Case Studies

Clifford Bullock is happy to stake his reputation on the quality of his service and products. It’s why he called his company Bullock Access — to show he stands behind life-improving accessibility products his East Hartford showroom sells.“I’ve never been one to shy away from putting my name on a product or a job,” Bullock says. “When I started the business, I knew there were needs for people with limited mobility. I knew there must be a way I could help.” Bullock and his family sell products that allow people with physical limitations to live in and move comfortably around their homes, including barrier-free showers made by Bestbath®. Bullock Access has become a go-to resource for both contractors and homeowners, making the company a worthy recipient for Bestbath’s Dealer of the Quarter award.

When Healthquest, an upscale gym in Flemington, N.J., started remodeling its locker rooms, the company had specific requirements in mind: The new showers needed to not only complement the high-end design of the fitness center, but also be low maintenance with no water penetration issues in grout and tile areas. Problems with previous products leaking water had left the Healthquest owner wanting a better solution. John Mannino, Associate AIA, project manager and architect for Cerminara Architect, turned to Bestbath to fulfill his clients’ needs.

Roof decks, outdoor lounges, cozy fire pits, Wi-Fi cafes, and a fitness center beckon residents to unwind and connect at the new Cobalt Apartments in Santa Clara, California. Metal cladding and stucco add to the community’s contemporary flair, while staying true to Santa Clara’s unique flavor and architecture. When it came time to incorporate the same high-end design into the bathrooms, the project’s architects left no detail overlooked. Clean lines, smart lighting, and modern fixtures in sleek finishes adorn the chic bathrooms. And they looked to Bestbath to meld beauty, durability and universal design in the shower pans.

The Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls, Idaho, provides care to individuals who are at risk of harming themselves. Every single feature in the facility must be safe for patients and incapable of being used by patients to cause bodily harm or attempt suicide. When the existing showers revealed themselves to be a potential hazard, the team at EIRMC reached out to Bestbath to create a custom solution that would mitigate risks.

Upgrading older facilities, particularly historic projects, with modern bathroom fixtures and amenities can bring much needed aesthetic, maintenance, and safety relief. But it’s not without challenges. Changes in standard sizing over the years and new accessibility and code requirements can make fitting today’s products into older spaces difficult.

Design influences come from everywhere—fashion runways, trade and shelter magazines, travel, smart technology, the sustainability movement, trends in art, and the media. They exert a profound influence on the products we buy, and in today’s culture, on the products that consumers demand.

Today’s homeowners are better informed about remodeling than ever before, thanks to the relentless march of TV remodeling shows and 24/7 internet access that provides them an endless array of product information. Remodeling sites like Houzz and Remodelista stoke their dream home fantasies and ambitions.

Composites are the Swiss army knife of surfacing in the kitchen and bath industry. They are tough, durable, can be molded, and generally have a lower price point than granite and other types of natural stone. However, some composites are better suited for some tasks than others, and sometimes a combination of composites provides the best solution.

In Cambridge, Mass., the Cambridge Housing Authority (CHA) has met the shortage of affordable rental housing by conducting a full-scale renovation of the Frank J. Manning Apartments, a public housing development for elderly and disabled residents. Although renovations were made for low-income residents, the new facilities will offer upscale amenities including expanded common amenities, services, entertainment spaces, and activity rooms. Because residents are elderly or disabled, it was that key areas such as bathrooms be as user-friendly as possible and meet accessibility codes. The CHA had previously worked with Bestbath and specifically requested its products due to the project’s complexity, durability, and low maintenance.

Stanford University is a world-renowned institution with a rich architectural legacy. Highlands Hall, its latest residential housing project, follows this tradition by providing cutting-edge accommodations for business school graduate students; the four story, state-of-the-art facility contains three courtyards, 200 living units, and flows seamlessly with the campus’ Spanish influences. Durability was a top priority, as both students will be using the shower and each unit will also double as a hotel room during the slow summer

After four major back and joint surgeries over 18 months, Mary of Tukwila, Washington was in need of a bathing experience that would soothe her pain while accommodating her reduced range of motion. Two years prior, Mary and her husband had moved into a 55+ neighborhood house and, due to her mobility challenges, she was unable to take a bath in the small tub. A shower was her only option, but even this was difficult – if they wanted to stay in their home through retirement, something had to change.

Giving Scotty showers had become a wet, unpleasant and complicated task for his aging parents in their home in Kent, Ohio. While his family had cared for Scotty, who has Down’s Syndrome, it became more difficult as he grew older. Showering was a particularly dangerous part of Scotty’s day. While his parents and siblings took turns assisting him, their home’s tiny shower forced family members to stand inside while bathing a sitting and often stubborn Scotty. The family turned to JTEK Solutions Group, a company specializing in aging-in-place home remodels, to improve living conditions for Scotty, and in turn, make life easier for the family.

With Chocolate Homes, Kristen Mortensen and her partner knew they wanted — even needed — to build a company that was much leaner than most builders, while still delivering the design and construction quality homebuyers demand. One important ingredient was the ability to offer luxurious – even indulgent – bathrooms, but without the downsides Mortensen had often seen with traditional tile showers.

Service. Consistency. Quality. A long-haul mindset. The family values that have made Luter’s Supply a mainstay in Tylertown, Mississippi for three generations are the same hallmarks that make it Bestbath’s® Dealer of the Year for 2017. Managed by CEO Max Luter and his brother, Chief Operating Officer Chad Luter, Luter’s Supply features a beautiful 10,000-square-foot showroom filled with bath and shower displays. Bestbath models — including two designed with input from Max and Chad’s father, Emmette — are top sellers for the store, and by far and away the Luter’s top brand for serving the growing aging-in-place customer demographic.

While business has been good since it’s founding three years ago, opening a showroom was a game-changer for Right Now Mobility, which sells and installs home modifications, giving aging or disabled residents greater independence and a higher quality of life. “It’s really hard for customers to buy something based on pictures in a flier,” Eddie Biggins, president of Right Now Mobility, says. “The showroom has made a huge difference for us.” Before opening the showroom, customers had to visit a warehouse to see products or buy based on product photos. By opening its 2,000 square foot showroom, the Cincinnati company enabled customers to see, touch and compare the Bestbath® roll-in showers, as well as stair lifts, accessibility ramps and other products.

While Orca Healthcare has continuously served Vancouver, BC seniors with accessible bathing products since its founding in 2006, precisely how it serves them has changed quite a bit. “When I started the business, I based it on walk-in tubs,” founder Reynald Stringer says, explaining that he used his mobile showroom — a converted van — to drive to residential customer’s homes. “Eventually, though, I figured out that while walk-in tubs were great, the larger market was showers.” So Reynald adapted. He expanded his line of showers, expanded into serving larger clients and, eventually, opened a showroom. Today, Reynald and his team, which includes his sister Joselle, have grown to serve residential, commercial and online customers using a mix of innovative marketing techniques and old fashioned hard work. It’s why they’ve been named Bestbath®’s Q2 2017 Dealer of the Quarter.

It’s this first-hand knowledge and the passion of a true professional who has done it all before that earned Jim from JLM Construction our Dealer of the Year award for 2019.

Whether a simple bathroom remodel or a custom build, the Mohawk Valley — located about 50 miles East of Syracuse — has relied on JAY-K Lumber to provide the best building products and advice in the region for 80 years. In April Bestbath named JAY-K Lumber Q1 2017 Dealer of the Quarter, a distinction earned, in part, by their efforts to educate customers about residential bathroom remodels whether a standard shower or accessible and the benefits of universal design in the bathroom. The company recently reorganized its main showroom to highlight Bestbath’s complete line of curbed and barrier free showers, tubs and pans.