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It used to be the most luxurious thing about a bathroom was a good book, a candle and a tub filled with bubbles. Not anymore. With people working harder than ever, the bathroom is rapidly becoming a haven in the home. And dual-incomes are allowing homeowners to indulge their cravings for unique, top-of-the-line additions to their bathrooms.
“People are really enjoying their homes these days,” said Suzanne Maviano, ASID and owner of Suzanne Maviano Designed Interiors, Riverside, IL. “Even though they spend a lot of time at work, when they are home, they want to feel like they’re walking into something amazing.”
The bathroom as spa
With spa visits becoming more ../common across the U.S., homeowners are now looking for ways to bring that experience home with them. And since whirlpool tubs and radiant heated floors are now almost standard in new construction, designers are really starting to think outside the box when adding spa-like touches. Or in one case, inside the box.
“The latest thing is to use warming drawers that are made for the kitchen to store towels,” said Janet Blutter Shiff, ASID and president of Blutter/Shiff Design Associates, Chicago, IL. “They’re very easy to install in a vanity and you get a nice warm towel when you get out of the shower.”
Showers and bathtubs are also getting the deluxe spa treatment. Steam showers and shower jet panels are gaining in popularity and air baths, which feature tiny, effervescent bubbles instead of targeted jets, are a hot new addition to the bathroom marketplace. Homeowners who are really ready to make an investment are opting for custom showers that combine a series of showerheads and body sprays mounted on the walls and ceiling of the shower space. The result is a unique rainforest-like experience for the user.
“Basically, the bathroom is the only place you can go to be alone anymore, even more than the bedroom. Because of that, people are willing to give themselves more luxury in the bathroom,” said Blutter Shiff.
The bathroom as getaway
If you’ve ever spent time in a high-end hotel, you know just how luxurious their bathrooms can be. And when it comes time to check out, people are wanting to pack up that space and take it with them.
“People who travel a lot are seeing these amazing bathrooms in high-end hotels and they want to bring that experience home,” said Maviano.
Elegant vessels sinks and upholstered chaise lounges are making their way from high-rise hotels to two-story homes. Solid-wood cabinetry and pendant lighting that would look at home anywhere in the house are replacing store-bought vanities and medicine cabinets. Cappuccino makers and mini-refrigerators are even being installed right into walls or cabinets.
“People really want their bathrooms to be a big part of their home,” said Blutter Shiff. “In one showhome design, I added a vanity that had a mini KOHLER sink built right into it. People loved it.”
Homeowners are also choosing surfaces that enhance the overall look of the space. Natural stone and handcrafted tiles are being combined to create statement-making visuals. And Blutter Shiff predicts the use of glass – for floors, counters and toilet enclosures – to be the next big thing.
“People are looking for different textures in their bathrooms,” said Maviano. “They’re using unusual combinations of stone and tile – and they’re using them as an art form. Today, [homeowners] are making their bathroom as nice a living space as the rest of their home – if not better.”
The bathroom as multi-media room
The days of listening to music in the shower by way of radio are long gone. Now, complete home theater systems with plasma TVs and surround sound are the norm. And they’re being installed in some rather ingenious ways.
“I recently installed a flat-screen TV in a mirror above the vanity,” said Maviano. “When the TV is off, it looks like a regular mirror. But when you turn it on, the image shows through and you can watch TV. It’s really, really beautiful.”
Even the more modest home improvement budgets are taking advantage of the lower cost of smaller flat screen TVs and are tucking them away with DVD players in the vanity. The result? The news while you get dressed in the morning or Desperate Housewives while you take a bath at night.
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Bathroom
Bathroom
