Glass Blowing Classes Come to Naples!

Conrad Williams shares the wonderful art of glass blowing right here in downtown Naples. He offers mini workshops were enthusiasts have the opportunity to create ornaments or incredible "floats". This is great for the whole family. (students must be at least 7 years old.)

We look forward to featuring some of Conrad's pieces in our 3rd street south Abbie Joan Enterprises Design studio in the up coming months.

For more info go to conradwilliamsglass.com.

Accessibile Furnishings meet Fashion Forward Design

What a great example of Universal Design! These sleek nightstands house a pair of over the bed tables on casters.

This is a stylish solution for those who like to have breakfast in bed, work in their pajamas or have trouble transferring in the bedroom.

Accessible furniture does not have to look institutional and certainly can be incorporated into any design.

Happy New Year!

Welcome to 2013! I am very excited to kick off a new year in a new location, with new resources and  most importantly new clients.

In Naples, Florida each January is the start of a new remodeling season. I have found exciting products to make homes safer and easier to maintainas well as new technologies to make your home more efficient and user friendly. I also look forward to sharing my passion for "Safety with Style".


Cheers to a happy and healthy New Year!

Abbie Sladick 

Bathroom Luxury for Your Man

When you are looking for the special design details that put your bathroom over the top for the man (or men) in your life look no further. Here are some musts for the well goomed man.





Great Grabz Fog Free Shower comes in a variety for sizes to easily integrate into your tile design. The mirror is available in 12", 16" and 18" sizes. Installation is easy with the help of your electrician and tile installer.


 

Great Grabz Magnifying Mirror for "Him" shows how much you care. Make sure that installation is at the perfect height for all his grooming needs.






There are many wonderful washlets on the market today, but the Brondell Swash 1000 is a cut above. This custom washing accessory is available for both elongated and round bowls. The Swash 1000 offers many features including a heated toilet seat and warm air drying. This will defintitely keep your man close to home.
 

Think Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness

Princess Infinity Grab Bar

Great Grabz Unique Touch Princess Colored Grab Bar and matching bathroom accessories are the perfect way to show your pink. This "Jewelry for the Bathroom" will bring a smile to the face of all the woman in your life.

Great Grabz will donate $3 per Princess or Candy colored bar or bathroom accessory sold in the month of October to the Susan G. Komen Race for a Cure.

Candy Inifiity Grab Bar

KBIS Review 2012

Once agian the City of Chicago welcomes KBIS, the industries premier kitchen and bath show. Designers, builders, architects, and many more gather at the McCormick Center to experience what is new and exciting.

Here are a few the most interesting things I saw today:

Best Bath Systems becomes the Exclusive distributor of the Award Winning Great Grabz Products.

Great Grabz LLC is thrilled to announce that Best Bath Systems will be the exclusive distributor of their award winning line of Decorative grabs bars and bath accessories. The 2 companies will also be partnering to bring new, innovative decorative shower systems, bathroom environments and accessories to the residential market, as well as senior living, hospitality and healthcare projects.

Abbie Sladick, President, started Great Grabz in Naples, Florida in 2004 when a remodeling client told her, “I would rather fall than have my friends think I have a grab bar!” Those words changed the world of Sladick, sending her on a journey to create stylish, safe and ADA compliant alternatives to the institutional looking grab bar. For the last 8 years, Great Grabz has been designing, manufacturing, and distributing safe and stylish grab bars and bathroom accessories in a variety of designer metallic finishes as well as optical grade acrylic and teak. Great Grabz can be found in hotels and senior living projects throughout North America, including Hyatt, Hilton, Disney, Hard Rock Casino and Marriott.

Sladick says, “Our new strategic partnership with Best Bath Systems will enable us to bring complete accessible bathroom environments to people of all ages and abilities who want style and safety. Design Professionals will now have innovative products to specify that are aesthetically pleasing. Designers will have peace of mind knowing that the Best Bath team will be there to assist with engineering, ADA compliance and construction coordination.”

Best Bath Systems, based in Caldwell, Idaho, just west of Boise, is a leading American manufacturer of walk-in showers and bathtubs for residential and commercial remodels and new construction. Since 1971, Best Bath Systems has been dedicated to designing and manufacturing bathroom products that are safe for people of all abilities.

“Our goal at Best Bath Systems is to offer upscale, luxury bathing systems to anyone who is considering modifying or remodeling their bathroom,” states Gary Multanen, Best Bath Systems founder and CEO. When Multanen’s mother was not able to use her bathtub any longer, he realized what a great need there was for safe, accessible bathing units.

Multanen says, “Joining forces with Great Grabz is exactly the kind of opportunity we embrace. Our second goal is to offer products made in North America. When the opportunity presented itself to add a premium line of elegant safety bars that truly enhance the beauty of the bathroom, it made sense to move forward.”

Jeff Mooney, President of Best Bath Systems says, “We are pleased and excited with the opportunity to represent a high end product line with the reputation Great Grabz brings to the industry. Great Grabz’s product compliments our upscale bathing systems very nicely. Safety and accessibility have always been an important aspect of our business and now we can add beauty and style to the mix.” Mooney continues, “ With our distribution network, this product will be widely available through internet dealers as well as over 500 storefronts though out the US and Canada.”

iPhones, iPads, iPedicures...Oh My

If have ever had a pedicure or manicure at a busy nail salon you know that the conversations usually centers around celebrity gossip, People magazine and recipes. Well this week I was left speechless by the conversation....


Saturday afternoon there were 6 ladies in the salon ranging in age from 55 to 75. Everyone had an iPhone or an iPad on their lap while getting their pedicures, fills and manicures. As I sat back and listened, I realized that the very animated conversations were about the new features on of the iPhone 4S, Skyping with grand kids at college and how to download Apps.  


Baby Boomers are changing the world and they using technology to do it. What is next the iPedicure?


In the spirit of the Nail Salon Chatter:  


Eye Reader - Stop squinting at restaurant menus or trying to read your theater program in the dark. The Eye Reader lets you use your iPhone 4's LED light to magnify and illumine small print. (iPhone4; 1.99)


G Park – For those times when it comes to finding your car in a huge parking lot or deck. Just set your location before you leave your car and the app will get you back with pinpoint accuracy. Great for the Airport! (iPhone; .99)

It Takes A Village to Age In Place

What will it take to successfully Age In Place? It will take a village.

NextDoor.com is a social networking site that has incredible potential for people of all ages. Many communities around the country have initiatives to connect residents, but this site allows neighbors to communicate in any weather and from the safety of their homes when mobility is an issue.  

• Does anyone have a tool?
• Babysitter needed...
• Can someone help change my light bulb?
• How are you doing in this storm?

I live in a rural area where I rarely get to see my neighbors. This would be a far more effective way to stay in touch, find lost pets and increase neighborhood safety. The world is changing and here is technology to make every community feel a little more "small town".

Is your Haunted House Accessible?

Make sure your Haunted House is Accessible for all of your guests

by including Great Grabz's Glow in the Dark Grab Bars.

Friday Photos

1600 Dots....2000 More to Go

In the Field on Firday

An Abbie Joan Job



Have a Great Weekend!

8 Great Bathroom Makeover Ideas

 Here are some 8 great ways to update a bathroom of any size. Every bathroom can look fashion forward with a bit of color and design.

 1. Remove old medicine cabinets and install decorative tiles with glass shelves for guest amenities. $$$

 2. Install a decorative wood frame around your mirror. Picture frame molding can give the mirror a look of elegance. (Tip - Paint the back of the wood black to avoid a shadow line.) $$$

3. Remove old glass enclosure and replace with clear frameless glass doors. $$

4. Cut out a few of your field tiles and insert decorative tiles to give a pop of color to a solid shower wall. 5.Repaint the room in a warm color tone. This gives everyone a healthy glow. $$

6. Replace dated Hollywood lighting with a new decorative lighting sconces. Your local home stores probably carry a great selection of cost effective lighting. $$ 

7. Install new bathroom accessories and decorative hardware. Have fun with this! Sports, animals, flowers there are so many options. $

8. Buy new bath towels to add a big pop of color. $

For more great design ideas visit http://www.abbiejoan.com/


Key:
$ - Fast and Cheap.
$$ - DIY over $50
$$$ - Requires Professional over $150

Design/Build Remodeling...More than 1 Man and a Truck

Today’s savvy homeowners are looking to make good spending decisions on their remodeling projects. They are no longer satisfied by the tradesman who uses his sledge hammer first and then… pulls out his pencil from behind his ear and starts to calculate costs. This method often results in a project that is poorly designed and notoriously over budget.

A Design/Build Remodeler is the perfect professional to work with the new breed of homeowner who is looking for a great project, an enjoyable process and an exceptional value.

The Process:

• Initial Meeting – This is the time to get to know one another, survey the existing home, honestly discuss budget desires, and talk about needs both present and future.
• Idea Sharing – During the exchange of ideas, the remodeler and the client can see if they are a comfortable match. Can they work together to accomplish the clients goals?
• Design Stage – This is where the magic happens… Design ideas are presented, mulled over and agreed upon as a team. Material choices are presented, options are explored and budgets are established. This phase often takes time and requires a series of meetings. Choices are much easier to change on paper then in the field and this is the time to do it.
• Construction Documents –When all designs are complete they are put to paper and both remodeler and client sign off. Clear and detailed documents make good projects.
• Time to Build – With all of the preparation done it is time to bring in the crews. There are clear cut directions from construction documents and the plan can be executed.

Good value in a remodeling project does not mean cheap. It means that money is well spent and the design and function exceeds expectations.

If you have any questions on Design/Build Remodeling please feel free to contact me at Abbie Sladick, CGR, CAPS or visit our website http://www.abbiejoan.com/

Hotel Design Trends

New hotel trends you’ll see popping up include:

Multipurpose Lobbies- Reaching out to the younger generation. Hotels are redesigning their lobbies to have their guests come for cocktails, coffee, or just a place to check their emails and hangout with the family.  I recently noticed this with my trip to Charlotte NC. The Marriott Hotel in South park had many lounge areas sectioned off for guests to choose from.  Along with scented candles and various pitchers of fruit infused water.  It was such a welcoming environment that guests were taking advantage of daily.

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No More Tubs- Many hotels, like Marriott are doing away with bathtubs, and opting for showers instead.  Marriott is “advising our newly built hotels to put showers in 75% of their rooms.”* New technologies in grout allow them to be easier to clean than in the past and color tile options add a new element of creative design for the bathrooms.

Pump Dispensers- Hotels are also beginning to get rid of those cute little bottles of shampoo and conditioner, and installing soap dispensers instead. While including soap dispensers would be easier for those with limited hand mobility, I would imagine that many people- myself included- will miss those tiny bottles that travel so well.

source

Electronic Check In- Similar to the kiosks you see at airports, hotels are adding electronic check in spots for guests. Some of Starwood’s Aloft hotels are offering “Smart Check In” that will text a guest on the day of their stay with information on getting into their room- bypassing the line at the check in counter.** 

Energy Efficient- Looking for ways to save on their energy costs, hotels are adding technology that requires guests to use their hotel keys to keep the lights on.  I experienced this at the Platinum Hotel in Las Vegas.  I had to place my room key next to the door to keep the lights going in the hotel room.  It was really not an inconvenience in anyway and saved me from unnecessarily leaving any lights on while I was out of the room.  Many hotels are also considering adding a motion light detector for the hallways to keep them from having to stay lit all day.

 Sources:

Construction Writers

Naples News

What hotel changes would you like to see?  Which ones will you miss?

Celebrate the First Day of (Do Not) Fall with a Free Grab Bar!

Wear White after Labor Day!

____________________________________________________________________

INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM

____________________________________________________________________

TO:                  ALL GREAT GRABZ STAFF

FROM:            ABBIE SLADICK, PRESIDENT

SUBJECT:      LABOR DAY 2011

DATE:             08/30/2011

____________________________________________________________________

Here at Great Grabz, we are constantly reinventing the way the world views style and safety.

This fall, I call upon each of you to break your Grandmother's Fashion Rules

• Wear white shoes after Labor Day
• Don't wear pantyhose to the office
• Pull out that Red Lipstick, even during the day.
• Have long hair after 40.
• Mix Black and Brown when you feel like it.

We are creating bathroom accessories that make our customers feel Sexy, Strong and Safe. Be empowered by your surroundings and let our customers know that we are committed to doing the same for them.

Have a great Autumn!

5 Places You Never Thought to Put a Grab Bar

1. Entry of Shower-  Many people place a grab bar on the long wall of their shower, but this can leave a large unsafe gap from walking into the shower and actually being in the shower.  Adding a small vertical grab bar at the entrance is great to assist with entry and exit. This is especially needed for tub/shower combinations when someone is required to step over the tub's edge.

2. Near Handheld Shower-  The upward motion of  removing and returning a handheld shower head to its cradle can cause you or your loved one to become unbalanced. Having a small vertical grab bar near the handheld shower head offers a place to hold.

3. Next to shower seat- For those who may have trouble standing up from a seated position, having a grab bar placed next to a shower seat or bench is a great assistive device. This is especially beneficial when the floor is wet and traction is hard to obtain.

4. In place of a towel bar- Let's face it, when you are about to fall you are going to grab onto whatever is in reach.  Instead of installing traditional towel bars into your bathroom, which easily rip out of the wall, use Horizon grab bars instead.  They have enough room for even the fluffiest of towels to dry, while having the strength of a grab bar.

5.  By the front door- A small vertical grab bar placed near the front door is a great place for someone to hold on to while bringing in groceries, removing shoes, or unleashing the dog.  (The 10" Hand Hold is also a great place to hang a dog leash!)

Unique Touch Decorative Acrylic Grab Bars - 20% off Coupon

Great Grabz is offering

20% off of their Unique Touch Products 

if you purchase from them at

GreatGrabz.com

use coupon code UNIQTOUCH55

at checkout to receive discount.

*limit one per customer, good until 08/31/11

For more information on this line of

beautiful acrylic grab bars and bathroom accessories

check out this video:

Meet Bunkie

In honor of Take Your Dog to Work Day I want to introduce you to

Great Grabz's favorite employee-

Bunkie

I adopted Bunkie 5 years ago from Domestic Animal Services in Naples, FL.

She has been working at Great Grabz for the past 4 years. She wakes up every day excited to work- ready for what the day may bring.

Her job is to greet everyone that walks in the door, and to keep the workers here smiling.

She loves her job, and the flexibilty it offers for her busy sleep schedule.

and they pay is good.

"It's a ruff job but somebody's gotta do it."

Memorial Day

And I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free.
And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.
~Lee Greenwood

 

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