Aging-In-Place Specialists Win Award for "Drama-Free" Bathroom Design

For Tammy Kaplan and Dina Leyden of aging-in-place design firm AIP Designs, interior design goes beyond stylizing rooms -- it creates a functioning and workable space that can provide privacy to those with limited mobility.

“We want our everyday lives to be as easy as they possibly can, even when aging, a progressive illness, or a disability changes our circumstances,” Kaplan said. “Creating independence with self care is part of our mission.”

This outlook on interior design guided the Cranford-based duo’s bathroom redesign project, which landed AIP Designs “Best Bathroom Design” recognition from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) June 9. Awarded by the central New Jersey Metro BCA chapter of NAHB, the awards ceremony recognized AIP Designs and other leaders in the building and construction industry.

“When you look at the skill, imagination and attention to detail, you see that our members do the job the right way,” said Philip Calinda Jr., president of the NAHB’s Metro BCA chapter. “Whether it’s remodeling a kitchen or bath... our members do great work every day.”

Kaplan, an interior designer, and Leyden, a physical therapist, use their combined experience to cater to individuals at home as their circumstances change, whether due to progressive illness, aging, injury, or another change that affects the way a person interacts with the space around them. Referred to as “aging in place,” the designs combine understanding of the body and how it moves with trendy interior design, ensuring that living spaces accommodate for a person’s needs through all stages of life.

“We want people to get maximum time out of their existing homes without needing to retroactively modify their living space,” Kaplan said. “We explain to clients that what we are talking about is not an impossible thing to obtain -- it just needs to be thought out. The right professional understands what needs to be done and the options available for the client in the marketplace.”

Kaplan said that the award-winning bathroom, for a Garwood resident with multiple sclerosis (MS), had an impractical and unsafe large tub and a small shower. After Kaplan and Leyden’s assessment, the tub was removed and a walk-in shower was installed in its place, creating extra room around the toilet and a shower that the client could use “drama-free.”

“Being able to examine a person’s use of space and how they function within it allows us to use every nook and cranny as usable and functional,” Leyden said. “We apply that mindset to our work, ensuring client safety and maximizing client independence.”

“A walk-in shower is a luxury feature… it’s a beautiful and clean design and it’s a bonus that it’s also accessible,” Kaplan added.

In addition to their professional criteria, Kaplan and Leyden have Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) certification from the NAHB. As CAPS professionals, Leyden recommends remodeling modifications and Kaplan designs the spaces for those modifications. The end result flows naturally with the home’s existing decor, meeting the client’s needs without appearing cold or sterile.

“We’re there because we have the experience and we know the products that are out there to make accessible design happen for people,” Kaplan said. That’s why we are pleased to accept this award because it will bring accessible design to the forefront and good, universal design that is appealing to everybody.”