Soak Worries Away : Local Designer Creates ‘Safe Bath’ That Reduces Attendant Risks

Foam-cushioned bathtubs, temperature-limiting faucets and child-proof electrical outlets will be necessities in the bathroom of the future. Fortunately, they’re available now to add comfort and safety.

“The trends I see are toward the master suite and the personal bath,” said Gary White, owner of Kitchen Design in Newport Beach. “These are places people can go to be alone, relax, think or read a book.”

White was one of the first designers in the country to earn accreditation as a certified bath designer and is a nationally recognized expert on bathroom safety and design. He designed a “safe bath” that can eliminate almost any accident that could occur in the bathroom. Slipping and falling is the No. 1 cause of accidents in the bathroom.

One of the most innovative products White used was the “soft” bathtub, a foam-cushioned bathtub that keeps water warmer longer, is the best insulated tub available, provides surer footing and is a soft landing spot in case of falls. Not only are these bathtubs safe, they are also durable and come in a variety of custom colors.

White put grab rails around the tub and shower and seats in shower and dressing areas. Low-voltage lighting eliminated the possibility of electrical shock.

“Designers now have the challenge of blending the aesthetics with the safer design so it doesn’t look just bolted on. Safety features should really be invisible,” he said.

“Safer design not only prevents injuries, it also elevates the quality of life since it creates peace of mind and comfort,” White said.

“In the safe kid’s bath, I used a nautical theme and built the tub platform to resemble an ocean yacht, and a yacht always has handrails. That way the railing becomes a grab bar. The railing is made of acrylic rod that is sand-blasted and lit with fiber optics so it glows in many colors. That way you contribute to both safety and aesthetics.”

The nautical theme allowed White to have fun with color and shapes. The Corian counter on the vanity was built to resemble an upside-down surf board. It had three-inch rounded corners and was soft.

The cushioned vinyl tile in the bath was cut to resemble the sea washing up on the beach and has a heavy texture; in the shower there was a channel for extra traction to reduce the chance of slipping.

“All of the valves and plumbing devices in the bath are pressure balanced and temperature limiting,” White said.

These features allow the homeowner to set a maximum hot temperature, minimizing the risk of scald injury. This is particularly important when someone flushes the toilet and creates a sudden surge of hot water.

“About 5,000 children are hospitalized each year with third-degree burns that require skin grafts. The most common burn is found in the tub or bath.

“This bathroom was lit with low voltage lighting, which gives me as a designer the flexibility and controllability to paint with light, while at the same time using a voltage at 12 volts that is very safe.

“You could literally short it out on your finger and you’d only feel a little burn, but it wouldn’t harm you and it wouldn’t burn your skin. So you can have plenty of light and safety too.”

White also child-proofed the bath with magnetic locks in the medicine cabinet and drawers to keep poisons inaccessible to children.

“There’s an invisible medicine cabinet that’s set up high, actually into the mirror, and it’s locked by a new magnetic lock that is invisible from the outside,” he said.

White says that even though this safety bath was created with children in mind (one out of four is hospitalized from an accident each year), accidents that occur in the bath are in fact spread evenly throughout the population.

“People think that grab bars are just for the handicapped, but actually very ordinary people slip and fall quite often,” he said.

Another subject that White feels strongly about is space.

“Space is more psychological than physical. To make a space safer, you have to quiet the mind because a busy mind is a distracted mind. When you walk into an environment, your brain is unconsciously registering and letting you know all the dangerous things it has spotted in that space.

“Inside your head, it’s going, ‘look out for that, look out for that’ and all the ‘look outs’ make you feel more uptight. An uptight person is a careless person.”

Because of this, White says designers need to use a softer design that quiets the mind, relaxes the body and makes you feel more comfortable. In his safe bath, everything was smooth and rounded, so the body would realize that if it did fall it would have a softer landing.

Another aspect of the bath as a safe hideaway is the concept of a master suite.

Taking adjoining smaller rooms and creating one large suite of rooms makes a comfortable environment. White again uses temperature limiting faucets, a hand-held shower head and a shower door hinged away from the valves for easy reaching. He also adds better lighting.

Adjacent to the bath is a private space for reading or watching TV, as well as the master bedroom. The area is designed to be calming and comfortable, as well as safe.

“I think this emphasis on safety is the way of the ‘90s,” White said. “We’re staying home more and want the quality of life there to be good.”