Kitchen & Bath Business May/June 2021 - 27

RIGHT " Because the parents
were moving from a singlefamily house, we took the
storage to the ceiling in the
kitchenette to house their
beloved possessions that are
not used frequently, " said the
designer.

A smaller sink allows for more
storage space, which includes
white cabinets at the ceiling.
Task lighting under the shelves
is on dimmers.

what she calls the two-tone " balance bars " in gray
and polished silver. The wall-hung cabinet and
vanity make the space feel larger and more open,
and the mirror/medicine cabinet features integrated lighting for less visual clutter.The non-slip
flooring is heated for a luxurious element that also
caters to comfort and well-being, and the shower
includes a clean, unobtrusive linear drain.
" This bathroom is definitely a space that exudes luxury - not just accessibility, " said the designer, who chose the playful vertical stripe of
tile on the shower wall to create balance with the
wall-hung cabinet.
CREATING A CLEVER KITCHENETTE
FOR MULTIPLE USES

The main kitchen in this house is used by everyone
in the family, but the homeowners wanted to have
a smaller space for a caretaker to assist in serving
meals, as a clean-up space and as a smaller laundry
facility.The design team included a wide clearance
between the cabinets and the wall for easy access
to everyone - with or without a wheelchair.
Style was important in this area as well, so
Strausbaugh chose German cabinets in the same
palette as the bathroom in wood grain and dark
gray, a built-in refrigerator and a waterfall quartzite countertop that wraps around and into the
family room.
The cabinets feature gliding pullouts, and storage drawers are accessible to everyone. Lower,
more shallow cabinets located next to the stacked

SOURCES
DESIGNER: Michelle
Strausbaugh, InteriorEcho
LLC; PHOTOGRAPHER: Gail
Owens Photography

BATH

CABINETS, COUNTERTOP
& SINK: Leicht; BALANCE
BARS & SHOWER SEAT:
Ponte Giulio; MEDICINE
CABINET: Kohler; PAINT:

Sherwin-Williams;

PLUMBING FIXTURES:
Gessi; TILE: BDG;
TOILET: TOTO

KITCHEN

APPLIANCES: Bosch;
CABINETS, HARDWARE &
SINK: Leicht; COUNTERTOP:

Adamantium Quartzite;

PAINT: Sherwin-Williams;
PLUMBING FIXTURES:

Gessi

washer and dryer are easier to access from a seated position. The countertop
height is a little lower than standard, and a layered lighting plan with task
lighting in the shelves, recessed cans, undercabinet lighting - all on dimmers
- was a necessity.
INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO PROJECT HURDLES

The main challenge the designer had to overcome was accommodating
everything her clients wanted for their parents'bathroom. She admitted there
was a lot of trial and error fitting the vanity and making it the first thing one
would see when entering the space. The shower opening needed to be wide
enough for a wheelchair, and the shower itself needed to include the flipdown seat and enough room for a potential caretaker.
" I was brought in after the architect's plans were drawn, so I could not
make any changes to the final layout, " said Strausbaugh. " I would have liked
to push the vanity wall out to accommodate a larger shower, but the wall was
already built with the plumbing installed. "
In the end, the designer was able to move another internal bathroom wall
out a few inches to include a larger vanity and countertop and more storage.
Because this project took place during the pandemic, there were some material delays and a shortage of labor - people were wary of coming to work, so
there was a challenge scheduling some of the tradespeople. Strausbaugh and
her contractor communicated well with the clients, who in turn were patient
with the delays and hands on where they could be to help provide solutions.
A solution-oriented team made all the difference in achieving a successful
project during a somewhat stressful time.
When accessibility is the main goal of a project, that does not have to
translate into clinical spaces with no personality. A talented designer can add
that high-quality look of luxury and fulfill specific needs for everyone living
in the home.


27
26-27_KBB_0521_UniversalDesign.indd 27

5/12/21 3:03 PM

Kitchen & Bath Business May/June 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Kitchen & Bath Business May/June 2021