Nicely done. I particularly appreciate your use of accurate terminology and inclusive language. I wait for the day when all new buildings will automatically incorporate many of these design features.
I did a Reno of my home before selling and had incorporated a brand new bathroom with all the accessibility features in it but still very beautiful , there was so many people who appreciated the style and functionality
Thank You for normalizing accessibility. I noticed that some of you shower examples have benches against the back wall of a two walled shower with glass on the other side. Obviously not accessible. I would love to see some layouts for roll in accessible modern minimalistic showers. We are remodeling with accessibility not currently required but in mind.
thank you for listing out about the important items of designing the bathroom. people often under-estimate the usage and the needs of the accessible bathroom. i truly experience how hard it can be if you fall. i once fall and it was very hard to manage in the bathroom. my mum also fell and was not able to walk for a month. it was a nightmare for her.
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching and for providing your own experience. It's something we all need to think about and eventually we will all benefit from accessible spaces.
Thank you. As someone with a history in aged care, I really appreciate this informed video. I wish more designers would consider these issues. They are for all of us, as we all age!
Very true. Not all the images in my video are actually universal design bathrooms. Focus on what I’m pointing out when the image comes up. At no point did I say a freestanding tub is appropriate. Thanks for watching!
This video is exactly what I needed! I have been search for month as to what I should do with my bathroom remodel. I knew I wanted wheelchair friendly after a very long back recovery. We plan to live here until we die so forward thinking is a must. Since we don't need it permanently right now I was trying to figure out how to have grab bars and such that don't look like grab bars, in case there's a difficult, short term, situation again. This video covered every aspect with great ideas and photos. Thank you, thank you, I am no longer anxious that I'm going to get it right since this video covers every aspect imaginable. You are my hero!
This is such an important topic! So many of the beautiful and trendy bathrooms we see are not accessible (such as with aging parents), but then the accessible designs we see are so clunky and ugly! Both accessible and beautiful should be possible.
Universal Design is for everyone old or young. I had a co worker that had to live with her sister because she had a bathtub/shower combo in her apartment. She was recovering from surgery on her leg and couldn't bend it to get into the tub. Her sister had a an open shower she could just walk in. A simple bath was so inconvenient for her.
As we plan our retirement home, this video is great help; thank you for it. My wife already is wheelchair dependent, and I'm recovering from surgery showing that even those that do not normally require accessible features might find themselves needing them. I'm still recovering so not up to meeting with you yet but, as soon as I'm able, I will set up a meet on your patreon to talk about how to turn the drawing from the home designer into details that the builder can use to make an accessible bathroom, kitchen, and kitchen island.
I'm so glad you found it helpful. And to your point, accessibility benefits all of us. I look forward to 'meeting' you soon! A speedy recovery to you. :)
I'd love to see a universally designed kitchen video. Kitchen in on our wish list to renovate in the medium future, so any tips to make it more accessible would be great :)
An excellent channel. Just came across a few hours ago. Planning to go through as much as possible. Please do one on Universal kitchen .Am currently building my home
Hi Design Chickee, I love your overall design guidance but one thing that was omitted, and actually problematic if you use a shower/commode combination wheelchair, is that the toilet height needs to NOT be a raised toilet but a standard height one due to the commode function with the combination wheelchair. The chair backs over the commode for toileting followed by rolling into the barrior-free shower area.
Great video, I really appresiated it. We design and build our houses without really taking care of our older selves. When I built my house 20 years ago, the only thing that I thought of was to leave some space for an elevator for when I won't be able to climb stairs. But I never really thought of the access to the bathroom or to the walk-in closet, for example, or any closet. Maybe you must continue with a series of video about other accessible spaces in our homes. Thank you.
So looking forward to this in 2022! Thank you Designchickee! Would love an entire series for a whole house in Universal Design 💖 Bathroom, Kitchen, Bedroom, Living Room, Study, Balcony/Patio, Garden🪴 …. 🤓
This is very timely. We are building a new portion of the house and are designing for Aging-in-Place, so the information you provided is very helpful. Thank you.
Thank you for your informative video! For the good of everyone, my hope is that universal design becomes universal to every bathroom, renovated or newly constructed. One other tip that I would like to mention. The bathroom mirror should be hung to allow all people to be able to see themselves, including wheelchair users. Many times the mirror is hung too high for someone in a chair to see themselves. This may require a taller mirror to allow for varying individual heights. Thanks!
Very helpful indeed, thank you - clear, concise, lots of lovely informative photos and pragmatic advice. We've been mulling over upgrading our downstairs bathroom ever since we moved here & now that I can't move without aid, I'm desperate for an accessible bathroom. Had lots of ideas, then last night I pretty much came up with an ascetically pleasing & hopefully practical design along the Uni Design principles. My hubby loves that idea of a levitated loo! We're in Aus which is pretty strict nowadays on wet-proofing & plumbing only being done by the pros - your idea for pre-empting need is very important. I think one of the trickiest aspects of a retro-fit, is trying to fit what's needed into an existing space so by joining the sep. loo & bathroom together & losing the bath I think we should just about have our turning circle. Your lighting ideas and flooring options have all been taken on board, one thing which is very annoying down here (I've lived in US & Europe) is that over-vanity cabinets are wall-mounted & I don't think I've ever seen a recessed unit, which is bonkers. Locals, correct me if I'm wrong & point me in the right direction! And why couldn't such a unit be set into the studwork leaving an allowance for door swings? Yes, I would like some ideas for help in the kitchen, when we do the bathroom we're going to turn the adjoining laundry into a butler's pantry where I could do some meal prep - I've never been used to working sitting down, I'm not in a wheelchair (yet) but getting in & out of tables is difficult... Thank you very much I shall check out more of your videos.
While slowly renovating my home, I try to keep accessibility in mind. I don't need it (yet) myself, but if this becomes my "forever home", then I want to be able to age gracefully in it. But even before then I may get sick or injured and need a little extra help. And if I do decide to move on to another home, then I can rest easy knowing that my this home would be accessible for a potential buyer who does need such accomodations.
I loved the video. I am a 3elow the knee amputee and the only suggestion I can make is when selecting a toilet and tank try and get one where the flush handle is on the outside (away from the wall) or on the lid so a person in a wheelchair can flush without having to reach across the toilet.
Love your videos! Wish I would have found them last year when we began building our age in place home however your information is incredible! Thank you!
I want to remodel my master bathroom I can’t decide on tile for floor and shower walls I want something nice but you will never get tired of always looks nice
Have a small 5 by 7 bathroom getting it remodeled to an 8 by 10 but just about want to eliminate the br door but the problem might become privacy Also how do you design a be so moisture vapor doesn't infiltrate the whole adjacent room?❤
How do you prevent water coming out of the shower stall? I am planning to keep my door and have tile floor. Can I email you for further question? Thanks
I have a design dilemma and I need some answers!! Love your channel, and love YOU! Can you do a video on wainscoting? Should I do all rooms? Should it all match? Does it fit any style home? How tall should it be? So many questions...!!
Thank you so much for this video. I just discovered your channel and am finding it so helpful. We just purchased a 1962 ranch and are renovating to be our forever home. I was looking into soapstone flooring as it is described as non-slip. Any experience with that?
The problem with commode is the turn around from wheelchair to commode seat. You need a free standing commode with no front or back. Get rid of the idea of a chair. The commode should accessible as a simple slide forward from wheelchair to commode without turn around. Think of a commode stool in design.
I have been using a wheelchair since 1981 due to SCI T-12 paraplegic non ambulatory. I have lived in apartments and had tubs with shower benches. I buy the hard plastic sturdy wide ones you can find available for sale at any local disability equipment supplier or online. I just pull a shower curtain around me and tuck it inand down to keep water from splashing on the floor and especially my wheelchair. I don't understand and see the utility of a roll in shower or wet bathroom other than for quardriplegics that require assistance in the shower and an attendant that can move the wheelchair away. How does water not splash on the wheelchair? At best the tires will get wet and then you are tracking water out of the bathroom into the rest of the house and even just all over the bathroom floor. Even with the least bit of water hitting the floor and wheelchair tires you are washing the dirt off your wheels and leaving behind wheel dirtt trails all over the floor.
Thank you for this video. I am disabled but not on wheelchair. The cleaning of the glasswall is difficult for me so I would like to create a large walk-in shower but i don’t know how to start..as all the designers add a glasswall or there is only 6f x 56inches but what possibilities do i have with 5f long only, how large should be then a walk-in shower so that the water stays inside with the water arrival placed on the side ?
Yes, with 5f you’re fine with a shower curtain. Chose the large fine evacuation drain instead of the usual rond one. And for easy access with the cleaning of the grouts, ask the plumber to put the drain at the entrance. That way, you won’t be bothered with the drain while showering. I am diseable and i prefer large tiles in the bathroom and a shower tray in one piece (i mean, not to be tiled). Also niches are not working with my hands, so i prefer a 90cmhigh tray or a corner basket. Also i asked the plumber to lower the faucet. It took me 2y from the reno idea to the construction site. Have you started ?
I loved this video. Showers: No one takes a shower in their wheelchair. Wheelchairs have seat cushions. so keeping the wheelchair dry must be always be considered. No one spends the day sitting in a wet seat. Even getting out no one gets back into a wheelchair wet. It's not independence needing someone to bring you a towel as you sit there naked and wet. A simple hook to hold it while showering or while transferring in and out would go a long way. What is a transport chair? It's a chair with casters in the front and the same size wheels in the back. While sitting in them you can't move someone else must move you and the user can't apply the brakes. Waterproof shower chairs are generally not wheelchairs they are transport chairs. Someone else puts you in and pulls you out. Weight: This is an example of "Oops!" where it made sense until it was built. Now you're stuck with it. The need is so great and the user accepts the inconvenient workarounds. My friend had her bathroom remodeled replacing the shower tub with a true wheelchair tub including water jets. The whole remodel worked and looked great. A few days after completion at the opposite end of the room, I noticed a paper-thin layer of the paint popped off the wall. While still attached it leaned into the room about 5 degrees an inch down from the ceiling but stayed attached. I'm sure the contractor would have been glad to come back and touch up the paint. However, when designing the bathroom the weight of the additional tile, the weight of a heavier whirlpool-style tub, the weight of the water, her weight, the weight of her electric wheelchair, weight of her care attendant, and the weight of her service dog all in the middle of the room were not considered. That paper-thin paint pop was the floor bowing under the weight. The contractor added supports in her basement. Had it been after a heavy snow storm it could have ended badly. I've noticed: I've noticed designers miss the concept that wheelchairs cannot back up against a wall. Between, handles, headrests, wheelie casters, and the wheels themselves they always sit forward. Seats are wall mounted in showers or wall-mounted toilest is used the user is now 6 to 10 inches in front of the destination.
Great video, and yes to accessible kitchen. Our retirement condo is in a 1925 building, ground floor with basement. The bath is very small and we want to replace the tub with a curbless shower. Is it difficult to retrofit the slope for the drain in an older building?
It can be difficult and more costly. It really depends on the type of floor construction but if you have a basement below it might be promising. Check with a good contractor. It’s worth the investment.
I am in the middle of having this done, replacing my ancient shower with a curbless tiled shower. I’m using one of the newish compressed foam presloped pans, one specifically made for curbless showers. I have a basement to access the floor from below but my carpenter didn’t have to cut anything down at all. However if need be some of the foam systems are made to work by adding sub flooring between the supporting floor joists. I have a nearly 200 year old house so it’s definitely doable.
Olga, what an insightful video. As someone who appreciates design and also has aging parents, I appreciate the concepts that were highlighted here - beauty and functionality for a safe, yet lovely, space. I would love to see a follow up video on universal kitchen design. Thanks!
Most bathroom in China have no dividers or tubs, and the problem is, the floor gets super wet and gross after showering, and requires more frequent cleaning. it also splashes water everywhere, on the door, toilet seats, mirrors... I am thinking about adding temporary silicon floor dividers to keep water within a space and adding curtain rods. A completely open shower room is a terrible idea, unless there are other good ideas? I really would love to know....
I built an apartment suite on my house for my parents…..everything is accessible….they’re both gone now but I know that I can move into that space as required if we stay in our home….it’s a relief…
Nicely done. I particularly appreciate your use of accurate terminology and inclusive language. I wait for the day when all new buildings will automatically incorporate many of these design features.
I'm so glad you enjoyed it! And yes... it should be normal practice when designing anything!
I did a Reno of my home before selling and had incorporated a brand new bathroom with all the accessibility features in it but still very beautiful , there was so many people who appreciated the style and functionality
Yes please do a kitchen design please
Yes to universal kitchen design please.
So well done. I don’t know why more builders do not address these needs.
We are all getting older and way too fast... Most will need some of this . Thank you. I have a grandson with cerebral palsy, so it is very real to me.
❤️
Yes, please do one on universal design for kitchens. Thanks!
Thank You for normalizing accessibility. I noticed that some of you shower examples have benches against the back wall of a two walled shower with glass on the other side. Obviously not accessible. I would love to see some layouts for roll in accessible modern minimalistic showers. We are remodeling with accessibility not currently required but in mind.
thank you for listing out about the important items of designing the bathroom. people often under-estimate the usage and the needs of the accessible bathroom.
i truly experience how hard it can be if you fall. i once fall and it was very hard to manage in the bathroom. my mum also fell and was not able to walk for a month. it was a nightmare for her.
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching and for providing your own experience. It's something we all need to think about and eventually we will all benefit from accessible spaces.
Definitely universal design for kitchens! Thank you
Thank you. As someone with a history in aged care, I really appreciate this informed video. I wish more designers would consider these issues. They are for all of us, as we all age!
Glad it was helpful!
Those beautiful free-standing deep bathtubs are very difficult to get out of.
Very true. Not all the images in my video are actually universal design bathrooms. Focus on what I’m pointing out when the image comes up. At no point did I say a freestanding tub is appropriate. Thanks for watching!
This video is exactly what I needed! I have been search for month as to what I should do with my bathroom remodel. I knew I wanted wheelchair friendly after a very long back recovery. We plan to live here until we die so forward thinking is a must. Since we don't need it permanently right now I was trying to figure out how to have grab bars and such that don't look like grab bars, in case there's a difficult, short term, situation again. This video covered every aspect with great ideas and photos. Thank you, thank you, I am no longer anxious that I'm going to get it right since this video covers every aspect imaginable. You are my hero!
I have been looking for something like this for so long!! Would love to see a kitchen version, or even a whole house version lol
It’s definitely an important topic! Thank you for watching. :)
Very helpful. Alas, these guidelines point out how horrible the tiny bathroom footprints are in old NYC apartments like mine.
Tiny bathrooms are a huge challenge! Thank you for watching. :)
By far this is what I most need before the bathroom renovation. Thank you!
Valuable information well presented. I hate to see people spend thousands remodeling their bathrooms without taking future needs into account.
So true. And it makes bathrooms safer in general! Thanks for watching!
Packed with great practical advice, as usual! Please do the kitchen too!
Thank you for watching and commenting! :)
This is such an important topic! So many of the beautiful and trendy bathrooms we see are not accessible (such as with aging parents), but then the accessible designs we see are so clunky and ugly! Both accessible and beautiful should be possible.
Universal Design is for everyone old or young. I had a co worker that had to live with her sister because she had a bathtub/shower combo in her apartment. She was recovering from surgery on her leg and couldn't bend it to get into the tub. Her sister had a an open shower she could just walk in. A simple bath was so inconvenient for her.
It really makes sense for everyone, doesn’t it? Thank you for watching and sharing. :)
As we plan our retirement home, this video is great help; thank you for it. My wife already is wheelchair dependent, and I'm recovering from surgery showing that even those that do not normally require accessible features might find themselves needing them. I'm still recovering so not up to meeting with you yet but, as soon as I'm able, I will set up a meet on your patreon to talk about how to turn the drawing from the home designer into details that the builder can use to make an accessible bathroom, kitchen, and kitchen island.
I'm so glad you found it helpful. And to your point, accessibility benefits all of us. I look forward to 'meeting' you soon! A speedy recovery to you. :)
I'd love to see a universally designed kitchen video. Kitchen in on our wish list to renovate in the medium future, so any tips to make it more accessible would be great :)
This was really helpful thanks. As a wheelchair user who’s worked in the disability sector there were still points I’d never heard.
Well done! Been looking for a video about this topic. Love the idea of grab bars not looking like grab bars.
Me too! ;)
An excellent channel. Just came across a few hours ago. Planning to go through as much as possible. Please do one on Universal kitchen .Am currently building my home
Hi Design Chickee,
I love your overall design guidance but one thing that was omitted, and actually problematic if you use a shower/commode combination wheelchair, is that the toilet height needs to NOT be a raised toilet but a standard height one due to the commode function with the combination wheelchair. The chair backs over the commode for toileting followed by rolling into the barrior-free shower area.
Great video, I really appresiated it. We design and build our houses without really taking care of our older selves. When I built my house 20 years ago, the only thing that I thought of was to leave some space for an elevator for when I won't be able to climb stairs. But I never really thought of the access to the bathroom or to the walk-in closet, for example, or any closet. Maybe you must continue with a series of video about other accessible spaces in our homes. Thank you.
Thank you for watching and commenting!
I strongly agree that Olga needs continue with a series of video for accessible living.
Makes sense, doesn’t it! Thanks for watching!
So looking forward to this in 2022! Thank you Designchickee! Would love an entire series for a whole house in Universal Design 💖 Bathroom, Kitchen, Bedroom, Living Room, Study, Balcony/Patio, Garden🪴 …. 🤓
This is very timely. We are building a new portion of the house and are designing for Aging-in-Place, so the information you provided is very helpful. Thank you.
Thank you for your informative video! For the good of everyone, my hope is that universal design becomes universal to every bathroom, renovated or newly constructed. One other tip that I would like to mention. The bathroom mirror should be hung to allow all people to be able to see themselves, including wheelchair users. Many times the mirror is hung too high for someone in a chair to see themselves. This may require a taller mirror to allow for varying individual heights. Thanks!
Great tip. There are also mirrors that tilt downwards that would help with this as well. Thanks for watching and sharing. :)
“Design Chickee”!!! I love it. Smart and fun!
Loved the video, very informative and helpful. And you were wonderful and smart!
Very helpful indeed, thank you - clear, concise, lots of lovely informative photos and pragmatic advice. We've been mulling over upgrading our downstairs bathroom ever since we moved here & now that I can't move without aid, I'm desperate for an accessible bathroom. Had lots of ideas, then last night I pretty much came up with an ascetically pleasing & hopefully practical design along the Uni Design principles. My hubby loves that idea of a levitated loo! We're in Aus which is pretty strict nowadays on wet-proofing & plumbing only being done by the pros - your idea for pre-empting need is very important.
I think one of the trickiest aspects of a retro-fit, is trying to fit what's needed into an existing space so by joining the sep. loo & bathroom together & losing the bath I think we should just about have our turning circle. Your lighting ideas and flooring options have all been taken on board, one thing which is very annoying down here (I've lived in US & Europe) is that over-vanity cabinets are wall-mounted & I don't think I've ever seen a recessed unit, which is bonkers. Locals, correct me if I'm wrong & point me in the right direction! And why couldn't such a unit be set into the studwork leaving an allowance for door swings?
Yes, I would like some ideas for help in the kitchen, when we do the bathroom we're going to turn the adjoining laundry into a butler's pantry where I could do some meal prep - I've never been used to working sitting down, I'm not in a wheelchair (yet) but getting in & out of tables is difficult... Thank you very much I shall check out more of your videos.
Yes, more please
While slowly renovating my home, I try to keep accessibility in mind. I don't need it (yet) myself, but if this becomes my "forever home", then I want to be able to age gracefully in it. But even before then I may get sick or injured and need a little extra help. And if I do decide to move on to another home, then I can rest easy knowing that my this home would be accessible for a potential buyer who does need such accomodations.
You appear at the right time always!
So glad!! ;). Thanks for watching!
We are renovating our primary bathroom and this information has been so helpful! Thank you.
You are so welcome!
Thanks!
Yes, design kitchen design please.
Something is different. Loving the new look! Great topic as well. Thanks!
I lost my favourite pair of glasses so these are new. Maybe that’s it? Lol. Thanks for watching!!
Yes please I’m in need for some universal design ideas to remodel my kitchen
YES. KITCHEN.
Thank You for sharing, a video on kitchens would be wonderful !
I loved the video. I am a 3elow the knee amputee and the only suggestion I can make is when selecting a toilet and tank try and get one where the flush handle is on the outside (away from the wall) or on the lid so a person in a wheelchair can flush without having to reach across the toilet.
Invaluable advice! Thank you for adding to my discussion. And thank you for watching!
Great tips thank you !
You're so welcome! Thanks for watching and commenting!
Nice
Thx..ideas worth following
Makes us think..
Glad to hear that! Thanks for watching.
Please-universal design for the kitchen as well.
Love your videos! Wish I would have found them last year when we began building our age in place home however your information is incredible! Thank you!
Glad you like them!
Great information! I am interested in universal design for the kitchen for the house I am building. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful! Here's the link for Universal Kitchens! th-cam.com/video/xsbgUNl2to0/w-d-xo.html
Yes I’m also looking for kitchen design for disabled individual in a chair.
I would love your tips for assessable kitchen! Peas and Thank you!
please also do a video on accessible kitchens
Please do one on Universal Kitchen .
I want to remodel my master bathroom I can’t decide on tile for floor and shower walls I want something nice but you will never get tired of always looks nice
Have a small 5 by 7 bathroom getting it remodeled to an 8 by 10 but just about want to eliminate the br door but the problem might become privacy Also how do you design a be so moisture vapor doesn't infiltrate the whole adjacent room?❤
BTW I’d definitely like a kitchen version.
Very thorough, thank you
Glad you enjoyed it!
How do you prevent water coming out of the shower stall? I am planning to keep my door and have tile floor. Can I email you for further question? Thanks
I have a design dilemma and I need some answers!! Love your channel, and love YOU! Can you do a video on wainscoting? Should I do all rooms? Should it all match? Does it fit any style home? How tall should it be? So many questions...!!
Great topic! I’ll add it to my list so definitely stay tuned. And thanks for the kind words. :)
Thank you so much for this video. I just discovered your channel and am finding it so helpful. We just purchased a 1962 ranch and are renovating to be our forever home. I was looking into soapstone flooring as it is described as non-slip. Any experience with that?
I don’t suggest open bathroom with no glass doors ; I was raised with that and was always shivering in winter time🥶
How do i find my local building codes online without contacting my town building inspector? Reside in MA
❤
The problem with commode is the turn around from wheelchair to commode seat. You need a free standing commode with no front or back. Get rid of the idea of a chair. The commode should accessible as a simple slide forward from wheelchair to commode without turn around. Think of a commode stool in design.
I have been using a wheelchair since 1981 due to SCI T-12 paraplegic non ambulatory. I have lived in apartments and had tubs with shower benches. I buy the hard plastic sturdy wide ones you can find available for sale at any local disability equipment supplier or online. I just pull a shower curtain around me and tuck it inand down to keep water from splashing on the floor and especially my wheelchair. I don't understand and see the utility of a roll in shower or wet bathroom other than for quardriplegics that require assistance in the shower and an attendant that can move the wheelchair away. How does water not splash on the wheelchair? At best the tires will get wet and then you are tracking water out of the bathroom into the rest of the house and even just all over the bathroom floor. Even with the least bit of water hitting the floor and wheelchair tires you are washing the dirt off your wheels and leaving behind wheel dirtt trails all over the floor.
Hi
I need to design my wheelchair accessible washroom, can you help?
Thank you for this video. I am disabled but not on wheelchair. The cleaning of the glasswall is difficult for me so I would like to create a large walk-in shower but i don’t know how to start..as all the designers add a glasswall or there is only 6f x 56inches but what possibilities do i have with 5f long only, how large should be then a walk-in shower so that the water stays inside with the water arrival placed on the side ?
Yes, with 5f you’re fine with a shower curtain. Chose the large fine evacuation drain instead of the usual rond one. And for easy access with the cleaning of the grouts, ask the plumber to put the drain at the entrance. That way, you won’t be bothered with the drain while showering. I am diseable and i prefer large tiles in the bathroom and a shower tray in one piece (i mean, not to be tiled). Also niches are not working with my hands, so i prefer a 90cmhigh tray or a corner basket. Also i asked the plumber to lower the faucet. It took me 2y from the reno idea to the construction site. Have you started ?
Note that a 20" toilet is not right for every handicapped person. Those of us who are short are extremely uncomfortable on chair-height toilets.
I loved this video.
Showers:
No one takes a shower in their wheelchair. Wheelchairs have seat cushions.
so keeping the wheelchair dry must be always be considered. No one spends the day sitting in a wet seat. Even getting out no one gets back into a wheelchair wet. It's not independence needing someone to bring you a towel as you sit there naked and wet. A simple hook to hold it while showering or while transferring in and out would go a long way.
What is a transport chair? It's a chair with casters in the front and the same size wheels in the back. While sitting in them you can't move someone else must move you and the user can't apply the brakes. Waterproof shower chairs are generally not wheelchairs they are transport chairs. Someone else puts you in and pulls you out.
Weight:
This is an example of "Oops!" where it made sense until it was built. Now you're stuck with it. The need is so great and the user accepts the inconvenient workarounds. My friend had her bathroom remodeled replacing the shower tub with a true wheelchair tub including water jets. The whole remodel worked and looked great. A few days after completion at the opposite end of the room, I noticed a paper-thin layer of the paint popped off the wall. While still attached it leaned into the room about 5 degrees an inch down from the ceiling but stayed attached. I'm sure the contractor would have been glad to come back and touch up the paint. However, when designing the bathroom the weight of the additional tile, the weight of a heavier whirlpool-style tub, the weight of the water, her weight, the weight of her electric wheelchair, weight of her care attendant, and the weight of her service dog all in the middle of the room were not considered. That paper-thin paint pop was the floor bowing under the weight. The contractor added supports in her basement. Had it been after a heavy snow storm it could have ended badly.
I've noticed:
I've noticed designers miss the concept that wheelchairs cannot back up against a wall. Between, handles, headrests, wheelie casters, and the wheels themselves they always sit forward. Seats are wall mounted in showers or wall-mounted toilest is used the user is now 6 to 10 inches in front of the destination.
SHOWER BUDDY
I’m building a house in Indonesia and need help.
Great video, and yes to accessible kitchen. Our retirement condo is in a 1925 building, ground floor with basement. The bath is very small and we want to replace the tub with a curbless shower. Is it difficult to retrofit the slope for the drain in an older building?
It can be difficult and more costly. It really depends on the type of floor construction but if you have a basement below it might be promising. Check with a good contractor. It’s worth the investment.
I am in the middle of having this done, replacing my ancient shower with a curbless tiled shower. I’m using one of the newish compressed foam presloped pans, one specifically made for curbless showers. I have a basement to access the floor from below but my carpenter didn’t have to cut anything down at all. However if need be some of the foam systems are made to work by adding sub flooring between the supporting floor joists. I have a nearly 200 year old house so it’s definitely doable.
Olga, what an insightful video. As someone who appreciates design and also has aging parents, I appreciate the concepts that were highlighted here - beauty and functionality for a safe, yet lovely, space. I would love to see a follow up video on universal kitchen design. Thanks!
Glad you enjoyed it! Important to think about, always. :)
this was great! I would love to see one for the kitchen. thanks!
Great video! I am learning so much from you. Keep the info coming! ❤🤗
Thank you! I’m glad you found it helpful!
@@Designchickee you're welcome. ❤
Most bathroom in China have no dividers or tubs, and the problem is, the floor gets super wet and gross after showering, and requires more frequent cleaning. it also splashes water everywhere, on the door, toilet seats, mirrors... I am thinking about adding temporary silicon floor dividers to keep water within a space and adding curtain rods. A completely open shower room is a terrible idea, unless there are other good ideas? I really would love to know....
the floor dividers are only a few inches tall and soft, according to the ads. but will it increase the chance of tripping and falling...?
will there be dividers that are removable with a switch? so that it won't block anyone
Thanks for including the flooring information.
No problem! Thanks for watching!
So very useful for me and my daughter. We are planning a bungalow so would really appreciate a Kitchen design. Many thanks
I built an apartment suite on my house for my parents…..everything is accessible….they’re both gone now but I know that I can move into that space as required if we stay in our home….it’s a relief…
So smart. And just the relief alone makes it worth the investment. Thanks for sharing and watching! :)