In 2019, Mason residents Jan and Neil Lewis (then in their early 60s) had come to some conclusions. Both had worked in the U.K. and the U.S. Jan had retired in 2017 after various finance positions. Neil was seriously talking retirement after four decades as a career P&Ger. Their two daughters were grown and established.
The conversation became, “Should we downsize and move to a smaller house?” After running the numbers and taking stock of how much they loved their home, their neighbors and the area, Jan and Neil decided to stay put but make some changes to their house.
In March 2020, their plans drastically changed when the pandemic brought life to a screeching halt. Neil, a microbiologist, delayed retirement to work in P&G’s COVID testing lab. The house renovation was moved to the back burner. Then their lives got even more complicated.
“My hands had started shaking,” Neil says. “In April of 2021, I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s.” In Oct. 2022, Neil finally retired. Still, it would take another year and a half to re-plan and get the renovation back underway.
“We knew we had three big projects to do: the master bathroom, the kitchen, and replacing the carpeting with wood flooring,” Neil explains. The bathroom was the logical place to start to accommodate the limitations posed by Parkinson’s that Neil was already experiencing. The next question: Who would do the job?
Enter John Wood, owner of Bath Inspirations in Loveland. “He had redone the bathroom of friends here in Mason,” Jan says. “They spoke so highly of him—and he did an excellent job.”
“I went to their home for about an hour, listened to their wants, their needs and goals,” John remembers. “We established a budget.”
Neil and Jan admit their original ideas centered around merely improving what they had. “We thought about just refreshing the shower and putting in new vanities,” Jan says.
“At that point, I hadn’t proactively thought about how my limitations might increase,” Neil adds. “But once John started talking about things we could do, ideas began popping into our heads.” They agreed on a plan of action.
“I gave them a line-by-line breakdown of costs, because it’s important that people see exactly what they’re paying for,” John says.
And, according to Jan, the original budget didn’t change. “There were no surprises,” she says.
John and crew started by removing a soaker tub and creating a curb-free shower with a bench at the opposite end of the room from its former location. “We’ve lived here 21 years, and I think we used that tub three times,” Jan says, laughing.
The six-week renovation included new walls, non-slip floors, vanities and making sure there was space to maneuver should Neil need a walker or wheelchair. The new design included plenty of grab bars, including towel bars that serve double duty.
Still, the centerpiece of the Lewises’ new bathroom is the computerized, tankless VOVO bidet toilet. It automatically opens, closes and flushes; can thoroughly clean and dry the user in addition to itself; has a heated seat, LED lights, and a detachable control pad for manual operation as well. Those amenities might sound like pure luxury, but they will allow Neil to maintain an independence in the bathroom that most of us take for granted.
“Truly, the projects that give me the most satisfaction are ones like Neil and Jan whose lives have been upended, and they need someone to come in and help them,” John says.
“From the beginning, he gave us the impression he wanted the best for us and instilled the confidence he would deliver,” Neil says.
Such confidence, as a matter of fact, that John and his crew have recently begun the next phase of the Lewis house renovation this fall—laying new floors and starting the kitchen remodel. Updates that are sure to be as inspiring—and gratefully appreciated—as the rest.
BathInspirations.com | 807 Loveland-Madeira Rd, Loveland | 513.774.7856
“This is a unique business because I have the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives when they need help.” - John Wood