Our client, Nancy, is an older woman living in the Maple Bluff neighborhood in Madison, Wisconsin. She was in need of a bathroom remodel that met her needs as she aged. The current bath was updated in the 1990s and has worked fine for her since then. She hoped her previous remodeler could update the space with aging-in-place features without changing the bathroom's current design. The previous remodeler is no longer in business, so she began a search for a contractor with aging-in-place remodeling experience. After giving us a call and seeing our project portfolio of aging-in-place bathrooms, she chose our team of design-build remodelers to build her a new bathroom that would meet her needs!

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The Current Bathroom

Nancy's existing bathroom was the model of a renovation project from the 1990s. An essential, extended vanity, a soffit with can lights above, a long, plate glass mirror, a built-in bathtub, but strangely no shower. Instead, the showerhead was precariously mounted on the wall at the front of the tub, but still, it barely reached into the tub!

Nancy's age meant the current vanity and bathtub no longer worked for her. Instead, she wanted a walk-in shower with grab bars, a comfort height and ADA-compliant toilet, and a new bath & makeup vanity. Nancy let us know during design that a possible location for the shower was the opposite end of the bathroom from the current bathtub. When the bath was remodeled in the 1990s, the shower had been originally located in that space and removed, but the plumbing was primarily left in place and covered up. This cost-saving advantage would allow us to design an aging-in-place bath that meets our client's long-term needs.

Bathroom Interior Design

When it came to style, Nancy wanted a traditional look so the new bathroom could still feel like an extension of the existing home. We devised a simple and traditional color scheme: polished brass finishes, off-white and coral paint colors, and a hexagon tile floor. Some of the highlights include Custom Amish cabinets, a Blanco Maple quartz countertop, Onyx shower module in Snow Swirl with a low step entry and polished brass fixtures.

 

Bathroom Remodeling Challenges

No remodeling project is ever without challenges! We ran into plenty when we started construction. Our main difficulty was successfully relocating the shower from the exterior to the interior wall. Though the plumbing from the old shower was still in place, much of it needed to be updated within building code standards!

Another minor challenge we encountered was the careful demolition of the plaster wall cladding, which contained lead paint. By following the proper protocols, we kept both ourselves and our client safe!

 

A Successful Aging-In-Place Bathroom Remodeling Project

Features like grab bars are attractive and ideal for hanging towels, and the aging-in-place bathroom makes it appealing to future homeowners. During construction, we were aware of the lack of a handrail on the stairs to the second floor, so we provided this to our client as a gift that we knew would make the home safer for years to come. This complete remodel results in a beautiful Maple Bluff bathroom that Nancy can easily maintain and safely enjoy!

 
 
Dave Duewel, Senior Designer

Design Mentor

Dave Duewel
Senior Designer

Zach Degnan Designer

Project Design

Zach Degnan
Design Assistant

Lead Carpenter

Kelly Lawton
CRPM, CLC

 
“I interviewed 4 companies and chose Degnan because of their design phase and the most complete contract I have ever encountered with a number of remodeling jobs over the years! Loved working with everyone on your staff and would recommend Degnan wholeheartedly! I was especially impressed with how well Kelly and Kelly snd David, and the rest get along so well and respect each other.”
— Nancy B.