Mystery: The Case Of The Disappearing Tubs...
“The mystery really isn’t a mystery,” says Steve Westphal, President of Molony Tile of Madison. “In fact, it really makes a lot of sense. Our population is getting older, and very often they look at bath tubs that are rarely, if ever, being used and decide to create bathrooms that are more functional — in other words they are building showers they want, many times they are walk in designs using the same foot print of the tub that was removed.”
The new showers being created are often very distinctive. Because they usually fit the foot print of the tub, they are larger and not a standard size. As a result, they do not match any of the pre-made shower bases, so often a tile pan is created from scratch, using tile designs to accommodate customer wishes. Doing it that way helps maximize the size of the shower.
In general, the age of the customer for this type of home improvement is 45 years of age or older. People at this point in their lives do not want to compromise. They like heated seats in the shower, glass block walls and unique shelves. Other elements that can add a personal touch are:
? Accent tiles using various colors, shapes and sizes (individually or in a pattern)
? Accent tiles with designs
? Tiles with pictures of your choice placed on them
? Tiles creating a mural with pictures of your choice
? Engraving on any of the tiles
These are décor themes that can be used in the shower, but, they can also be carried through to the floors and the walls. With all of the textures and patterns to choose from, the options are virtually limitless. The option to heat the floor creates a very welcoming environment requiring limited maintenance.
“These are fun projects to work on because we create a fun room that doesn’t have any limits. It’s fun to create, and I enjoy seeing the faces of the customers when we are finished making their dreams area reality.” Steve Westphal President of Molony Tile
