Archive for category: Bathrooms

Universal Design for Bathrooms

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In our last blog, we talked about the Universal Design Workshop we hosted for our design teams based in Newport News and Virginia Beach. As more and more homeowners opt to age in place, there’s a growing demand for universal design. This week, we’d like to share some examples of how universal features can be worked into the design of your remodeled bathroom.
Location, Location, Location

The fundamental principle of universal design states that the space should be accessible to all people, regardless of their age, size or ability. While many multi-level homes offer a half bath on the first floor, a universal home should have a full bathroom on the main-level. If your home is a single story, then you’re already on the right track!

Wide Entry

The average size doorway ranges from 30 to 32 inches. For a universally designed bathroom, opt for an entryway that’s at least 36 inches wide. This ensures ease of access for anyone who uses a wheelchair or other mobility devices.
Floor Space

Once IN the bathroom, there should be ample space to maneuver. A good rule of thumb is have enough open floorspace for a wheelchair to make a 180 degree turn.  Beyond the square footage of the floor space, it is also important to choose the right floor materials. Slip-resistant tile and wide grout lines help provide traction even when the floor is wet. If you like having some kind of floor covering in your bathroom, choose for a decent sized non-slip area rug instead of a flimsy bath mat.

Alterations

Bathroom features like your toilet, vanity and shower need alterations to make them universal. A standard toilet seat is only 14 to 15 inches tall. For a universal design, your bathroom should be outfitted with a potty seat that’s 16 inches from the ground. Floating vanities and ones designed specifically for wheelchairs will make accessing the sink easier for everyone. Instead of a tub, opt for a walk-in shower with a wide entry way. A curbless shower threshold provides the safest entry and exit.
Grabbable

Tiny knobs can be hard for people to use, so choose large d-shape door and drawer pulls that are easy to grab.

Speaking of grabbing, grab bars should be placed in the shower and beside the toilet to give your bathroom a safety boost. There is a wide range of metals and finishes available, so you don’t have to sacrifice form for function.

To learn more about the universal design options for your next bathroom remodel, reach out to our design team at Hatchett Design Remodel. Just call or visit our showrooms in Newport News or Virginia Beach… it costs nothing to ask!

Reed Bathroom Remodel

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Remodeling allows you to express your own sense of style. For the Reed family, that meant bringing a European sensibility to their home in Williamsburg. They hired Hatchett Design Remodel to get the job done right.

During their initial in-home consultation, we learned that Mrs. Reed is from the Netherlands; and like most Europeans, she prefers the modern design style. Many homeowners in the Virginia Beach area have a traditional or transitional aesthetic, so Jessica was excited about the opportunity to work on a modern space.

Modern Design Style

The modern design style offers clean, crisp horizontal and vertical lines with very few (if any) curves. The color palette is typically neutral and simplistic. Modern spaces also usually contain reflective surfaces like steel, glass and shiny tile.

Reed Master Bathroom Remodel Curbless Shower
Showroom Visit

Material selections are easy at Hatchett Design Remodel, because we have showrooms conveniently located in both Newport News and Virginia Beach. In the design phase of their remodel, the Reeds visited our showroom to pick out their materials. Working hand in hand with Jessica, they were able to see and feel the elements that would be included in their remodeled space.

Reed Master Bathroom Remodel Curbless Shower Universal Design
Material Selections

They chose Etic Ebano tile for the flooring, which also extends into the floor of their curbless shower. The shower walls are tiled in Genesi Cenera subway tile, which offers a modern spin on a classic look.

Reed Master Bathroom Remodel Heated Towel Rack

For contrast, Jessica recommended matte black fixtures from the Moen Annex system for the shower and from the Delta Trinsic collection for their sink.

Reed Master Bathroom Remodel Matte Black Fixtures

The oak vanity from Mid Content is painted Portobello with a Silestone Helix Quartz top and Kohler’s Archer Sink. The look is completed with flat black Pennington bar pulls from Top Knobs.

Reed Master Bathroom Remodel Matte Black Hardware

Staying true to the modern design style, the finished project isn’t just simple… it’s simply stunning. When you’re ready to create a space that’s uniquely you, reach out to our design team at Hatchett Design Remodel. Call or visit our showrooms in Newport News or Virginia Beach… it costs nothing to ask!

The Huntings’ Master Bath Remodel

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The Huntings built their dream house in Franklin back in the early 1990s. After nearly 30 years, their beloved home looked more dated than dreamy. That’s when they decided to hire Hatchett to give their home a much needed make-over by remodeling the kitchen, sunroom and master bath.
Photo Real Rendering of Hunting Master Bath Remodel
Shower with Glass Enclosure
Even though the bathroom looked old and out-dated, the layout worked well for them. Without changing the footprint, Jessica’s design completely transformed their bathroom into a luxurious, spa-like space.
Hunting Master Bath Before & After
Their original shower was enclosed by walls. By replacing the shower with a frameless glass enclosure, the bathroom appears significantly larger. It also allows the natural light from the window over the tub to spill into the room.
Hunting Master Bath Before & After
Freestanding Tub
The new freestanding tub takes up less floor space than the old built-in model. The fixtures are mounted in a ledge behind the tub which also provides shelf space for toiletries, towels and decor.
Hunting Master Bath Before & After
Vanities & Mirrors
The new double vanities are white, which helps make their bathroom look larger. White and light-colored cabinets and walls reflect light, thereby creating the illusion of a bigger space. While the design of the vanities looks very similar, the new vanities offer more drawer space than the original ones. For bathroom storage, drawers often prove to be more functional than cabinets.
Hunting Master Bath Before & After
To maximize their bathroom storage, we replaced the old tiny medicine cabinets with Robern Uplift Mirrors from Ferguson. When the mirrors glide upward, hidden medicine cabinet storage is revealed. The built-in lights turn on automatically.
Roburn Uplift Mirror/Medicine Cabinet
Client Feedback
As you might imagine, the Huntings are ecstatic with their new master bathroom, so we asked them to share some information about their remodeling experience with Hatchett.

What is your favorite part of your remodel?

We are enjoying our newly remodeled home. The glass shower is our favorite feature in the bathroom. Everything looks clean and organized.

Why did you choose Hatchett Design Remodel?

We first heard about Hatchett at a home show in Virginia Beach a few years ago where we met Kevin. When we were ready for our remodel, we called Kevin. We chose Hatchett, because you could provide all of the resources to cover the architectural and structural aspects of the project along with the design and construction.

What is your advice to other homeowners planning to remodel?

Our advice is to be as specific and detailed as possible with the goals of your project. Then you have to be realistic with the budget and schedule estimates.

After completing the kitchen, sunroom and bathroom remodel, we asked the Huntings how they felt about the whole experience.

Our house remodel turned out just as we planned and hoped it would. We would definitely use Hatchett again.

 
The Huntings with Jessica, Kevin and Adam
Take it from the Huntings – when you’re ready to remodel, contact Hatchett Design Remodel. Call or come by our showrooms in Newport News or Virginia Beach – it costs nothing to ask!

The Value of a Bathroom Addition

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Older homes typically have fewer bathrooms than ones that are built today. If you have a large family, enjoy entertaining or are looking at the resale value of your home, a bathroom addition is worth considering. There are several ways to go about adding a bathroom, and our designers at Hatchett can help you figure out the best strategy.

Full Bathroom Addition built in eaves of a home
Photo Credit This Old House on Pinterest
Location, Location, Location

The first step is to identify the need. Do you simply want a small powder room or do you have the need for a full bathroom with a tub and shower? Next, determine the location that best serves the need. It’s important to also keep the location of existing plumbing in mind. The closer your new bathroom is to supply and drainage lines, the more affordable the renovation will be. On the bright side, according to the 2019 Cost Vs. Value Report, a homeowner can recoup up to 81% of the cost of a bathroom addition.

Wasted Space Under Stairwell

With these types of additions, you have two options. The first is to build out adding square footage to your home. The second is to convert existing square footage. To do this, look for areas of wasted space. Unused space under a stairwell can be ideal for a powder room. It’s cozy, but half the fun is finding creative ways to make the space feel larger.

Powder Room Addition built under stairs
Photo Credit Home BNC on Pinterest
End of Hallway

Perhaps there’s dead space at the end of a hallway that can be converted to a half bath.

Half bath addition at end of hallway
Photo Credit Provident Home Design on Pinterest
Convert a Closet

How much closet space do you have? You could possibly sacrifice a closet for the greater good of an extra bathroom.  Another scenario could be constructing a new wall in a large room that would create an adjacent bathroom for that space. The use of a translucent glass wall in this example allows light from an exterior window to still spill into the main room.

Closet converted to bathroom
Photo Credit Remodelista
Expand the Laundry Room

If you can talk the hubs into sacrificing some of his garage space, that’s a convenient location that’s usually in close proximity to the kitchen (and existing plumbing). If you have a laundry room adjacent to the garage, Hatchett could expand that space to include both your laundry and a bathroom.
Photo Credit The Brick House on Pinterest

In this scenario, a large single basin sink can double as a utility sink.

Bathroom Laundry Room Combo
Photo Credit BrePurposed on Pinterest

There are numerous possibilities, and each home is unique. If you’d like to talk to our design team about a bathroom addition, reach out to Hatchett Design Remodel at our showrooms in Newport News or Virginia Beach… it costs nothing to ask!