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.
 

Bathroom Safety Checklist

Shower

__ Grab bars should be placed both in and out of the shower to prevent falls anywhere in the bathroom

__ Apply non-slip grip to shower or tub floor
__ Shower seat or bench for a safer way to shave legs or wash feet

__ Handheld shower head
__ Curbless shower entry
__ Lever handles
__ Anti-scald faucets on sink, bathtub and shower

Toilet Area

__ Grab bars next to toilet

__ Supportive toilet paper holder

__ Toilet seats 17” – 19” off the floor for older persons

__ Toilet seats less than 17” for children

Vanity Area

__ Countertops with rounded edges

__ Easy glide drawers that close automatically

__ Bright non-glare lighting

__ Eliminate clutter

6 Tips for Grab Bar Placement

6 Tips for Grab Bar Placement

Customers say to us all the time "I know I need a grab bar, but have no idea where it should go." Here are  6 tips for grab bar placement for you or your client's home.

1-      Grab Bar Height- There is no standard height requirement for residential installation of grab bars, and everyone's needs are different, but as a rule of thumb, in ADA compliant bathrooms, grab bars are installed 33"-36" off the finished floor. The recommended height for children is 17"-28".

If your bathroom will be used for family members and guests who may be of different heights and abilities, the Great Grabz Wave bar is the perfect solution. The Wave sweeps up 3" to cover more area making it comfortable and secure for everyone.

2-      Grab Bar Length- Grab bars should cover as much of the shower wall as possible. If you have a large shower, we suggest a bar for each wall to ensure safety.  

3-      Outside of the shower or tub- Having a small grab bar placed vertically outside of the shower or tub entry is great for assistance stepping to and from a wet surface. Great Grabz's 10" grab bar is ideal for this application.

 4-      Tub Deck- Soaking tubs are all the rage in bathroom design. However, trouble can come quickly if someone is unable to exit the tub. We suggest installing a grab bar on the wall behind the tub and/or a small grab bar on the tub deck.  Be sure the grab bar is in a place where a foot cannot trip on it while entering or exiting a tub.

 5-      Towel bars with strength- Let's face it, when you are about to fall you'll grab on to anything close by - including a towel bar. Why not make towel bars safer by replacing them with grab bars? 

6-      Toilet paper holder-  For those who have a hard time getting up from a seated position, Great Grabz's 10" grab bar can also be used as a toilet paper holder, while still maintaining its strength of supporting 250lbs of force. 

Keeping it in Focus

5:45 am - The alarm goes off and it is time to pop out of bed to head for the gym. So much time and energy trying to keep toned and tight, than ......as I head to the bathroom and look in the mirror, I am confronted by a mean trick of aging. I can’t see anything close up!

Each day over 45, it seems that I am being slowly mocked by Mother Nature. As we age, the elasticity of the lens of our eyes becomes worse and it is more difficult for our eyes to naturally adjust to changes in light and vision conditions.

Now like millions of others, I am constantly reaching for my reading glasses, but the reality is I am not ready to wear them on a chain around my neck. Reading glasses also have some major draw backs in the bathroom – they fog and get in the way.

Through no fault of its own, the bathroom is generally the most improperly lit room in one’s home. Because it is frequently the smallest room in the home, many people think that a single light fixture can sufficiently illuminate the entire space. The bathroom is a place in which a range of functions are preformed, and each task must be illuminated properly.

Here are a few easy tips to make your morning easier and to keep you bright and in focus:

• Use a lit magnifying makeup mirror. They come in both wall mounted and vanity styles. There are a variety of magnifying strengths 5x, 10x and even 20x. Try before you buy to make sure you like the strength. I found that more was not always better. There are a few pores and wrinkles I like to keep hidden……even from myself.
• Make sure that you have adequate light in the shower. For safety reasons the light in showers needs have a sealed cover, but with regular cleaning and an adequate strength bulb it is much easier to read shampoo and conditioner labels.
• Decorative tiles can be beautiful and can also be a great way to highlight changes in floor heights in the shower. No one wants to trip and fall stepping over the curb of the shower.
• Lighting your vanity requires strategic placement of a lighting fixture above the vanity mirror. To achieve sufficiently bright vanity lighting, the vanity fixture should hold at least 150 watts and it should be at least 24 inches long. For an even glow, the fixture should be mounted 75 to 80 inches above the floor.
• Keeping a spare pair of glasses or magnifying lens in the medicine cabinet is a smart thing to do! It is to easy to take incorrect dosages or drugs by not being able to read the tiny writing.

Physical aging is not always fun, but how great is it to live in a time when there are No rules on the who we are and what we do at what age.

A Birthday Wish....

One morning while sponging brackish water from a two piece toilet whose tank I'd unseated while climbing out of our shower-tub, I asked my wife, who was soaping up the water that had leaked from the shower onto the linoleum floor, what she'd like for her birthday. It was idle conversation, meant to shift the focus from our moldy, depressing bathroom to something light and cheerful. But my wife took the question seriously and her plaintive answer cut me to the quick.

"You know what I want for my birthday?" she said, sitting on the edge of the grungy avocado-colored tub in which we'd bathed our two babies, both of whom are now in college."I want a grown up bathroom."

It is impossible to convey just how profoundly her words struck me. A grown-up bathroom. It was like a slap in the face. I stopped my sponging and took a good, hard look at our 60's-era bathroom, with the mushy moldy drywall; the dust-encrusted ceiling fan and the metal medicine cabinet speckled with rust. The scales fell from my eyes. I, too, wanted a grown-up bathroom. We all want a grown up bathroom, don't we? Not someplace where we hurriedly do our business and wash our face, but someplace pleasant. A retreat. Nay, a sanctuary. According to the National Kitchen and Bath Assn., the average person visits the toilet 2,500 times a year. And spends about three years of his or her life in the bathroom. Three years!

Now think about that, then say the truth with me and it will set you free. "I want a grown up bathroom."

Because the minute you acknowledge the truth, you will be transformed. From your bosom will spring forth all sorts of repressed desires. Like the fact that you don't just want a new bathtub; you want a soaking tub. With air jets! And constant hot water that you'll never have to use the word "tepid" again!

Source: David Lansing, March 6, 2005 latimes.com/features/printedition/magazine

/la-tm-lansing10mar06,0,2110193.story

Bathroom remodeling in 2010 is a hot topic! We all do want a grown up bathroom and there are some many design features that that will not create a retreat today, but also ensure a safe place for us to enjoy in the future.

Here are a few "Universal Design" features to consider when planning your new bath:

• Walk in shower with no curb.
• Decorative non-slip tile surfaces for bathroom flooring.
• Grab bars as towel bars and toilet paper holders.
• Magnifying make up mirror.

Tell us about the things that you have (or want in your grown up bathroom!!!

Is Universal Design Green?

It was 5 years ago that John Salmen and I sat down to breakfast at The Biltmore at Coral Gables and discussed the future of Great Grabz, universal design and our aging population. We are in 2009, and the future is now. Here is a wonderful article written by one of the country's most innovative thinkers in the practical application of Universal Design in hospitality, commercial and residential projects. John Salmen is the founder of Universal Designers & Consultants at www.UniversalDesign.com and produces an online newsletter that should be on your reading list.

Universal Design Newsletter, Vol. 9, No. 8 (Oct. 2009)

Is UD Green?

By John P.S. Salmen, AIA

Inevitably, this question must be raised. As public awareness of green design swells to a tidal wave, many Students of UD think we see the next wave approaching – and its name is Universal Design.

But how do these waves relate to each other? Are they random swells? Or caused by undersea movement of the earth’s crust?

Valerie Fletcher, Executive Director of the Institute for Human Centered Design, and Elaine Ostroff, Founding Director along with Eric Mikiten, AIA of the Bay Area COTE, believe that they are both connected to the earth shaking movement of Sustainability. Eric presented his overview in detail at the AIA 2009 convention.

The trefoil logo, developed by the Department of Public Works of Queensland, Australia for its Smart House program. (www.build.qld.gov.au/smart_housing/elements/index.asp), communicated how these three universal design leaders visualize the “ three–legged stool of sustainable design.” The graphic above illustrates how universal design is a basic element of sustainable design, as it relates to resource efficiency and economic empowerment under the umbrella of environmental, economic and social sustainability.

Environmental sustainability relates to the green movement and natural resource conservation and efficiency. Economic sustainability relates to concepts of life cycle costing, equity and fair trade value of products and services.

Social sustainability relates to systems that support people by creating safe, secure and independent communities.

When compared to financial and natural resources, human ability is arguably the most precious resource of all. Human ability is enabled, supported and encouraged by a universally designed environment that gives everyone the opportunity to participate with a minimum of outside support. Just as we must conserve our natural resources, we must also conserve our human resources. It is a waste of human potential to create environments that demand dependence when a simple change in the design of the path, space or element could allow un-assisted use. Like “green design” universal design must be an integral part of design programming and the imaginative design process. It cannot be left as an add-on in a minimal compliance mode.

The relationship between two people who are locked in the care giver/receiver dance, while frequently a loving and enriching experience, is difficult, uncomfortable, and too often destructive of human dignity. Independence is best and can be extended with universal design. The obvious example is aging in place, which is facilitated by universally designed homes and communities.

As we struggle to make the most of limited resources, the value of universal design as a tool to conserve human resources will become increasingly apparent, and its relationship to the broader goal of sustainability will become clear.

The link to sign up for the newsletter is at www.UniversalDesign.com then they just click on the Subscribe Now button.

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Tools to Aging Well

Life is busy, but as time clock continues to tick it is important to pamper our souls and our bodies. Managing a busy schedule can be stressful and it is this stress which increases the effects of aging on our bodies. Whether at home or away, every one starts and ends the day in the bathroom. This space should be an inviting, functional, and safe sanctuary that you can enjoy. Here are a few home improvement suggestions to make your bathroom the ideal place where to give your body the attention it needs to age well.

Lighting - Great lighting is the key to creating a functional and comfortable task area. Lights should come from more than one source. This helps to eliminate shadows and to clearly light all facial surfaces. Over head lighting combined with vanity sconces or lighted makeup mirrors are a great combination. Adequate lighting in the shower is important for safe stepping and to make reading labels on bottles more helpful.

Bring a bit of the spa home. A new trend for showers today is Chromatherapy, which is color light therapy. The use of colored lights is said to balance energy in the body as well as to help change a person’s mood. Many companies have incorporated this type of lighting into their shower heads to create a more relaxing shower experience. Retro-fit models can be purchased at your local home store and are easy to install.

Vanity Areas- Making space in your bathroom to sit can not only be a luxury, but it can be a back saver as well. Bending over a low vanity of holding a heavy blow dryer day after day can create unnecessary aches and pains. This space is also a great area to keep are cosmetics, medications etc. Organization is a key to reducing morning stress. A built in or stand alone vanity should have good storage space and easy to reach electrical outlets. This is also an ideal spot for lighted magnified mirrors. They come in a variety of magnification strengths and make it much easier to applying makeup, do skin cancer self checks and dental care.

Washlets – For many years the Japanese have enjoyed the luxury and convenience of self washing toilets. At first glance this may seem like an exotic idea, but upon further consideration you may find this to be a great part of your health maintenance routine. An integrated, self-cleaning nozzle extends to release a warm, soothing stream of aerated water, followed by a breeze of heated air for drying. These combined features provide the ultimate in personal cleansing. The Washlet can be attached to the seat of most standard toilets. A nearby electrical outlet must be available and can be easily added by a licensed electrician. These seats can be purch

ased from area plumbing showrooms and installed by a plumber.

Showers- Saving the best for last, there is no better way to start feel pampered than having a luxurious shower.

· Just as with the vanity area, having a seat in the shower is both safe and relaxing. It can be used for feet washing, leg shaving, or just a nice place to stay and let the warm water rush over you. A handheld shower device on a slide bar is also ideal to use while seated.

· Handhold showers are also great for when you don’t want to get your hair wet as well as great way to clean a big shower.

· Because of the wet surface, the shower can be the most dangerous place in the bathroom. To ensure safety in your bathroom sanc

tuary you should have a zero threshold shower entry to minimize risk of tripping. This also gives the shower a spa-like look.

· Grab bars are a great idea for the shower as well. Gone are the days where grab bars look institutional now you can buy grab bars that are both beautiful and safe without taking away from the design of your bathroom.

· For the ultimate relaxation, add a steam shower to your bathroom. A steam shower is an enclosure that merges a steam bath and a regular shower into one. Not only are steam showers calming, but they are also good for sinus infection relief, increases blood circulation, and flush out toxins and other impurities in the system.

A well designed and thoughtfully appointed bathroom can make it easy to pamper your self and enjoy comfortable time at the start end of every day. Men and women a like will enjoy some of the new amenities that are now available to make it easier to look and feel great.

Keeping Chefs of all Ages Safe

Microwaves have become an indispensible appliance in most American kitchens, but how did they come top be placed over the range? In and effort to save money and make kitchens smaller, home builders of the 80’s started installing combination built-in microwave-exhaust hoods above the range.

Placing the microwave over the range or cook top has caused many accidents and continues to present safety hazards for chefs of all ages.

• Heavy pans can tip when lifting out of an overhead microwave.


• Burns can be caused when steaming pots are on the range and the microwave is in use.


• Children can climb up on the range to use the microwave and be injured by hot burners.


• Having 2 cooking functions in one area can cause accidents during busy prep time.
  

Here are a few great locations for safe and family friendly microwave locations.

• A microwave can be placed on the counter top and built into cabinetry. This will allow for easy transfer from the counter into the appliance. (Above 36”)



• Drawer microwaves can be placed under the counter top. They are easy to use and they allow for lifting up of warmed foods vs. lifting down. These can also be used from a seated position. (Below 36”)



• A microwave can be installed under a raised counter top. This a great way to conceal the box but keep the buttons at a height the whole family can use. (Below 42”)
  

Great kitchen design starts with pre-planning. Microwave and appliance placement is the one of the first steps to ensuring a functional and safe kitchen. For more thoughts on safe kitchen design feel free to contact abbie@abbiejoan.com

Great Microwave Recipe

Healthy Potato Chips

PREP TIME
30 Min
COOK TIME
5 Min
READY IN
35 Min
SERVINGS

INGREDIENTS
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 potato, sliced paper thin (peel optional)
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste

DIRECTIONS
Pour the vegetable oil into a plastic bag (a produce bag works well). Add the potato slices, and shake to coat.
Coat a large dinner plate lightly with oil or cooking spray. Arrange potato slices in a single layer on the dish.
Cook in the microwave for 3 to 5 minutes, or until lightly browned (if not browned, they will not become crisp). Times will vary depending on the power of your microwave. Remove chips from plate, and toss with salt (or other seasonings). Let cool. Repeat process with the remaining potato slices. You will not need to keep oiling the plate.

How was safe was your stay?

Hotels around the world are updating and upgrading to meet the demands of the more discriminating traveller. It has become one of my favorite past times while travelling to evaluate the form and function of the hotel rooms.





I am not getting younger and neither are you. Are the hotel designers doing a good job of keeping us comfortable and safe while we are in our home away from home?

• Is there enough light to read in bed?
• Is there enough light to put on make up on in the bathroom or in the room?
• Is there a night light?
• Is there a safe way to get into the shower?
• Can I read the writing on the little bottles when I am in the shower?
• Does the tub have no slip surface?
• Is the bathroom floor slippery when wet?

These are just a few things to think about the next time you are in a hotel. Be critical and keep yourself safe. Using the comment card is a great way be heard and to help management give travellers the best possible experience.



Happy travels and send us photos of the best and the worst bathroom designs!

Tips for a Great Remodel

The bathroom is one of the most personal spaces in the home. It is where the day starts and where the day ends. It is the place where we put on our “face” for the rest of the world to see.

Here are some of my tips for a successful project:

Let your imagination run wild! Cut out pictures in magazines. Think about the great hotel bathrooms you have seen. Consider all of the possibilities and then pick and choose your favorites. This should be a fun process and best of all it does not cost a thing!

Do some fact finding! Who will be using the bathroom? Have everyone make a list of what they do in the bathroom. (It may sound funny, but it is an important in creating a functional space.)

Let the light shine! Look at the natural light in the space. Is the existing lighting sufficient in day and evening? If not, task lighting can be a great addition to your space. Add a lighted make up mirror to your vanity or a reading light over the commode or tub.

Plan to keep it organized! What do you would like to store in the bathroom? Make sure you have a spot for things like cosmetics, towels, toys or plug in grooming items? Great solutions include mirrored medicine cabinets, counter top appliance garages, drawer organizers and shower baskets.

Keep it safe! Safety is for everyone in the family. This is the right time to add those special touches. Make sure that you have lots of safe places to hold throughout the bathroom. Great Grabz has a super selection of towel bars; grab bars, toilet paper holders and more.

Plan for the future! Whether it is a skiing accident, knee replacement or a bad back you should be able to easily install grab bars where needed. Install wood backing behind the walls next to the commode, at the shower entry and in the shower or tub. When looking at new flooring make sure that it has a non-slip surface.

Determine your budget and stick to it! Whether your budget is big or small, be honest with the professionals that you are working with and they will give you the greatest value for the dollar.

Use licensed professional contractors! They say that a remodeling project can take years off your life and jeopardize the strongest of marriages. Minimize anxiety by using professionals, who show up on time, do what they say and help you avoid some of the common pitfalls of the DYI Project.

Ask for references! There are many people that can be involved in transforming your bathroom. This is the best way to make sure you are getting reliable and honest individuals. Remember they are coming into your home and they are going to make a mess.

Good luck with your project and feel free to send over any remodeling questions to abbie@abbiejoan.com.

Keeping Families Safe and Healthy in the Bathroom

With the winter winds blowing and the snow falling many families are feeling the effects of the flu and cold season. Sniffles can be heard everywhere, but as a mom, there is nothing more frustrating then having colds pass from family member to family member in MY own house. A new study finds that cold suffers often leave germs on surfaces throughout the house, where they can live for two days or longer.



The University of Virginia, tested surfaces around the home. "We found that commonly touched areas like the refrigerator, doors and handles were positive about 40% of the time for cold germs," said Dr. Birgit Winther, who helped conduct the study.



Wouldn't it be great to have surfaces that stopped the growth of these germs on contact. Well there is-- SANIGUARD -- and it is being in used in some innovative places. SANIGAURD uses the power of silver to stab, starve and stop reproduction of many germs once activated by the moisture from the human touch.



In 2009, this technology moves from hospitals to the home and to hotels. Great Grabz has made SANIGAURD a standard feature on all their decorative grab bars. They will also offer this coating on showerseats, shower baskets, towel bars and other bathroom accessories. One of the additional features of this product is that it protects the decorative finish of the metals and eliminates the need for harsh chemical for disinfecting. (think green!)



Many hotels and cruise ships are looking to this new technology to keep bathrooms shipshape. Guests appreciate this extra attention to detail. No one likes to get sick on vacation! At home or on vacation, another great way to keep your family healthy is Hands2GO instant sanitizer. It is alcohol-free, fragrance-free natural and water based.



Stay happy and healthy!

Aging in Place Resources

Michael Thomas, FASID and Drue Lawlor, FASID have collaborated on one of the most useful resources that I have ever found on Aging in Place design. Their book, Residential Design for Aging in Place, is a resource for design professionals, remodelers, care givers and those thinking about their future.

The book explores all areas of the home, both risks and opportunities. As an example, the chapter, "Designing the Bathroom" reviews grab bar and shower seat placement, wall blocking, floor plans, and cabinetry design. There are great diagrams and photography to show how all of this comes together to create a great bathroom.

This book is a worthwhile investment, before starting any remodeling project.

Designers may also like to check out Michael's blog called Design/Build Interiors.

“I would rather fall than have my friends think I have a grab bar!”

Those words changed the world of Abbie Sladick, sending her on a fantastic journey of creativity and innovation in a seemingly dull
industry.

For over eight years, Abbie had been making dreams come true by designing and remodeling extraordinary bathrooms for her clients. She used products from all over the world for her projects but when one of her clients refused to use a grab bar - Abbie was stumped.

How could she create a beautiful bathroom with an ugly grab bar? Never to be discouraged, Abbie decided if she couldn’t buy a stylish grab bar… then she would design one.

The company’s signature Wave bar was the result. Now Abbie and the Great Grabz team look towards the future redefining safety in the bathroom by creating stylish products that allow
people of all ages and abilities to maintain their dignity and independence.