When do we get to see the liberace photos?
I disagree with post #398. I’m 53 and I would rather have the grab bar there than have to figure out how to install it later. Plus not all grab bars are ugly.
I also wouldn’t have a problem buying a house with grab bars already in place. Pretty sure I’m gonna need them
Grab bars are not hard to install on regular walls or on tile shower walls. They are impossible to install (well, probably not really) on fiberglass bathtub or shower walls, not enough strength for a heavy hold.
But, in reality, most buyers that want them probably think it is a big deal to try to install them. I personally don’t like the look of them when they look institutional. There are some expensive really long ones that could be part of the design. I think the best compromise is something good looking in the shower and let a buyer install other ones on the regular walls, where needed, when needed. And, I could install the long rod thingie that holds a removable shower wand, which comes in handy as someone needs to sit down in the shower.
I have photos of where the guy that did my shower remodel put the framing for a grab bar. But there is also a place to sit in the shower, so I’d probably never put in a grab bar.
The best thing for us aging boomers is a master on the main, or an elevator if you have more than one floor.
I feel like having a seat in the shower is probably more important than grab bars, because that’s not something that could be added later without major work.
Do you all really like the large bench seat in the shower? Or is the reality that someone will probably buy one of those plastic chair things when they need it? With the bench seat I am assuming that you need a long removable shower head thing on the hose to be able to wash well sitting on a seat at the end of the shower
I’m so with Consolation on the grab bars! And I despise built in shower benches - they are slippery, cold, and have too many corners to grout, so overall too much trouble. There are very nice teak benches that can go into the shower… Just saying… They create a spa effect. Take a look:
I probably sound like a broken record, but one thing I would want to see in my shower is epoxy grout! No sealing needed. Ever. 
Yes, I have a tile shelf type bench that extends into the glassed in part of the shower from the tub. I have a niche carved into it that holds my razors. And yes I have both a fixed rain shower type head and a handheld that slides on a rod or comes off to be held.
I have always wanted a seat in the shower so that it would be easier to shave my legs.
Yes, seat in shower. No grab bars.
For shaving your legs, all you need is a small “pedestal”. Like this one:
http://www.frontgate.com/shaving-pedestal/bed-bath/bathroom-accessories/shower-accessories/10334
Me thinks… When I reach the age when I will need a seat to shower, shaving my legs would be the last of my concerns! 
With all due respect, the bench, which has room to sit, put your leg on, put extra shampoo/conditioner (DH and I have a lot in the shower, admittedly) and its easy to keep clean. Teak stools can get yukky looking from the water, and in general, I think the bench is a higher end option, if there is room for it, and increases the value of the bathroom. Prior to the bench, we has one of those half moon type seat things in the corner of the shower. This is way better.
Pretty much all showers and tubs in Switzerland have the vertical bar that allows the showerhead to slide up and down and to be removed and held by hand. This is so convenient–I don’t know why it hasn’t become standard in the US.
My dad, who now needs a seat in the shower also needs the bars on the sides of the seat–like this http://www.amazon.com/NOVA-Medical-Products-9026-Release/dp/B003ZSCFQ6/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1433554992&sr=8-4&keywords=shower+seat&pebp=1433555006006&perid=1542SAN7CVYWAC8ZZM0P
A built-in one wouldn’t be good enough.
We added a grab bar on the inside of the half wall so it doesn’t show. DH has had three unanticipated surgeries since then and we are very glad it’s there. A tile bench isn’t for those that can’t stand up and shower…too cold and slippery. It’s for storage, shaving, looking luxurious. We had a really large one in a previous home that was great for (well, nevermind…)
For us, an empty nest home has to be “lock and leave” I love those garage doors but can someone see if there is or isn’t a car there by the shadows and light?
The solution to not wanting to crouch down in front of lower cabinets isn’t roll out shelves, it’s big deep drawers. They don’t cost more than door cabinets plus roll-outs. I have them in all if my base cabinets except the sink and corners (which have swing out shelves).
I agree about the deep drawers in the kitchen. If you are putting in new cabinets, do drawers instead of pull outs in cabinets. However, if you are keeping the cabinets…those pullout so are preferable to plain old shelves.
We have a seat in our shower…have had it for 20 years. I’ve never sat on it. But it makes a fine shelf to hold th shampoo and such. I would say a handheld shower thing would be a great addition to any bathroom.
My next house has to have the capacity for one floor living.
I’ve never had a bench or seat of any kind in the shower. (But I mostly take baths.) I do think it would be nice to have something to keep stuff on, as well as prop one’s foot for leg shaving.
All I can say re seats and grab bars is that my 92-yr-old mother, who admittedly is extraordinary, does not have either one. My impression is that those who actually need to sit in the shower typically need the kind of thing with handles that motherbear descibes in #414.
I think a walk-in shower and an overhead shower plus detachable head are virtually mandatory in this kind of thing.
The higher toilets are a big help for older folks, and I think that the higher vanities would be, too.
Path lighting outside and adequate lower lighting inside if there are stairs – greatly reduces risk of falls.
Kind, not harsh lighting in bathrooms. (This ought to be true for everyone, but many places cheap out on glaring lighting.)
The new system controls that can be managed from a cell phone (security, lighting, hvac) seem like they would be fabulous for people who might travel.
I’d rather have attractive xeriscape plantings than a lawn, and I’d rather have a drip system than sprinklers.
Enough room in the master bathroom so that if someone does need hands-on or standby assistance, there is actually enough room for someone to be there.
Nice LED lights in high fixtures: I want my lightbulbs to outlive me so that I never need to figure out how to change those bulbs that are 12 feet up. (But I care a lot about color, and we’ve exiled some LEDs to lesser-used areas because we didn’t like the light quality.)
Love pull out drawers. I use the ones in my island very, very happily. Wider pull out drawers are more flexible.
==>Ability to see who is at the door without opening the door.
Exterior shade of some kind.
I love a wall oven because I can see what’s cooking so easily. Just don’t put in one of the awful 27" ones like I have.
We’re not in need of separate living room/family room situations, but we each like our own office.
Do not put the higher toilet unless you know the buyers’ heights. I am 5’ 6" (on a well rested morning), and I hate the so called “comfort height” toilets. Ugh, hate when my feet can’t feel the floor. A toilet swap is not rocket science… The buyers can deal with that later and install whatever they want.
Clean lines, minimal maintenance features (psst, epoxy grout is wonderful, I have not sealed my shower grout in 5 years!), and bullnose corners everywhere.