I Used to Renovate for Style, Then Something Major Changed My Approach

I was in the middle of a bathroom remodel last spring when my wife decided to amputate her left leg. After twenty years of painful surgeries and worsening mobility, she felt ready to make this unthinkable decision. In the long run, she hoped to regain her mobility and quality of life. In the short term, we had to completely rethink our almost-finished bathroom project. Design choices were altered and fixtures were returned as we shifted our focus from aesthetics to safety and accessibility. After all was said and done, there were plenty of things we wish we had known before we ever got started on the remodel.

Before Everything Changed

In 2024, we converted part of our home into a one-bedroom apartment. We lost our only first-floor bathroom to this project, so we planned to turn our laundry room into a bathroom. I designed the layout, with a stand-up corner shower, toilet and vanity. Instead of a shower curtain, I opted for a glass enclosure, a sleek, modern feature I really loved. I pored over tile samples and shopped endlessly for the perfect lighting, finishes and fixtures. I gutted the entire room, then had electrical and plumbing roughed in. New drywall went up, and it was finally starting to look like a bathroom.

When Accessibility Took Centerstage

Around this time, my wife learned that her recent ankle replacement was failing. After 17 surgeries to repair a college basketball injury, she remained in constant pain with extremely limited mobility. Instead of continuing to try to fix something that was proving unfixable, she chose to pursue amputation. While an undeniably terrifying option, amputation actually offered her the best chance of returning to normal activity with a prosthetic leg. As we prepared for the surgery, our remodel needed to pivot quickly and adapt to her soon-to-be new reality.

Bathrooms are the most dangerous room in the house for an amputee. Slips and falls are especially treacherous when balancing on one leg, like when transitioning in and out of the shower. I turned to the U.S. Access Board for grab bar and blocking specs and the internet for amputee’s suggestions for safe bathrooms and systems. Given her history of surgeries and time on crutches I couldn’t believe accessibility had never crossed my mind when designing the new bathroom. With a fresh perspective, I began making necessary changes.

First, I took down the drywall and installed blocking for future grab bars and a shower seat. To enable wheel chair access through the 32-inch door frame, I replaced traditional door hinges with offset hinges that widen a door’s usable space. While still not ideal, it was impossible to expand the door to the recommended 36-inch width. A small threshold ramp made it easier to roll in and out of the room. We chose matte finish floor tile for improved traction and a chair height toilet for ease of use. The glass enclosure I loved so much was sent back to the manufacturer and replaced with a shower curtain.

We only had a month to complete the project before her surgery, but managed to get it all done in time. She came home to a safe, accessible, and I like to think, aesthetically pleasing, bathroom.

Build Accessibility In From the Start

Avoid the mistakes I made on our remodel and incorporate accessible design from the beginning. Even if you’re far from old age, accidents can happen and you may find yourself on crutches or in a wheel chair, even if for a brief period of time.

For bathroom remodels, install 2×10-in. blocking at appropriate heights around the toilet, sink and shower to simplify future grab bar installation. Include blocking for a wall-mounted shower chair, too. Expand bathroom door widths to 36-inches if possible, or install offset hinges for improved wheel chair access. Consider a walk-in shower instead of a tub, and put a curbless shower in if you can afford it. Choose flooring based on its traction and safety first, then style. Opt for ADA-approved chair height toilets. Don’t overlook adequate lighting for good visibility as well. These are all easy ways to incorporate safety features in your bathroom, should you ever need them.

One Year Later

My wife is now able to walk and live pain-free after decades of misery. She has plans to one day return to hiking and trail running. What for most would be a devastating loss has been a gift for I now share our experience with friends and loved ones planning home projects, particularly bathrooms. I suggest choices that improve accessibility and safety, no matter their age and current abilities. I encourage them to look beyond aesthetic choices and consider what they’d do if real life happened and they suddenly needed a bathroom that wasn’t just pretty, but safe.

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