A Bright, Aging in Place Bathroom Built for Retirement Living

Some bathroom remodels begin with Pinterest boards. Others begin with a leak.

For these Melbourne homeowners, the breaking point was their shower was breaking down, forcing them to use a guest bathroom. At the same time, their closet situation was… not ideal to say the least.

Two closets sat on opposite sides of a hallway, divided by awkward walls and odd angles that made storage frustrating rather than functional.

The bathroom was dark.

The layout felt dated.

And they were entering retirement in what they expected to be their forever home.

They met with us and told us it was time for a reset! 

Before and After Photos:

Leading with personality

The design spark came from an image in a magazine at the S&W showroom:

Flowing blue tile with a tropical feel.

That became the inspiration for the design. From there, the homeowners’ grown children jumped in with ideas, including a Houdini-style barn door hinge and sleek aluminum-frame doors from Open Close Doors in California.

Collaboration with this couple was fun. And yes, a mischievous mermaid made a cameo in the shower — hidden somewhere in the space as a playful Easter egg that captures the couple’s sense of humor.

Rethinking space from the ground up

We removed the dividing walls between the two closets and straightened out the angles. That single move created:

• More functional closet storage
• A larger, more organized walk-through closet
• And a bathroom that actually breathed

Then came the big trade: tub out, shower in.

A true zero-entry shower

The old bathtub that no one ever used was replaced with a wide, luxurious shower designed for both beauty and accessibility:

• Zero entry, no curb to step over
• Linear drain for clean, modern lines
• No door, allowing full access for a shower chair or caregiver if ever needed
• A heated ventilation fan overhead so the large shower doesn’t feel chilly
• A structural slide bar that doubles as a grab bar if needed

This is barrier-free design that feels spa-like, not institutional.

Future-ready toilet room

The water closet was intentionally expanded to allow space for a walker or wheelchair down the road, with room to add grab bars or a support frame around the toilet if ever required.

Pocket doors were used instead of swinging doors — no scraping wheels, no awkward clearances, just smooth movement.

Storage that actually works

The countertops were set at an adult-friendly height that works better with a walker, and the faucets include pull-down sprayers for flexibility and ease.  Custom cabinetry allows for hidden storage so laundry baskets and hair dryers aren't cluttering up the room.  

Tech meets accessibility

Because these homeowners love technology, the bathroom also features:

• Ceiling speakers
• A heated towel warmer
• Toe-kick lighting
• A washlet-style toilet

What makes this an aging-in-place bathroom

This bathroom remodeling project shows that aging and planning for accessibility isn’t about fear — it’s about planning and foresight.

• Wide pathways.
• Barrier-free shower access 
• Comfortable heights 
• Thoughtful storage 
• Room to move, breathe, and adapt

All wrapped in a bright, reflective, tropical-blue aesthetic with a hidden mermaid that feels joyful rather than cautious.

The takeaway

A bathroom that looks beautiful today and will still support these homeowners decades from now — in the house they intend to keep.

That’s aging in place done right.

 Talk to a designer today to explore options and get a free estimate or visit one of our seven remodeling showrooms near you.