i+D - November/December 2018 - 56

Living by
Design
Bathrooms

Interior Designers'
Viewpoints
Diane Foreman, a designer at Neil Kelly Company, in Seattle, says, "When
working with clients with disabilities, the most important gift a designer
can offer is the combination of beauty with function tailored to their needs.
First and foremost, you need to aim for maximum safety, maneuverability,
and comfort, and that begins with an ADA-compliant layout."
Foreman cites some of her must-haves: no-threshold showers with built-in or
pull-down benches; comfort-height water closets with grab bars; hand-held,
height-adjustable showerheads; non-slip surfaces; storage within a wheelchair
user's reach; and contrasting surfaces, i.e., a countertop edge in a different
color than the cabinets below, helpful for those with diminishing eyesight.
Especially important are non-slip/easy-care surfaces. Foreman is keen about
"large-format, terrazzo-look tile, encaustic tile, wood-look porcelain tiles, and
linoleum in great patterns and textures."
Known for award-winning interiors, including in the category of universal
design, Foreman enthuses over today's "functional art," saying, "There is so
much available. Beautiful lever-handle faucets. Grab bars that coordinate with
faucet collections. Voice-activated showers and lighting." And, what's driving
bathroom design these days? "The at-home spa look and function, hands
down," she explains. Plus, "more and more clients are opting for the at-home
spa luxury shower over a tub."
Addressing some other ADA-related issues is Beverley Binns, director of
design at Toronto's family-owned Binns kitchen + bath design. "All designs
should be universal," Binns says. "It's good for everyone. And, while
today some clients might not need such items as grab bars, we like to help
them plan for the future. In this case, by installing a support system in the
wall that can be utilized when the time does come."
The team at Neil Kelly Company
delivers thoughtful planning and
design to meet a client's goals
and expectations, as in this
master bath that also addresses
functional requirements.
(Image: Neil Kelly Company)

"When working with clients
with disabilities, the most
important gift a designer can
offer is the combination of
beauty with function tailored
to their needs."
-DIANE FOREMAN, NEIL KELLY COMPANY

Binns, whose work also has nabbed design awards,
is most enthusiastic that homes are becoming ever
more automated with touch controls. "Basically, after
you set such things as water temperature and shower
type, it's merely a question of turning the system on
and off with the touch of a button." This means, even
the elderly for whom technology isn't intuitive are
comfortable with it.
"As kitchen and bath specialists," adds Binns,
"we've always looked for non-slip flooring. Today,
with the line between home and commercial design
blurring, many styles are moving from commercial
to residential spaces, with different finishes and a
variety of materials."
Asked if tubs are "dead," Binns replies, "No, not
at all. But, too often they are more of a sculptural
presence than functional. We always make sure to
have an ample bathtub deck that helps with getting
in and out."
Binns expands on Foreman's mention of the
importance of color contrast. "There's a lot going
on with all the fixtures," she says, "so you want a
subtle backdrop, with say, floors darker than walls
and objects like the ADA-required shower bench
providing contrast between vertical and horizontal
lines. These things create spatial points of reference,
basic wayfinding cues that help people maneuver."
As to what is driving design these days? Binns
explains it's the wet room concept, with shower, tub,
and water closet together in one open shared space.

56

i+D - November/December 2018
i+D - November/December 2018

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