KOHLER: Personal Needs Inventory & Wish List: Design Fundamentals: KOHLER Design Center

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Personal Needs Inventory & Wish List

Getting the most from your new bath starts with taking a personal inventory and identifying the needs of all users. Get input from other family members as well. When remodeling, taking inventory also means identifying any problems with your current bathroom. This will help you to develop a clearer picture of what you have to work with, relative to practical, style and budgetary matters.

Who will be using the space?
- A family bath should comfortably accommodate two people at the same time. That may mean twin lavatories. Zoning fixtures - isolating the toilet from the shower, bathtub and lavatory - will provide privacy and also reduce congestion allowing simultaneous use.
- A master bath suite, which is often a private retreat from family and job responsibilities, should have sufficient space to accommodate an oversized chair for reading or a catnap to increase the level of relaxation and luxury for the user.
- A powder room, guest bath or half bath, as it is sometimes called, typically requires less space than a full bath. However, comfort and adequate storage are still important and should not be overlooked.
- Children's baths pose unique concerns. They require more safety features and lower heights, but also adaptability as children grow.
- If you have elderly relatives living with you or family members with disabilities, consider special functional or safety needs they may have.

Do users have a preference for showering vs. bathing? If remodeling, do present fixtures accommodate these preferences?
Is the bathroom conveniently located and accessible for all users?
- Is the layout user-friendly?
- Does it make the most of the existing space or is the layout awkward?
Is your existing bath simply too small?
- Could you annex an adjacent closet or hallway to expand the space?
Does it offer enough privacy?
Is it hard to clean?
Does it need a new vanity?
Do individuals who use the space have the same or different tastes?
- Is there a preference for traditional, casual or modern style?
- What about a color scheme or favorite colors?
- What style or decor goes best with the rest of your home?
Is there adequate storage space and secure storage for prescription drugs and cleaning supplies if there are children in your home?
Is there an exhaust fan or adequate ventilation?
- Accumulated moisture results in mildew on tile, loose wallpaper and blistering paint.
- Who wants to put up steamy mirrors?
Is the lighting sufficient for specific grooming tasks as well as overall ambience and safety?
Do you have enough towel rack space (two feet minimum) for each person using the bathroom?
Will the bath be used for other purposes, such as a home gym? Is there sufficient space to accommodate the necessary equipment?

Make a Wish List and Project Binder

Once you have determined your needs and identified any existing problems or issues you will want to correct with a new bath, start a "wish list" binder or project scrapbook. A great source of inspiration when it comes to designing your new bath, a project binder or scrapbook will also help keep you organized and focused.

Items to include:

Design idea and trend articles clipped from magazines
Information from consumer publications that rates products and building materials
Pictures of attractive bathrooms from magazines or product literature
Creative ideas for storing towels, toiletries, and decorative items to personalize your new bath
Product literature categorized by fixtures and faucets, cabinets and countertops, flooring, lighting and window treatments
Paint samples and fabric swatches
Business cards, newspaper ads, and the names and addresses of interior designers, builders, and retail suppliers
A pad of paper for jotting down ideas, layout sketches, likes and dislikes

Use the Special Features checklist to identify those features you feel would add value or convenience to your new bath. Add it to your project binder for ready reference.

Creating a project binder - and visiting showrooms for further inspiration - will help you to better visualize what you want your new bathroom to look like. Ultimately, this will save a lot of time and guesswork as you move forward with your project.

Special Features for the Bath

Check those features you feel would add value or convenience to your new bath:

___ Separate Shower
___ Whirlpool
___ Two-person whirlpool
___ Anti-scale shower valve
___ Two lavatories
___ Makeup mirror
___ Shower only
___ TV cable
___ Lounge area
___ Steam shower
___ Dressing area
___ Towel warmer
___ Hand-held shower
___ Microwave or wet bar

___ More natural lighting
___ Better ventilation
___ Linen/towel storage
___ Medicine cabinet
___ Grab bars
___ Bidet
___ New accessories
___ Sound system
___ Fitness area
___ Sit-down vanity
___ Walk-in closet
___ Other ______________
_______________________

The Bottom Line - Your Project Budget

On a per-square-foot basis, the bathroom is the most expensive room in the house to remodel. What you'll pay depends on many factors, but the area you live in and the products you include are the two biggest variables. If you are remodeling, the most expensive aspects of your project will be cabinet installation and relocating major fixtures within the space.

When developing your project budget, consider how long you intend to stay in your new or present home.

If you use it every day and intend to stay in your home for a number of years, a new or remodeled bath is well worth the investment.
If you plan to sell your home in the next few years, check with a local real estate agent to find out how many baths and what kinds of amenities home buyers expect in your area.

As with any project, you'll need to make some tradeoffs. Determining your budget can help you prioritize your needs so that you can begin to think about less expensive alternatives, if necessary, and get the most for your money.