Key Terms for All Room Design

Bathroom Design Key terms for all room design: Universal design is the philosophy of designing interiors and products to accommodate all people with a variety of requirements, needs and abilities.

Accessible design is barrier free and compliant with federal guidelines to provide accessibility for handicapped persons.

Adaptable design is easily modified design and often temporary.

As people and families age, the environment must be adapted to meet the changing needs. Universal design upfront allows for the needs to be met throughout time.

Examples of Universal design: *Grab bars in the toilet are, tub and shower *Lever handles instead of round knobs *Use of Minimum Fixture Clearance, the area needed to provide adequate room for access and maneuvering for people with or without disabilities *Wide doorways and zero thresholds or shower sills *Well lit bathrooms *Water flow and temperature controls located both inside and outside of the shower/tub easily accessed by a seated person *Knee space below the sink *Tilting mirrors *Easy access storage

Bathrooms are identified as full bath (toilet, tub/shower, sink), ¾ bath (toilet, shower, sink) and ½ bath (toilet and sink). Most homes have 2 bathrooms, one near the public area and one in the master bedroom. Bathrooms can be positioned within a home as a sound barrier between the public area and the bedrooms. Bathrooms are hardworking areas that service people 24/7, often in a high humidity environment that is conducive to mold growth or peeling of wallpaper. They are required to be attractive, serviceable and easy to clean. Also 25% of all home injuries occur in the bathroom due to slipping and falls.

For safety sake the following ideas should be utilized: *properly install grab bars *use slip resistant surfaces, rugs and shower mats *reduce the water temp. to 120 F *use pressure and temperature regulators on water valves *keep medicine and cleaning products stored up out of reach of children and pets *Use GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupters) on outlets near water, example: where the hairdryer is used near a vanity sink. *use privacy locks that can easily be unlocked from the outside

The style of the bathroom is reflected in the furnishings and fixtures. Ex. of styles: feminine, masculine, French, Moroccan, Oriental, Contemporary, and children’s bath.

To increase the apparent space in a bathroom use: *small pattern wall paper *light colored paint, vanity tops and floors *mirrors *repeat the design elements of color, pattern, texture, and size *keep vertical lines to a minimum as the add height and make the floor seem smaller. Emphasize the horizontal line through shelving and vanity tops.

Tubs and Showers The first tub was a horse trough that was enameled by John Kohler. He then welded feet on the bottom and put it in his house. This eliminated the need to bring in the washtub each week for a bath in the kitchen! Now the market has expanded to include a square, round, rectangular or oval shaped tubs, 2 person indoor whirlpool tubs and many outdoor styles as well. Tubs maybe sunken into the floor, sit up on feet or in a raised platform. Tubs can be equipped with non-skid bottoms and grab bars. Newer tubs are made of plastic that becomes soft when hot water is added. The high-density foam core helps insulate the heat and improve energy efficiency. Tubs are made from cast iron/steel with a porcelain enamel finish or acrylic/fiberglass molded into a shape. Cast iron/steel enameled tubs are easy to clean, durable and long lasting. Acrylic/fiberglass tubs are light, easily cleaned but not with chemicals or abrasives due to the ease of scratching the surface.

Showers have evolved as well. There are two options: tub shower or walk-in shower. No longer is the spray(s) fixed, but it can be hand-held or adjustable. Showers are enclosed by curtains, glass doors that slide or swing. Walk-in showers allow accessibility. Anti- scald valves let the toilet flush without a surge of hot water being released upon the person in the shower. Thermostatic valves keep the water temperature constant and can have digital control panels. Built-in options include: soap/ shampoo dispensers, seats/benches, tv.s/radios. Low Flow valves can reduce water usage by 50%.

Toilets and Bidets Toilets are a fairly recent invention from the mid to late 1800’s. The initial toilets often had design problems that allowed methane gas to escape into the bathroom often with explosive results! The Englishman, Thomas Crapper, patented and produced a “water closet” that worked! The Englishman, Thomas Crapper, patented and produced a “water closet” that worked! Bidets are a personal hygiene system that can be separate or attachments to a regular toilet.

Recent toilet innovations: Electrically heated toilet seats Motorized lift toilet seats for the handicapped Auto-flush toilets Wall mounted toilets Hidden exhaust systems to remove gassy odors! Elevated and elongated seats

Sinks - several styles are available with numerous design options to choose from. Designs include pedestal sinks, wall mounted sinks, cabinet-mounted sinks with countertop and under the sink storage. Also, decorative bowls/basins are now being mounted on top of the counter for beautiful sinks.

Faucets and Fixtures come in a dizzying array of finishes and styles, forms and functions. Single knob faucets allow temperature and flow to be regulated with one control. Another option is separate hot/cold knobs with a single spigot. Built in soap dispensers are available.

Storage and Medicine/Cosmetics This area of the bath must not be overlooked. Custom furniture, drawers, baskets, shelves and cabinets are all options for storing towels, sheets, cleaning supplies, dirty clothing and personal cleaning and grooming supplies. A Base cabinet in a bathroom is called a vanity. Materials used for vanity tops include marble, plastic laminate, solid surface, enameled cast iron and fiberglass.

Lighting

Natural lighting is preferred over artificial lighting. However, privacy must not be compromised when allowing natural light into the area. Avoid the use of lamps for safety reasons. Use vapor proof recessed lighting to light bathtub and shower areas. Three types of lighting used in a bathroom are: task, general and accent. Task lighting: near the vanity the use of 2 bar lights provides for cross illumination for personal grooming General lighting rule of thumb is 1 Watt per square foot of floor surface area. Accent lighting is used to highlight an area or an object; dimmer controls change light from efficient to intimate!!

Heating/Ventilation Towel heaters, infrared bulbs (like those at Luby’s), radiant floor heating, convection elements with fans mounted on the ceiling, are all ways to provide heat in the bathroom.

Steam from a hot bath or shower causes condensation to form on mirrors and walls. Without proper ventilation, wallpaper will start to peel and mildew will grow. Exhaust fans vent the moisture to the outside.