like the concrete and soap stone countertops from seasons past.