KBB - March 2014 - 39

KBIS SPECIAL SECTION

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One of the greatest safety issues in the bathroom is the shower,
and Shull said to learn what your client holds onto when he/
she enters and leaves the shower, particularly if they hold onto
the shower doors. This may affect the decision to install a shower
enclosure versus a shower curtain. She also recommends putting
all grab bars at a stair railing height, as this is natural for everyone
using them to automatically reach that height if they fall or are falling.
Designing for Different Body Shapes:
* A grab bar should be placed at stair rail height.
* Pay attention to layout, and consider how the client walks and
moves throughout his/her home.
* Note a client's hands to see if certain faucets or handles will not
be feasible.

Putting Daylighting Back in Design
Most homeowners today want brighter and lighter
homes that connect with the outdoors. With several
tricks on hand, designers can add illumination to
enhance safety, visual acuity, appearance and
mood while saving energy.
Designer Doug Walter brought to light the scientiﬁc
proof of why more people want natural illumination.
With daylight, studies show that shoppers buy more,
patients recover faster, students are more successful, and people are
happier.
"One of the reasons we need better daylighting is vision," said
Walter. "Life expectancy has almost doubled in the last 100 years, and
with aging comes deteriorating vision. Increasing light levels evens the
visual playing ﬁeld for seniors."
To avoid the "cave effect," or creating a room with one bright light
source, bring in light from multiple sources. Honed ﬁnishes are much
better for vision; and top, high, side and mid-lighting can all be used at
once to light a room. For a client 65 and older, double the light levels
in kitchens and baths, and provide dimmers on the electric lighting to
give the owner more control.
Adding in more natural light does not always mean more windows.
Open cabinets and glass pieces are trending, and mirrors, especially
used in tight places, imitate a larger space. However, be careful not to
use too much glass, as this can cause glare.
As important as daylighting is, it should be considered with all of its
scientiﬁc and strategic qualities. Know where the sun is for the client, and
keep in mind when the strongest light will hit where and what colors it
will create when it comes in. Avoid excessive contrast and direct glare.
Daylighting Tips:
* Bring in light from multiple sources.
* Avoid too many reﬂective surfaces.
* Use skylights to balance out a room.

Ending the Battle Between Contractors,
Designers and Clients
Sales and customer service is the backhand side of
kitchen and bath design, where designers might not
be licensed contractors but have to manage the
entire job anyway. Industry consultant Robert Foltz
encouraged designers to be power project managers
who focus on customer service by organizing,
preparing the bid documents and assisting the client
to make the right choice in a contractor.
A power project manager assembles the scope of the work based
on the design and distributes the bid documents based on the design
and scope of work. When the contractors are on site, meet with them
to review the scope and the actual site, while also assembling the
bids and revising the scope of work as it progresses. To show the
entire investment parameter for the client, put the bids and the scope
together in a package and include all construction bids, alliance cost,
cabinet and countertop costs and project management fees.
"You, the designer, become the advocate and trusted advisor for
the client and the job," explained Foltz. "It is a responsibility that will
earn your fee."
When the project is essentially ﬁnished, prepare and review the ﬁnal
contract documents and handle getting the correct approvals and
signatures, as well as deliver the payment checks to the contractors.
Always make sure there is open communication between everyone
and take responsibility for each problem, rather than putting the
blame on someone else.
If something goes wrong with the contractor, Foltz says to negotiate
for the homeowner. Show the homeowner the problem in person and
present a change order, making sure to tell the owner you are taking
over the responsibility of lowering the cost. Also ensure that you will
check that the issue is resolved before the contractor is paid, and
always be transparent and say exactly what the bill is for.
Before each payment, especially the ﬁnal, make sure you get
release of liens from the general contractor so that you protect the
homeowner from subcontractors not being paid.
"The ﬁnal release is the most important, of course," he added.

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