Safe and sleek: ADA-compliant products are in vogue for bathrooms.

Rosemarie Rossetti was an active, healthy woman until a 3 1/2-ton tree crushed her spinal cord in 1998. Before then, she never dreamed that the simple act of getting in and out of the shower would be so complex.

Now the public speaker/writer is a self-appointed spokesperson for mainstreaming

Times have changed since Rossetti began conceiving her super-accessible house six years ago. "There was a minimal awareness of universal design when I first started to think about this project," she comments.

These days not only are hundreds of ADA-compliant products on the market, they're fashionable, too. Although Rossetti's needs are extreme, bath product manufacturers are jumping on the bandwagon to meet an untapped client base.

"Years ago, universal design products were specifically designed to aid people who had a physical disability. But with 75 million baby boomers--almost one-third of Americans--entering retirement, we're now emphasis on easy-to-use products designed to work for a broad universe of customers," explains Diana Schrage, an interior designer at the Kohler Design Center in Kohler, Wis.

Surveys conducted by manufacturer Moen show that 58 percent of Americans older than 65 are limited by a disability, and that more than 3 million Americans of all ages survive serious auto accidents, sports injuries, strokes, and heart attacks every year.

"People are realizing they need to plan for getting around their homes in the future yet make them visitable now so that spaces are equitable for aging or disabled guests," summarizes Barbara Murphy, a design consultant at Neil Kelly Designers/Remodelers in Lake Oswego, Ore.

ABUNDANT ACCESS

In the past, the ADA-compliant bath products category consisted of little more than institutional-looking grab bars, which were repugnant to many homeowners.

However, during the past decade, stylish products debuted, including sleek moveable shower towers and hand-held showers; comfortable chair-height toilets; easy-to-operate faucets including hands-free models; unobtrusive shower seats; easy-to-install, easy-to-clean modular shower/tub units; and grab bars in a variety of finishes that complement the latest decorative bath hardware.

"Antique brass and nickel grab bar finishes, for instance, are less obtrusive and blend in with the bathroom, and built-in shower seating looks more natural than adding a shower seat later" says Lucy Ward, director of marketing for Maax.

Improving product selection is good news for remodeling pros like Sandy E. Hayes, owner of Portland, Ore.-based Hayes Designs. She believes universally designed bathrooms make her clients happier and safer.

"Products really are evolving. They're not as utilitarian as they used to be," says Hayes.

EASY ADDITION

According to contractors and manufacturers, ADA-compliant products don't cost much more than regular ones. For instance, comfort-height toilets, which are about as high as a chair seat, are priced 10 percent to 20 percent more than traditional models, and to outfit a bathroom with grab bars may only be a couple hundred dollars.

Still, most compliant fittings and fixtures are added during remodeling projects. As for new homes, many builders fear that even minimal cost increases will make their dwellings less desirable.

"Part of the challenge is to get builders to create ADA-conscious homes because the cost is negligible if you add it in from the ground up" remodeler Murphy says.

Rossetti's builder, Columbus, Ohio-based C.V. Perry Builders, is contemplating adding a universal design model to its portfolio.

"Exposure to [Rossetti's] home has really opened our eyes;' says Tim Jacobs, sales consultant for the semi-custom builder.

Jacobs says there aren't other local builders offering such homes, which gives C.V. Perry an advantage.

DESIGN CHALLENGE

Although there is a budding selection of ADA-compliant bath products, Charlotte Wade, director of Seniors' Programs for the Upper Marlboro, Md.-based NAHB Research Center, says contractors must follow the manufacturer instructions.

"Product compliance can be negated by the way they're installed," Wade cautions.

Yet, if manufacturers are thoughtful in designing and pros in installing compliant products, everyone can feel a little more secure in the bathroom.

Kohler. According to the firm, the WaterHaven Shower Tower is the epitome of universal design in the bathroom; it slides up and down for tall people, short kids, and wheelchair-bound individuals. The unit has one plumbing connection for simple installation, although it features two showerheads, four body-sprays, and a handshower. 800-456-4537. www.kohler.com. Circle 443.

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American Standard. The ADA-compliant Doral toilet features the firm's Champion flushing system: a 3-inch self-closing flapper-free flush valve, a siphon-action jetted bowl, and a 2 3/8-inch trapway that guards against clogs, assures the maker. Available in three colors, the 1.6-gallon toilet has a 10-year warranty that covers everything inside the toilet tank and bow 800-442-1902. www.americanstandard-us.com. Circle 444.

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Alsons. The ADA-compliant wall grab bar and GreatGrip shower system can withstand a 1,000pound pull if properly installed into wood backing, assures the maker. The handshower can be fixed to the grab bar; it features a white handle and a chrome faceplate. 800-421-0001. www.alsons.com. Circle 445.

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Lasco Bathware. ADA- and ANSI-compliant bathing products from this manufacturer include acrylic and fiberglass showers with low or roll-in thresholds and slip-resistant textured bottoms. Additionally, the firm also makes hand-held showers, mounted seats, and grab bars, which can be installed at the factory The products come in stainless steel or white powder-coat finishes. 800-945-2726. www.lascobathware.com. Circle 446.

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Ginger. Art Deco-inspired light fixtures and bathroom accessories from this company include ADA-compliant fluorescent sconces that can be installed vertically or horizontally and single- and double-sconce incandescent fixtures. The fixtures, which are UL listed for damp locations, feature solid forged brass construction. They come in polished chrome, polished brass, polished nickel, and satin nickel finishes. 888-469-6511. www.gingerco.com. Circle 447.

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Villeroy & Both. The ADA-compliant minimalist Hype faucet features a single lever that is nearly camouflaged when not in use, asserts the maker. It comes in chrome and satin chrome finishes and coordinates with other Hype fittings and accessories including shower faucets, bodysprays, towel bars, shelves, soap dispensers, and shower caddies. 609-860-9961. www.villeroy-boch.com. Circle 448.

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Sterling. Many ADA-complaint bathing fixtures are available from this Kohler company, including the four-piece Acclaim tub/shower with factory-installed stainless steel grab bars and plastic seats, and the barrier-free 39-inch Transfer and 63-inch Roll-In showers that allow for easy entry and exit. Also available are the Windham and Riverton toilet models, and the barrier-free wall-hung Worthington lavatory that offers extra clearance fro wheelchairs. 800-783-7546. www.sterlingplumbing.com. Circle 979.

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Delta. According to the maker, all of the firm's new products are designed to be ADA compliant, including the faucet handles on three bath collections. The Leland, Neo Style, and Lockwood collections come in a wide variety of finish options and are available in a range of price points. 800-345-3358. wwwdeltafaucet.com. Circle 980.

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Watermark Designs. Grab bars from this firm come in 35 finishes, including velvet gold, satin copper, polished nickel, and antique brass. The ADA-compliant bars reduce the risk of falls, offer support when standing or sitting, and help maintain balance, explains the firm. Available in 12 sizes in a range of prices, the grab bar finishes complement the maker's faucet collections. 800-842-7277. www. watermark-designs.com. Circle 981.

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Rohl. The R2002LM swivel-spout lavatory faucet meets ADA compliance codes, but is very stylish and luxurious, blending form and function, says the maker. According to the firm, many more compliant fixtures will be introduced as ADA and universal design principles become mainstream. 714-557-1933. www.rohlhome.com. Circle 982.

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Creative Specialties International. This Moen firm has a new hand-held shower under the Home Care brand name. The unit features a push-button pause control on the ergonomic handle, a removable safety strap, and an oversized lever that controls three spray settings. It also has an 84-inch-long hose to accommodate users who need to sit while bathing. 800-882-0116. www.csi.moen.com. Circle 983.

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Dornbracht. Made by Alape, a Dornbracht company, the WT. IC wall-mount basin permits case in accessibility. The hollowed-out cube-shaped unit can be fitted with either a wall- or surface-mount faucet; it is pictured with the eMote hands-free faucet. Drop-in surface-mount, and free-standing wash basins also are available. 770-564-3599. www.alape.com Circle 984.

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RELATED ARTICLE: Tankless top.

New York City's Olympus Fashion Week is loaded with images of slinky supermodels and trendy apparel from high-strung clothing designers.

Yet, Kohler's sleek new toilet graced the main lobby of Fashion Week in February, making its debut alongside the latest clothing creations.

Available in six colors, the tankless Purist Hatbox is more like a work of art than a plumbing fitting. The clean, streamlined unit, the maker says, is the pinnacle of melding stark beauty with outstanding performance. The ADA-compliant toilet, which reaches just more than 17 inches tall, features a powerful electric pump for strong flushing, Kohler says.-S.H.

UNIVERSAL DESIGN RESOURCES

www.aarp.org

The Care and Family section of this Web site features a Home Design tab with information about universal design and links to other such resources.

www.nahbrc.org

The Seniors Housing section of the NAHB Research Center's Web site offers an Accessibility Resources link that includes a building products guide.

www.design.ncsu.edu/cud/

North Carolina State University at Raleigh's site offers universal design tips, accessible house plans, and more.--S.H.