Aaron Colaluca enjoys a good challenge. So when he received a request for a combination walk-in tub and shower that didn’t have an “institutional feel” to it, he dug in.
Colaluca, the president of Smithfield Plumbing & Heating Supply Co. in Greenville, Rhode Island, started by researching ADA tubs available from Mansfield Plumbing. Once he identified the Restore walk-in tub as the best solution for his customer, his next task was to think outside of the box to create a unique combination shower experience.
"My client didn't want the hospital-type feeling of an ADA-certified tub to dominate the new bathroom design," says Colaluca. "To give the tub a 'softer feeling' I tried thinking outside the box and decided to take off the outer shell and rebuild the base. I also added a 'sitting bench' outside the tub. This allowed me to work with Old Mill Construction to tile around the base to match the tile throughout the entire shower. Owner Taylor Lucy served as the contractor for the incredible tile work that pulled the project together.”
From there, the shower had to be incorporated.
"The access door for the Restore combination air and whirlpool tub is now positioned across the front with the seat next to the tub,” says Colaluca. “We added a hand-held shower in the tub and incorporated the full shower outside the tub area. Both of these fit perfectly in the designated space, making it more like an in-home spa."
Coming up with creative solutions is something Colaluca specializes in on a daily basis. With five locations in New Hampshire and Rhode Island, Colaluca and his father, Rico, decided in 2005 to expand their company's business by opening a state-of-the-art showroom called Your Kitchen and Bath Center. Then in 2016 Smithfield Supply created, built and opened a hands-on interactive training room. The dedicated space offers employees and their customers the most updated training on plumbing, heating and HVAC products.
"One thing never changes at our stores," says Colaluca. "The customer is our top priority. For this unique bathroom project in New Hampshire, we were successful in working with a Mansfield product that could be adapted to suit the needs of our customer. In the end, it's all about making our customers satisfied."
About Mansfield Plumbing
Mansfield Plumbing precision manufactures millions of pieces of sanitaryware and bathware each year at its facilities in Perrysville and Big Prairie, Ohio, and in Henderson, Texas. Founded in 1929, Mansfield Plumbing, which is owned by Corona, is a leading producer of top-quality, high-design, performance plumbing fixtures and fittings for use in residential, commercial and institutional markets. For more information, visit www.mansfieldplumbing.com or call 877/850-3060.
