The home of the Future

Finish your understanding of the big picture by talking to your client about future plans for the home. Is this a home in which they plan to retire? Will they be likely to remodel or expand this home in the future? Form 1: Getting to Know Your Client and Form 2: Getting to Know Your Cli­ent’s Home can guide you in gathering this type of information.

While you are learning about future plans for their home, you can ask about the future of their family or household. "Expanding" households are typically younger, and are at the life stage where they can expect to add new household members, such as by marriage or birth. Sometimes a new household member is an older relative. "Launching" households are more likely to be older, with children that will soon be leaving. Future changes in household size or composition can influence who uses a bathroom, as well as the activities that take place in that space.

Form 2: Getting to Know Your Client’s Home

This form can be used to collect general information about your client’s home to help in developing your design. Specific structural and mechanical information is collected in other forms.

Location of home:_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Type of neighborhood:_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Type of home: П single-family home П duplex П townhouse П apartment/flat П other

Structure of home: П one-story П two-story П three-story П ranch П split-level П split foyer/raised ranch П high rise П other

Approximate size of home:_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Number of bedrooms:________________________________________ Number of bathrooms:_________________________________________

Style of home (exterior): ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Is the home historic? What time period?____________________________________________________________________________________

Are there historic covenants or restrictions affecting the home?_______________________________________________________________

Is the home part of a homeowner’s association?

Are there any covenants or restrictions affecting the home?

Are there any deed restrictions?

Style of home (interior):

Colors?

Materials?

Furniture?

Accessories?

Future plans for resale or remodeling?

ACTIVITIES IN THE BATHROOM (FORM 3)

You now know something about who is using the bathroom, so you want to gather information about what they actually do there. Major bathroom activities fall into three categories: grooming; bathing/showering; and toileting. Using these categories will help you design the bathroom cent­ers presented in chapter 6, "Bathroom Planning." There are many different activities that fall into these three categories. In addition, there are other activities that can take place in the bathroom, such as dressing, exercise, and laundry.

Since the potential bathroom activities are numerous, you can give your clients an activity checklist to complete (Form 3). This can save time and may get you more complete information. You may want to review the checklist with them and then ask them to complete it at home. Alternatively, you can mail (or email) the checklist to them in advance and then review it during the interview. Form 3: Checklist for Bathroom Activities is written for your client to use. It also asks about location and frequency of activities—information that is very useful during the design process.

In addition to the information provided on the checklist, you may need clarification on certain activities. For instance, ask about activities that your client prefers to do while seated or standing. When is privacy important for an activity? What activities might be done in shared space? If your client has completed the checklist in advance, these issues can be discussed at the interview. Form 3 gives you space to make notes after the client has completed the checklist.

Form 3: Checklist for Bathroom Activities

Directions: Review the list of activities in each section. If it is an activity that you do or want to do in the bathroom, place a check in the first column. Then check the appropriate location and frequency column. extra lines are left in each section for you to add activities as needed. Grooming Activities ✓ Activity Location Frequency Vanity/Lavatory Toilet Bathtub Shower Other (Specify) Often Sometimes Body; apply lotion Cosmetics: apply, remove Face; skin care Face: wash First aid: treating cuts and burns Hair care: blow dry, curl Hair care: brush, style Hair care: color Hair care: cut, trim Hair care: shampoo, condition Hands: apply lotion Hands: wash Medicines/vitamins Nails (finger): clip, file, polish Nails (toe): clip, file, polish Shave: face Shave: legs, underarms Teeth: brush, floss Other grooming activities:

Form 3: Checklist for Bathroom Activities (continued)

Bathing/Showering Activities
✓	Activity	Location	Frequency
Vanity/Lavatory	Toilet	Bathtub	Shower	Other (Specify)	Often	Sometimes
	Bathing pets
	Bathing in tub
	Bathing: assisting an adult
	Bathing children
	Bathing: soaking, relaxing
	Douching
	Sauna: relaxing
	Showering
	Showering: assisting an adult
	Showering with someone
	“Sponge" bath
	Steam showering
	Whirlpool soaking
	Other bathing/showering activities:

Toileting Activities
✓	Activity	Location	Frequency
Vanity/Lavatory	Toilet	Bathtub	Shower	Other (Specify)	Often	Sometimes
	Defecate
	Diapers; change infant/child
	Diapers; change adult
	Diapers; rinse out
	Personal cleansing-bidet
	Tampons/pads; change
	Urinate
	Other toileting activities;

Notes:

Form 3: Checklist for Bathroom Activities (continued)

Other Bathroom Activities
V	Activity	Location	Frequency
Vanity/Lavatory	Toilet	Bathtub	Shower	Other (Specify)	Often	Sometimes
	Display collections
	Dressing; underwear, sleeping clothes
	Dressing; “street" clothes
	Drink beverages
	Eat snacks
	Exercise
	Exercise using eguipment
	Grow plants
	Laundry; air dry
	Laundry; hand wash
	Laundry; machine wash
	Laundry; sort, fold
	Listen to music
	Massage
	Meditation
	Personal pampering
	Polish shoes
	Read; books, newspapers
	Supervise children
	Talking on telephone
	Talking with people
	Tanning/sunning
	Undressing
	Watch television
	Other activities;