Extending A Bath’s Lifespan

BEFORE

Universal-design master bathroom renovation by Graf Developments, P.O. Box 540999, 
Grand Prairie, TX 75054, (972) 571-6076, www.grafdevelopments.com

The owners of this Dallas home had a very outdated, dimly lit and poorly designed master bathroom. So when the husband was on crutches after a knee surgery, it became quite obvious how much they needed to make a change if they planned to stay in their home—which they did. With the help of Graf Developments, they were able to make the needed changes. “The homeowners expressed their desire to stay in this house forever,” explains Bruce Graf, the owner of Graf Developments. “Redoing this bathroom to make sure it remained functional as they got older was of utmost importance.”

The bathroom renovation included: the addition of a curbless shower, new cabinet door and drawer knobs and faucets with lever handles, wider doorways, more effective lighting and non-slip tile. Trained through the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) to become a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS), Graf says he knows the importance of redesigning a home not only to make it accessible to all family members (including both senior citizens and young children), but also to effectively conceal certain renovations so they are not noticeable. For example, if a safety bar isn’t needed now but will likely be needed in the future, Graf installs blocking behind the wall for an easy future installation. “It’s important to make these changes while still keeping the overall look attractive,” Graf adds. “These days, it’s all about universal design.”