BATHROOM
takeover
Text Nicholas Rosaci
“Women think of all colours except the absence
of colour. I have said that black has it all. White
too. Their beauty is absolute. It is the perfect
harmony.” - Coco Chanel
This year, my amazing grandmother turned 100 years
old. Like many seniors in good health, she is choosing
to age in place and renovate her home to meet her
changing needs. My first priority when renovating her
dangerously outdated 1960s bathroom was to create a
space that was safe and senior savvy without sacrificing
style.
We decided that a freestanding shower with a low
curb was much easier to get in and out of compared to
a traditional tub. We selected beautiful matte porcelain
bathroom tiles and smaller matte shower floor mosaics
with added grout lines for better traction. A matte tile is
better than a shinny tile for minimizing slips and falls.
Behind the gleaming subway tile and shower floor
mosaics, is a complete Schluter Kerdi membrane that
waterproofs the space and prevents mold and mildew
growth. These aspects are often overlooked in bathroom
renovations but are vital for a senior-friendly design
where health and wellness are paramount. One of
my grandmother’s favourite features in the shower is
the Moen Arris collection with its architectural tubular
clean lines that are easy to maintain. The lever style
faucet handles, with a quarter turn, require minimal
effort to operate and meets the American Disabilities
Act specifications. The collection also offers stunning
matching grab bars to prevent slips and falls. Custom
glass doors on a barn door style roller system ensures a
smooth and effortless glide while keeping the room open
and allowing light to filter in easily.
We chose a colour combination of black and white.
This high contrast combination helps to easily distinguish
one surface from another. We used vintage style black
baroque wallpaper paired with dazzling porcelain white
subway tiles to create a dramatic first impression. We
also removed the closet doors on the bathroom storage
closet and used a beautiful black, grey and white floral
print wallpaper to create a display area that is functional
but still pretty. We chose a clean, white vanity with
ample closed storage and topped it with a black granite
counter top. The vanity’s classic details, European
quality hardware and traditional style make it appear both
handsome and feminine at the same time.
My grandmother’s favourite fragrance and style icon
is Coco Chanel which was the inspiration for much of
the décor. Three silver foil Chanel bottle prints from
Canadian artist Randa Salloum of I See Noise fame
look edgy and really tie the whole space together. The
finished space surpassed our expectations of what a
savvy senior bathroom could be and has restored my
grandmother’s independence and ability to age in place.
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Lighting, Toilet, Tile and Wallpaper in Closet, Home Depot,
www.homedepot.ca; Shower Base, Schluter Kerdi, www.schulter.
com; Shower Door, Doors & More, www.doorsandmore.ca; Vanity
and Sink, Cutler Kitchen & Bath, www.cutlerkitchenandbath.com;
Faucets, Shower Head and Grab Bars, Moen, www.moen.ca;
Wallpaper, Bathroom Mirror and Artwork, Bouclair, www.bouclair.
com; Chanel Prints, Randa Salloum, www.the-unprecedented.ca;
Bust, HomeSense, www.homesense.ca; Vase, IKEA, www.ikea.ca