A New Aging in Place Bathroom in Madison, WI

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A Beautiful New Bathroom Perfect for Aging in Place in Madison, WI

We recently completed a complete bathroom remodeling for Mary, a single retiree, in her home in the Wexford Crossing Condominiums in Madison. Mary bought her condo when it was brand new in the 1980s. Thru the years has done some updates to her space. The bathroom was the last room in the house that needed to be done.

Click Here To See All Of The Images Of This Bathroom Remodeling Project

Mary was doing her research online and found us. She contacted us and wanted to convert her upstairs bathroom into one that is perfect for aging in place. To make daily life easier as she aged, Mary wanted us to remove her old bathtub and install a walk-in shower.

Redesigning the Bathroom for More Functionality

Mary's old bathroom was a basic functional condo bathroom. The entry door swung into the room and blocked the tub when it was open. The toilet was located on a back wall, completely visible when you opened the door. The old standard vanity was not able to be used properly. When pulling out the left-hand drawer, it hit the toilet tank. The room was filled with dated green tile, and the soffit over the tub had to go.

During our initial consultations with Mary, she told us that the bathroom's design felt dated and the layout was not functional for her immediate or long-term needs. She wanted something that was not only more functional but also more beautiful.

After discussions with Mary, we decided that the best solution was to start over and do a complete remodel down to the studs. Functionally Mary had a few requests. First, she wanted as much access as possible to the shower and requested a hinged shower door. The second was a hand shower to make bathing safer as she aged. Finally, Mary wanted us to incorporate an integrated shower seat and a corner storage niche.

Creating a Functional Floorplan with a Hint of Nautical Charm

To meet Mary's goal of functionality and updated, beautiful space, we also tackled the bathroom floorplan to create a better flow and a more modern design. To lighten the space, we anchored the design with an LVS Platinum tile floor in Carrara Pearl. Next, we removed the dated green tile and painted the room a subtle Benjamin Moore Regal Select Gray Owl.

To address the issues with the old vanity, we recentered the sink into the functional area of the floor plan. We installed a new Amish Cabinetry vanity, handcrafted in Wisconsin. We used a gloss finish Onyx countertop with a Venetian-style integral sink in gunmetal to add a little visual drama. We installed new lighting around the mirror and a Panasonic WhisperCeiling DC ultra-quiet, energy-efficient bath vent fan and overhead light. To address the storage issues, we included open shelving that backs away from the toilet and provides functional storage that is accessible and usable in contrast to the former door and drawer that could not fully open.

We converted the existing hinged door to a barn door to create a bathroom easily accessible for Mary's goal of aging in place, creating an open floor plan within the small space. The beautiful blue accents inspired the aesthetic design scheme in Mary's kitchen. This motivated tying this bathroom with the rest of her home's design. We brought the blue kitchen accents into the bathroom, with a multicolor blue tile strip tying into the stunning blue vanity cabinetry. We also installed a pair of large cabinets over the toilet to cover the width of the wall. The cabinetry ends with a beautiful open niche, the perfect place for Maty's beautifully placed orchids.

The main goal of the remodel was to remove the old bathtub and create a walk-n shower, perfect for aging in place. For maximum shower access, we installed an Onyx semi-frameless bench seat shower door in brushed nickel. Mary requested a hand-held shower to make showering easier. We chose the Delta multi-function Hand shower in Brilliant Stainless. Mary also asked for a corner caddy to hold her bathing supplies. We installed the matching Onyx tall corner caddy. White subway tile in the shower and hexagonal marble floor tile tie our design together beautifully with the white-painted woodwork, the blue cabinetry, and the subtle gray painted walls to create a serene, slightly nautical design motif!

The Result of this Bathroom Remodel?

In the end, Mary got the beautiful bathroom she was dreaming of, with her large walk-in shower, redesigned floor plan, and serene nautical design. The perfect bathroom for aging in place. Ready to continue her active lifestyle and get back to her passion for traveling, Mary was thrilled by our design and delighted by the craftsmanship the Degnan team provided!

If you're planning a bathroom remodeling project this year, you’re seeking to update your home for aging in place, or any other home improvement project in the Greater Madison, Wisconsin area, give the experts at Degnan Design-Build-Remodel a call at (608) 846-5963. We're always happy to answer your questions and explore the possibilities!

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