How many people have to stay at a nursing home because their new wheelchair will not fit through the doorway to their bathroom? TOO MANY.

When you are remodeling your bathroom, I strongly advise that you spend the little extra money and enlarge the door to your bathroom. 32" of inside width is all you need to get a standard wheel chair through. Almost all bathroom remodels entail tearing out the existing tile and adding new tile and plumbing. While the walls are open, why not add bracing for hand bars? Did you know that Kohler now makes hand bars in all of their finishes (even the new finishes)? So your hand bars can be part of the design not an add on.

Many of you remember my foot surgery a couple years ago. That was an eye opener, even for an experienced designer as myself. I was off my foot for 4 months. I now TREASURE hand rails, 'comfort height' toilets and hand showers. I simply love the carts that you drive around in the grocery store. It is no picnic living without walking. I have made a commitment to MY FUTURE that every remodel/change I incur in my house is going to ENABLE me to live in my house longer. After all this remodeling, I CERTAINLY want to stick around to enjoy it!

Staying in your home longer starts with enlarging that bathroom door. Go ahead - Be Bold! Take the initiative to ACTIVELY PLAN YOUR FUTURE to LIVE happily in your home for a very long time.

Christine