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Future-proof bathroom design is safe, practical and beautiful

FinnDesigner
14 Jun 2021
Aging in Place, Design, Projects
accessible, aging in place, bath, bathroom, CAPS, renovation

As people are considering renovating their home or parts of it, the spaces that get priority seem to be bathrooms and kitchens.

I see a great increase in demand for making spaces safe and accessible, as people are thinking of their future. Many plan to stay in their current homes for as long as possible. The right kind of design can future-proof spaces like bathrooms for almost any situation.

CAPS (Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist) is a designation recognizing a person who has studied, taken in-person classes and passed the tests for making spaces safe, accessible and more for anyone with limitations or challenges. Such needs may arise from an accident, progressive illness or simply natural aging.

Safety bars are there for when you need them.

As a CAPS designer, my knowledge goes beyond ADA (American Disability Act) and Universal Design requirements.

We focus on finding solutions for specific needs for each client to ease their maneuvering in their space safely. There’s not a one-solution-fits-all approach. Each person varies in size, proportion and their life situation. For instance, safety-bar heights and locations vary from person to person.

There may be some limitations, such as budget or structural issues, for making a space completely accessible. However, we make the best effort to achieve the maximum benefits for the client.

One specific sector in CAPS studies focuses on Adaptability, which is planning ahead for design modifications that might be necessary should there be a life-changing event in a resident’s life.

In our recent master bathroom renovation project, featured here, a dividing wall was removed, as well as the second small vanity. These changes opened the space for additional storage, such as a linen closet with pullouts and open shelves for towels and accessories, and allowed enough space for wheelchair maneuvering (if needed).

A new tub with integrated handles and grab bars on the walls was installed to make it easy to enter and exit.

The shower was equipped with a built-in shampoo niche, grab bars on the walls, and single shower head operating as a fixed (magnet) or handheld option, with five spray functions to choose from.

A fold-down seat is available in the shower.

A removable folding shower seat was a perfect choice for this project. And a comfort-height toilet was installed with the adaptability to add a Washlet (a toilet seat with a water-spray feature) if desired later.

LED sconce lights at the new vanity are controlled by a dimmer switch. General LED lighting is controlled by separate switches as individual lights or groupings.

The bathroom also has a new quiet fan for air purification and moisture control.

All tops, sills and the shower curb are easy-care quartz.

The large single vanity has plenty of storage in easy-access drawers. One side houses a hamper. Wall cabinets have space for electrical gadgets and toiletries so they don’t collect on the counter.

The vanity was designed and made with adaptability in mind. The lavatory base can be modified for wheelchair access, should there be a need for that later. A second set of doors was made for that purpose.

This bright, light and timeless spa-like master bath, with its easy-care finishes, is safe, practical and beautiful—more than the client expected and a space that can be enjoyed for years to come.

— Riitta Ylonen

Quartz surfaces are elegant and easy to clean. And there’s plenty of storage.

As home becomes a haven, we can design and build safely and remotely

FinnDesigner
08 Apr 2020
Design
bathroom, remote design, renovation, safety

Home has never been more important to us than it is right now. It’s the center of our lives, a safe haven, even a remote workplace. It’s what we need to sustain us through dark times and help us flourish in the better times to come.

You might be thinking now about ways to make your home better – safer, smarter, more beautiful. Finn Design can work remotely to help you think through your ideas and create a design plan.

Riitta Ylonen is a state-licensed interior designer, Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist and certified Feng Shui consultant. She has expertise in virtually all aspects of interior design. She will discuss the work with you and take a design from the space planning stage to completion of the project. She prepares scaled floor plans, elevations, electrical plans, and cabinetry drawings. This planning stage is crucial for renovation, new construction and any commercial projects.

If you’re looking for a smaller-scale transformation, she also designs and makes custom furniture, bedding, window treatments, window shades and upholstered pieces, such as sofas and ottomans. Check out our shop for examples.

Her husband, Juha, a master woodworker and cabinetmaker, builds pieces remotely before installation. In other words, there’s a lot we can do for you while you’re waiting for the world to start turning again.

If you’d like to know more, please call us at 321-956-2011 or fill out our form and tell us what you need.

We wish you all the best and hope you stay safe and healthy. As we sew masks for the anti-virus effort, we’re looking to the future. Here’s to better times ahead.

Fresh bathroom design

Below is a video showing a recent bathroom transformation. The design employs principles of CAPS – Riitta is a Certified Aging in Place specialist, creating safe spaces for all ages that you can enjoy now and in the future.

A bathroom transformation solves issues with practical, beautiful results

FinnDesigner
05 Aug 2016
Design
bathroom, design, redesign, renovation, space planning

Before and after

Here at Melbourne’s Finn Design, we seem to be doing bathroom renovations and updates quite often. In this example, the “before” picture shows the original 16-year-old master bathroom vanity with inadequate and ineffectively located lighting, above overly sized cabinets without functionality, and with a cultured marble vanity top. Another challenge posed by the original layout was that the back mirror wall was angled on the right, and the right sink was too close to the wall. There wasn’t enough elbow room, and the person facing the mirror in that location had a distorted view, because the mirror was cut in 45 degrees to follow the back wall.

Aug2016pulloutOriginally, our repeat client requested only an update to the cabinets, vanity top and plumbing fixtures. However, as often happens when creativity takes over, we came up with three different options, from a modest change to the most functional. Our client chose the third option, with side wall cabinets balancing the back wall angle. These cabinets – with storage, adjustable shelves and electrical outlets inside – now provide functionality for both users. For the left side, we integrated the space and power source for the attached, adjustable magnifying makeup/grooming mirror.

Lighting now is provided from above and from the sides, with the option to control them separately or together.

The vanity itself has a pull-out mechanism on the left, with containers for neatly organized toiletries and supplies. The rest of the cabinets have adjustable shelves and a wide bank of drawers.

The wood is cherry with a light stain to coordinate with the existing tile and color scheme, which we didn’t want to change. The chosen zodiac quartz vanity top also complements the existing surroundings, with ease of maintenance. We also installed a towel warmer, along with designer grab bars for support and safety in the walk-in shower and water closet.

This transformation shows that a practical re-design also can be beautiful.

Finn Design Inc.

Riitta Ylonen

Florida Registered Interior Designer,
Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist
and Certified Feng Shui Consultant

NCIDQ, CAPS, ID4662

321-956-2011

email us      CALL NOW

info@finndesigninc.com


Juha Ylonen

Woodwork, cabinetry, furniture and skateboards
3185 New York Ave., Suite 10
Melbourne, FL 32934
By appointment

321-258-1884


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