I don’t think I’ve ever been asked to phrase my design ideas in the form of a question, but with Laura Makey as my client, I’m ready if she asks. Laura was a former Jeopardy contestant and is as sharp as they come. She has the air of a funky librarian about her, and I suspect she matches her eyeglasses to her mood. She collects elephants in addition to colorful eyeglasses and has a story to tell.
As a child, Laura suffered a traumatic brain injury which has resulted in a lifetime of balance and mobility issues. At our first meeting, she shared that she was formerly paralyzed on the right side of her body.
Her needs are precise: a zero or low threshold shower to replace her tub and provide access to the outdoor spa which she uses therapeutically. The house was built in 1972 and with the exception of the ADA height toilet, the space hasn’t changed since.
There was one attempt Laura remembers, back in 2003, when she and her husband Geoff worked with a designer to help them conceptualize the possibilities. The Makey’s have been dreaming of their bathroom remodel ever since. And they’ve been saving. They have accumulated $20,000 to add to the project. Creating a bathroom that meets Laura’s needs is a vital component to aging in place.
At that moment, I felt a brush against my legs and looked down into the most beautiful blue-green eyes I’ve ever seen. Locking gazes, I had no doubt the feline had a story of its own to share, but I don’t speak cat.
My thoughts returned to the design possibilities. My head was spinning with ideas for capturing some extra space from an adjacent closet and reworking the functionality of the room. Then Geoff tapped my arm. “I’d love to have an appliance garage if we can work that in…”
He must have seen my questioning look because he added, “For my hair products.”
I smiled my understanding. While many men his age are shaving their heads to disguise their thinning locks, Geoff has a luxurious head of shoulder length hair. In fact, he looks like a model from a Pantene commercial. “Duly noted,” I said.
This was going to be an adventure, but I was more than ready for it! “Alex, I’ll take bathroom design for $500, please.”