Wanda’s Walk-In Wonder
At Custom Bath & Shower, we’ve learned that no two-bathroom remodels are ever quite the same. Case in point: Wanda from Montgomery, Alabama. Wanda is a force of nature — quick with a story, sharp with a joke, and not shy about her opinions on anything from pecan pie to bathtub design.
Our relationship with Wanda began with a voicemail that started, “Hey y’all, I’m tired of stepping over a porcelain mountain every time I want to take a soak.” That was followed by, “Also, don’t even try to upsell me. I know what I want and it ain’t fancy. But it better have jets.” Duly noted.
Wanda’s home sits just outside the bustle of downtown Montgomery, nestled in one of those classic neighborhoods with creaky screen doors, heavy humidity, and enough sweet tea to fill the Tallapoosa River. At 72, she’s independent, sharp as a tack, and just a little bit stubborn. (Her words, not ours.) After a slight slip getting out of her old tub — “I didn’t fall-fall,” she clarified. “I just sat down faster than I intended” — she decided it was time for a safer solution.
We visited Wanda on a Monday morning. The first 30 minutes of our consultation involved an impassioned discussion about the best barbecue in the state. (“Dreamland is fine,” she told us, “But I’m telling you, Big Bob Gibson in Decatur makes sauce like my granddaddy used to.”) Once we got past ribs, we dove into the real reason we were there: a walk-in tub with easy access, hydrotherapy jets, and enough room to stretch but not so much she’d “float away like a watermelon in a pond.”
She didn’t want it to feel like a hospital. She wanted it to feel like a retreat.
We helped Wanda pick out a model that fit the dimensions of her bathroom without requiring a major overhaul. The tub came with a low-entry threshold, anti-slip floor, quick-drain system, and yes—plenty of jets for those sore knees after gardening. The whole install took a day and a half, and Wanda supervised with an eagle eye and a pitcher of homemade lemonade that could’ve taken the paint off a truck.
When it was done, she stood in the doorway, hands on her hips, and said, “Well, look at that. Fancy but not too fancy. Like wearing lipstick to the Piggly Wiggly.”
She’s since told us that bath time has become her favorite part of the day. “I crank up the jets, turn on the radio, and pretend I’m floating down the Coosa River without a care in the world.”
The walk-in tub didn’t just give Wanda peace of mind — it gave her back a ritual she loved. And for us, that’s always the goal. Because in Alabama, where the summers are long, the porches are full, and the people tell it like it is, comfort isn’t a luxury. It’s a way of life.
And if Wanda ever runs for mayor, we’re voting for her.
