Fixtures with flair

Aesthetics is a big reason people resist adapting their bathrooms -- or building new ones -- with features that help older people and those with disabilities.

Who wants their home to shout hospital or nursing home?

That's especially true for homeowners who are just planning ahead and don't immediately feel the need.

But the first wave of the baby boom generation that numbers at least 75 million people and represents about 25 percent of the country's population is entering retirement age.

A few well-placed grab bars, easy-to-turn faucets and a slightly taller toilet start looking pretty good.

This is especially true now that many manufacturers are designing these fixtures to look like they belong in a home -- not an institution.

And even young families are learning that the same features that work for older people can help children.

For example, Kohler has a WaterHaven Shower Tower that slides up for taller people and way down for a child or a person in a wheelchair or on a shower seat.

The controls are also at a reachable height, said Mary Jo Peterson, a Connecticut bath and kitchen designer who works with Kohler.

And when Gerber designs a new toilet and matching sink, it starts with the ErgoHeight toilet first, said Kevin McJoynt, director of marketing for Gerber, based in Woodridge.

This size toilet -- which goes under different names with different companies -- meets standards set by the Americans with Disabilities Act. It is about 17 inches high before the seat is attached compared to 14 inches for a standard toilet.

This chair height makes it easier for most adults to get up and down.

"They do seem to be growing in popularity each year more than previous years. They don't look like they belong in a hospital," McJoynt said.

Lever-style faucets can easily fit ADA standards even when they are smaller and attractive, McJoynt said.

And some companies are making automatic faucets that look less institutional.

Home Care by Moen did a survey that showed people are more likely to install a grab bar -- especially before an accident -- if it matches or coordinates with their decor.

"Among the barriers are aesthetics," said Kevin Jones, senior product and brand manager for Home Care by Moen. "They don't want something that looks like it belongs in a gas station."

The company makes grab bars that coordinate with Moen's faucets.

Finishes include chrome, burnished nickel, Old World bronze and oil-rubbed bronze.

Home Care also makes grips that are white to fit on a shower or tub surround, but also are available in a few metal finishes.

These hand grips are showing up in other places in the home, such as alongside steps from the garage to the house.

Product prices can vary greatly.

American Standard's Champion 4 elongated toilet starts at $359 in white. The taller or Right Height version costs $424.

Moen's metal hand grips, which are 9 inches long and resemble a towel bar, start at about $24.

JACLO of New Jersey specializes in decorative products. Its luxury grab bars can range from $250 to $3,000. The company carries 16 stock finishes and also customizes.

As for tubs, one rule that makes them easier to use is plenty of space for sitting on the surround or flat edge around the tub, said Diana Schrage, designer at the Kohler Design Center.

This would help someone in a wheelchair to transfer in and out of the tub.

Kohler's Tea-for-Two tub has a flat bottom and is slip-resistant, she said.

The controls have to be placed properly, and the surround has to be built separately since it does not come with the tub.

A solid-surface countertop for a lavatory can look great and allow for a user in a wheelchair, Peterson said.

The key is that the countertop must be the right height, Schrage said.

Pedestal sinks are sometimes made taller, too, said Gerber's McJoynt.

And even cabinets are getting universal design attention.

Diamond Logix cabinets, which have both kitchen and bath versions, earned an award from the Arthritis Foundation.

The Vanity Linen Closet provides easy access and puts everything in the line of sight with 15-inch deep shelves, a fully extendable laundry basket and swing-out door racks.

Not just seniors need grab bars and other accommodations that make bath projects truly universal, Larry Brodey, president of JACLO, said in a statement.

"Homeowners now realize that they need homes that will age with them," he said.

"The traditional home that serves you well when you are healthy won't always take care of you when you break a leg or hurt your back.

"For a young parent, a grab bar comes in handy when they are bathing a young child and require extra support."