It’s generally the smallest and certainly the most private room in the house. But bathrooms, new or newly remodeled and adorned with plenty of trendy, high-tech accoutrements, are becoming the ultimate home hangout–a spot to think, dream and soak while surrounded with scented candles, or heck, even take in a football game, among other things.
Luxuries such as whirlpool baths, saunas, solid-surface counters such as granite, marble or tile, along with colored glass sinks and other once-extravagant items are all becoming part of the well-dressed bathroom. Stop in any bath showroom and you’ll find countertops and cabinets of brushed stainless steel or highly polished cherry wood once reserved for kitchens or fine furniture.
A design trends study released by the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) in September shows that more than 15 percent of bathroom remodeling projects included dual showerheads and another 7 percent included stereo/TV centers.
“Bathrooms today are personal retreats from everyday life, work and family. Why not include everything you need to relax and enjoy the small amount of personal time you have for yourself,” says Jeff Burton, past president of NKBA.
And consumers are driving the demand for bigger, better baths with custom cabinetry, heated towel racks and copper, chrome and brushed nickel finishes.
In many new homes, the standard bathtub has increased in size to a “garden tub,” an oval tub-for-two with powered water jets. Special valves prevent fluctuations in water temperature so that when someone turns on the kitchen faucet, you won’t get a blast of cold water during a shower.
There are jumbo two-person showers that include a shower tower–a deluxe faucet that features a total body spray. “The size of the shower and amenities have grown immensely,” says Jerry Silverman, bath merchant for Expo Design Centers.
“The consumer is so much more educated now than 10 years ago. The Internet has made a tremendous change. I mention a product name, and they go home and look it up. I know they want more than just 4-inch white tiles and an oak vanity,” says Melissa Wilson, a certified bath designer at Kitchen and Bath Visions Inc., in Morton Grove.
For Diane and Roger Ross of Lockport, remodeling their two bathrooms was part of a whole-house renovation. They enlarged a guest bathroom, moving a wall to make room for a shower. And they created a roomy master bath.
“Some of the important things to me were two sinks [in the master bath], which come in handy, and the solid surfaces,” Diane Ross says.
They chose Corian for their countertops, which include seamless sinks, and for the shower walls. “There are no grout lines and no places to catch dirt or grime. It was expensive, but I’d do it all over again,” Ross says. She visited numerous stores and perused catalogs before selecting everything from water-saver shower heads to floor tile. She chose an equestrian theme for the guest bath, using barn board on the walls, horseshoes and other equine accessories.
Though their master bath contains a whirlpool, Ross admits that it doesn’t get used often. “They’re nice, but we take showers. I don’t have time to sit and soak in the tub,” she says. Instead, they have an oversize shower and splurged on in-floor heat under the bathroom tiles. “The floor’s always warm,” she says.
In the business for more than 25 years, Jim Mitchell of The Bath House in Oak Lawn says, “Our business has changed 180 degrees in terms of how people look at a bathroom. Baby Boomers–my generation–are much more willing to spend money on their bathrooms.” And indeed they are. His customers spend from $8,000 to $15,000 to remodel.
To accommodate Boomers who want to age safely in their homes, Mitchell says, “I’m removing a lot of bathtubs completely and putting in a shower apparatus that has a bench or folding seat. That’s a very big trend. Put in a few grab bars and it fits their needs.”
About half the installations Mitchell does each year include powered baths. “They’re looking for extra comfort from things like whirlpools to saunas. They want to take a basic bathroom and add to it,” he says.
While showrooms tout wildly colorful accessories, fixtures and tiles, white walls are still a favorite. Colors with esoteric names such as bisque and biscuit are edging out almond, another favorite wall color, Mitchell says. “It’s not quite almond or white but in the middle. And, they’re choosing colors that are much more flamboyant,” Mitchell says.
Though most bath designers agree that the new sinks–called bowls or vessels–perched on countertops will not replace traditional porcelain sinks, more consumers are requesting them.
“There are different types of glass from translucent to sandblasted that have caught the eye of the public and I’m doing more of those,” Wilson says.
Many such sophisticated vessels are somewhat costly, in the $900 range.
And while the slick, streamlined minimalist look may be popular in today’s bath, “people aren’t willing to give up their cabinets. Everyone needs storage,” Wilson says.
With a nod to kitchen layouts, designers are hanging bathroom cabinets from the wall and installing lighting underneath.
“According to national figures in 2000, a 5-by-9-foot bathroom cost an average of $9,748 to remodel. Real estate pros say the average resale value of a home is improved by $7,952 after a remodeling project. About 82 percent of the cost is recouped,” says Dave Kratzke, spokesman for the National Kitchen and Bath Association.
“People get return on their investment within three years, much sooner than expected so it’s well worth it,” Wilson says. Her certification, from NKBA, indicates that she’s been trained to design bathrooms from an aesthetic and technical point.
“I know what’s conceivable, what’s not and what’s going to cost more money,” she said. “I also know what’s under the floor and behind the walls.”
Her clients typically spend $14,000 to $16,000 for a remodeling that includes gutting the existing bathroom and replacing everything.
If you have a 1950s era home and have a limited budget for bath remodeling, Wilson recommends updating the lighting.
“They did a terrible job back then. Lighting would be a priority,” she says.
She would consider adding side lighting such as sconces, and recessed lighting in the ceiling.
“You want excellent lighting for shaving and makeup application,” she says.
And the tile that was used in grandma’s bathroom is not what you’ll find in bath or tile stores today.
“About 20 years ago, the bathroom was a utilitarian place with plain tile. Now it’s treated like another part of the house that they’re decorating. They’ll use tile borders, inserts and tile with designs,” Mitchell says.
Wilson says, “we’re doing a tremendous amount of ceramic tile not just on the walls but on the floor all the way to the ceiling. It’s very decorative and can look like stone. Some are flat and others have a relief that adds an interesting architectural element.”
Besides the usual and highly affordable laminate countertops, solid surfaces, from stone to manmade products can vary from $50 to more than $150 per linear foot. “Laminate is very durable and cleanable, but people are looking for more unusual products like granite and marble. Those require more preventive care and maintenance but people are willing to do that,” Wilson says.
For those who can’t enlarge their bathroom, Mitchell says, “The most expensive part of remodeling is the bathtub or shower–that’s where you want to concentrate your budget. Next, you want to have a good tile or wall covering and then good fixtures.”
Though the traditional three- or four-bulb “strip” light fixtures over the bathroom mirror are still available, they are more elegant, in styles vintage and contemporary. Homeowners also are demanding recessed lights and dimmer switches for mood lighting in guest bathrooms.
If you’re thinking about remodeling your bathroom, Mitchell and Wilson suggest you look for someone with experience. “Go to an actual brick-and-mortar place of business. Don’t just pick out a place with a telephone number from the phone book,” Mitchell says.
They recommend checking references, too. “Customers who don’t do their homework get themselves in trouble,” he says. If you are a do-it-yourselfer who needs some help, Mitchell suggests working with a licensed plumber.
“It’s important that whoever does the design work pays attention to the client–not only their needs but their artistic experience. I’ve had clients with great ideas,” Wilson says.
And Wilson cautions not to forgo a bathtub in the house. “You should always have one tub for resale purposes. The buyer might have a family with children. If someone has a need for a bathtub, they won’t buy the house because they’ll have to remodel,” she says.
Homeowners have occasional “sticker shock” when they discover the cost to update their bathroom, Wilson says. “It’s like shopping for a new car. They expect to get a bathroom for $10,000 but the labor is expensive. National magazines sometimes say that it can be done for $5,000 or so, but even if you do all the labor yourself, that figure is a little low,” Wilson says.
“There are lots of parts of the house you don’t use all the time but the bathroom you use every day. You should do it the way you want to do it. I don’t regret any extra expense we put into it,” Diane Ross says.
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The National Kitchen and Bath Association certifies bath designers and can provide the names of local specialists. Call 800-401-NKBA for information.
