Aging in Place Bathtub to Shower Remodel

We recently completed a bathroom remodel at the Wexford Crossing Condominiums in Madison for our client Mary. Mary is a single retiree who has owned her condo since it was new in the 1980s. Over the years, she's done some updates to her space. After finding us online and doing her research, she contacted us to convert her upstairs bathroom into one that is perfect for aging in place. Mary wanted to convert the bathtub into a walk-in shower to make her daily life easier.

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Redesigning The Bathroom Floorplan For More Functionality

During our initial consultation with Mary, she expressed that in addition to the tub-to-shower conversion, the bathroom felt dated and the layout left much to be desired. She wanted something that was not only more functional but also more beautiful.

The old bathroom was a basic condo bathroom designed for efficiency. The door swung into the space, blocking the tub. When open, you stare directly at the toilet on the back wall. The standard vanity with doors and drawers did not fit properly in its location and couldn't be utilized. When pulling out the left-hand drawer, it hit the toilet. On top of that, the dated 1980s green tile had to go, along with the soffit over the tub.

Starting This Bathroom Remodel From Scratch

After discussing the project with Mary, the solution was to do a thorough remodel, taking the room down to the studs. We converted the old door to a barn door to free up extra floor space and make the bathroom accessible for aging in place. Mary also had a few specific functional requests. First, she wanted to freely access her new walk-in shower using a hinged shower door. The second was for an adjustable hand shower to improve functionality as Mary aged. Finally, she wanted us to incorporate an integrated shower seat and a corner storage niche. We were able to give her everything on her wish list and create a beautiful and functional shower that is safe for aging in place.

Rearranging the Bathrooms Floorplan

Along with the tub conversion, we also tackled the rest of the bathroom floorplan to give Mary a more modern and beautiful design. To solve the issues with the old vanity, we recentered the sink into the functional area of the floorplan. We installed new lighting around the mirror and open shelving away from the toilet to provide additional storage. Finally, we added cabinet storage above the toilet but not just any cabinetry! We installed a pair of large cabinets that stretch for the entire width of the wall, ending with a beautiful open niche, the perfect space for Mary's beautifully placed orchids.

The Result of This Bathtub To Shower Remodel

In the end, Mary got the beautiful bathroom she was dreaming of and it is perfect for aging in place. Ready to continue her active lifestyle and get back to traveling, Mary was thrilled by our design and delighted by the craftsmanship that the Degnan team provided!

Click here to see before and after photos of this bathroom side by side.