Photographs by Alyssa Lee
St. Paul’s Summit Avenue is understood for its grand, historic properties, however when one couple determined they wished to “age in place” inside their 1920 Georgian, they knew it might require a rework. The 2 had lived in the home for greater than 30 years, throughout which they raised a household and have become a part of the spine of the neighborhood, a supply of “institutional data,” because the spouse jokingly places it. They weren’t about to go away the house they cherished, alternative knees and hips be darned. To create a home to go well with their wants, architect John Larsen of Design Forty Five, builder Don Forsman of Welch Forsman Associates, and principal designer Maureen Haggerty of Mint Interior Design pored over every room—together with three model new bogs. Listed here are a few of the highlights of the areas.
Accessibility for Now and Later
“The concept [of accessibility] is to not redo issues,” Larsen says, “however to amend what’s already there. So we take away a built-in that’s supposed to be eliminated.” The wheelchair-friendly dimensions of the basement and second-floor bogs are evident, as are the no-threshold showers and bathroom roll holders that double up as seize bars. Subtler particulars embody sinks with detachable pedestals and plywood hidden beneath the partitions to offer mounts for future seize bars.
Balancing the Instances
Most consistent with the house’s historic character is the second-floor toilet, which options damask and floral patterns, artwork of Edwardian ladies and Audubon birds, and a basic gold scrolled mirror body. Shiny white fixtures such because the tile backsplash and the shallow sink hold the room from feeling too dated or busy.
In distinction, the basement toilet is, because the spouse describes, each trendy and darling. It nonetheless retains a stately really feel with crystal glass knobs and white furnishings, however a unusual, up to date wallpaper with orderly blue Scotties covers the self-importance area.
Gentle from Inside and Out
To tie collectively the spectrum of kinds, every toilet has vintage sconces and lights, however the third-floor toilet wanted one thing particular: a skylight. “It was such a game-changer within the room,” Forsman says. “The sunshine was unimaginable in such a small room that has no home windows.” The skylight segues right into a pastel blue wallpaper lined with birds, and uncovered mild bulbs carry their very own mini ‘suns’ into the room when the actual one isn’t in view, making the room excellent any day of the yr.
