{"id":1829,"date":"2024-04-16T15:38:50","date_gmt":"2024-04-16T19:38:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/innovatebuildingsolutions.com\/dealers\/?p=1829"},"modified":"2024-04-17T20:18:00","modified_gmt":"2024-04-18T00:18:00","slug":"5-stylish-bathroom-trends-age-in-place-accessible-remodeling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/innovatebuildingsolutions.com\/dealers\/2024\/04\/5-stylish-bathroom-trends-age-in-place-accessible-remodeling\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Bathroom Trends to go BEYOND the safe accessible bathroom"},"content":{"rendered":"

Who can be \u2018over the moon\u2019 about a safe (and simple to maintain) age in place or accessible bathroom which still looks institutional<\/em><\/strong>?<\/p>

Sure \u2013 making a bathroom someone can bathe safely (and independently) in can be life-altering.<\/p>

And making it simple to maintain can save time and reduce the risk of injury while cleaning.<\/p>

However, should that be \u2018the best you can do\u2019 to make your clients and customers \u2018bathrooms great again\u2019 (OK \u2013 sorry for the slightly political reference here, just having fun with words\u2026.). Is there a better way to recommend products or design and build a safe, simple bathroom which DOES NOT look <\/em>institutional?<\/p>

IMHO, absolutely.<\/p>

And sure \u2013 while safety (and simplicity) is the \u2018price of admission\u2019 for age in place or accessible bathroom<\/a>, why should the products you recommend (or use) stop there?<\/p>

What if you could offer suggestions \u2013 or build projects \u2013 which went beyond safety and also leveraged the latest bathroom trends, AND did it on a \u2018reasonable budget?\u2019 (and yes, I know the definition of reasonable will vary from person to person).<\/p>

Then \u2013 I\u2019d argue, you\u2019d be \u2018cookin\u2019 with gas!\u2019<\/p>

Below I\u2019ll share 5 bathroom trends which will take the safe, simple, accessible or age in place bathroom<\/a> to the next level. These trends will make it\u2026 dare I say, stylish. Let\u2019s check them out.<\/p>

Accessible, yet stylish, bathroom trend #1<\/em><\/strong> \u2013 Go beyond the \u2018white subway tile.\u2019 You\u2019re better than that! <\/strong><\/h2>

While white subway tiles are still popular \u2013 and you can find them in many easy to maintain shiny, plastic fiberglass or acrylic wall surround systems or ceramic tiles, to \u2018claim\u2019 they\u2019re the \u2018height of fashion\u2019 in 2024, would be a stretch.<\/p>

Modern farmhouse \u2013 a popular design style years ago, has seen it\u2019s better days.<\/p>

Pick up a current issue of Kitchen & Bath Design News <\/em>(or popular interior design magazines) and see how several white subway tile jobs you see in upscale kitchens and bathrooms. I\u2019ll bet you a \u2018dollar to donuts\u2019 (yes, a bizarre phrase\u2026I agree) it\u2019s Z-E-R-O.<\/p>

And the reason you\u2019ll see the acrylic and fiberglass surround panels \u2018sporting\u2019 (I\u2019m being sarcastic here) white subway tile patterns in many age in place remodels is it\u2019s in the best interest of the large manufacturers of these products to keep spitting out more, and more, and more subway tile patterns so they can maximize the return on their \u2018subway tile\u2019 molds (because making new molds ain\u2019t cheap!).

\"\"<\/a><\/p>

However, today what you\u2019ll see in fashion-forward kitchen and bath magazines are light wood grains (warm neutral tones are back) and even bold \u2018maximalist\u2019 looks (people are staying in their homes longer and throwing more \u2018caution to the wind\u2019 with color selections).

\"Trend<\/a>
\"Trend<\/a><\/p>

And if you\u2019re wondering where you find fun, cool, cost-effective shower surrounds<\/a> like these without spending big-bucks for hard to maintain tiles \u2013 click on the link below.<\/p>

Wall panels looks which are cool and go beyond white subway tile<\/a><\/em><\/p>

Accessible, yet stylish, bathroom trend #2<\/em><\/strong> \u2013 Flooring can be cool. Flooring can be easy to install. Flooring can be sturdy. Flooring can provide visual contrast, and style. <\/strong><\/h2>

I\u2019ll admit my wife Rose and I were very happy when we eliminated our dirty and cracked grouted tile bathroom and shower floor in our recent remodel<\/a>.<\/p>

And if you want to see how we incorporated \u2018age in place\u2019 products (even though I\u2019m NOT admitting I\u2019m old\u2026.and I\u2019m not lying when I say I\u2019m 6 months younger than wife \u2013 although she\u2019s waaaay prettier!) in our remodel, read 15 Lessons You Can Learn from My Safer, Simpler, and More Stylish Master Bathroom<\/a>. <\/em><\/p>

And when you look at a stylish, yet accessible remodel, it begins with a thoughtful (and safe) selection of the shower and bathroom flooring (after all you know the \u2018medical price\u2019 a fall can cost). And this selection doesn\u2019t have to be boring to be safe.<\/p>

For example, for the bathroom floor I love LVT (luxury vinyl tile). They install quickly, are waterproof and come in many patterns.

\"Trend<\/p>

Then in the shower \u2013 I love low, low, low profile shower pans<\/a> (1 1\/16\u201d high curb height) which are sleek, contemporary, have a textured bottom, and can be purchased in fun patterns. And if you think you may need to convert the shower pan to a ramp design in the future \u2013use an add-on ramp<\/a> component which can be removed if\/when it\u2019s no longer needed or circumstances require the home be sold. Because, if you think about it, a ramped shower pan can kill a future home sale to a buyer who DOES NOT need a ramped shower base.

\"Trend<\/a><\/p>

Flooring can be cool, yet safe.<\/p>

Flooring can be sturdy, yet safe.<\/p>

Flooring can be waterproof and simple to maintain, yet safe.<\/p>

Flooring can be more cost effective than tile or stone, yet safe.<\/p>

Accessible, yet stylish, bathroom trend #3<\/em><\/strong> \u2013 Quick install wall surrounds can transform a bathroom in no time flat AND look stylish and expensive. <\/strong><\/h2>

So, your patient (or customer) is coming home from rehab and the clock is ticking. They\u2019re IN NO WAY ready to move back in.<\/p>

They need to remove the tub (like yesterday) in their small bathroom. They\u2019d prefer a shower which DID NOT look like the rehab bathroom (with it\u2019s \u2018truck stop\u2019 grab bars and white plastic walls) they\u2019ve been putting up with over the last few weeks or months. But time is of the essence.<\/p>

They need a fast installation. However, you hate to recommend the \u2018cheap institutional stuff\u2019 just because you can get product quickly, and it\u2019s simple to install. But where can you find products available from stock, which also look nice \u2013 DO NOT cost a ton of money, and are simple to install? Is this request like The Impossible Dream <\/em>sung by Josh Groben <\/em>below?<\/p>