Bath and Shower Trends

Not so long ago, bathrooms were simple, utilitarian 5- x 8-foot rectangles containing only the bare necessities for personal grooming. Over the last several years, bathrooms have become increasingly more luxurious, more spacious and more like a spa retreat.

The American Institute of Architects recently conducted a survey of residential architecture firms across the country to gauge kitchen and bath trends, and found that even more so than kitchens, homeowners want more and larger bathrooms in their homes. Forty percent of responding firms said the number of bathrooms in homes is increasing, and even more reported that the rooms are getting larger. Hardly any reported a decrease in the number or size of bathrooms.

"Bathrooms are also getting smarter," says Lisa Stacholy, founder and president of LKS Architects Inc. in Atlanta and chair of the AIA Small Project Practitioners Knowledge Community. "People are really focusing on these areas and addressing them well," she says. "They're putting as much time and effort into planning bathrooms as they have in planning kitchens."

Individual Spaces
One of the biggest recent trends gaining momentum is the creation of his-and-hers spaces. Sometimes simply a double vanity or often two separate rooms each with its own vanity and water closet linked by a large shower, consumers want spaces dedicated to only one person.

Stacholy says tile has asserted itself in many bathrooms today, with many people opting for ceramic tile with epoxy grouts over natural stone for easier cleaning. "A lot of people are putting radiant heat under their floors, usually electric mats, unless the rest of their house has steam heat, then radiant tubing can be used," she says. "They love the even heat and warm feeling on their feet in the mornings."

She adds that people have moved away from solid surfacing for vanity tops, opting instead for natural or engineered stone (such as Silestone) and even more wood amenities, such as a teak bench in the shower. "I'm also surprised at how many people like vessel bowl sinks," Stacholy says. "They like the appearance of a piece of free-standing furniture."

Wet Zone Trends
It wasn't all that long ago that Whirlpool tubs were the hot-button item in luxury baths, but that emphasis has been turned to the shower today. Multiple shower heads in larger, more luxurious showers are becoming the must-have bathroom item. These fixed showerheads can be mounted permanently on various wall locations in addition to overhead, often are combined with a hand-held showerhead, or sometimes an enclosed shower tower, with multiple heads affixed to one wall fixture.

"It used to be a simple showerhead and a hot and cold control," says Val Florio, an architect from Sag Harbor, N.Y. "Now it's everything: massage heads, his-and-hers showerheads, steam units, body sprays—it's complicated."

Stacholy says interest in steam rooms has surged as well. These units basically are enclosed shower stalls with a steam unit included. You may retrofit one by attaching a dome over a standard shower and plumbing in a steam unit (about $800), or you can pull out the old shower surround and insert an integrated steam system into a standard 5-foot tub slot for about $3,000. "Nearly half of all my residential projects consider steam rooms," Stacholy says. "Not all of them incorporate one, but the topic comes up a lot."

While many customers opt to deck out a luxurious shower and even forgoing the tub altogether, spa-like tubs still are around. The traditional Whirlpool tub, with powerful jets and forceful swirling action, has lost ground in favor of newer air baths, with rings of holes that blow warm air into the bath for a gentler experience. Scented oils and bubble solutions also can be used with these baths for an aromatherapy experience, something you can't do with a traditional Whirlpool.

Storage and Extras
Storage has been a necessary but often-overlooked feature of functional bathrooms. People now focus a lot more in this area. "Grooming is really important in this country," says Joan Piccone of European Country Kitchens in Far Hills, N.J. "And we've never had more stuff for doing that: face creams, hair creams, hair sprays, lotions."

To handle all these items consumers demand deeper medicine cabinets, vanities with specialized storage for bath items and even adapted kitchen spice rack inserts to hold makeup tubes and bottles in vanities.

Details also make the difference in today's bathrooms, with fixtures and trim details so refined and elegant that they approach pieces of art. Brass has long since fallen out of favor, but chrome still is popular, along with oil-rubbed bronze and brushed nickel finishes.

People also want special touches like flat-screen TVs to watch while they get ready in the morning, warming drawers or racks for towels, stereo systems and even fireplaces.

"A lot of people ask me about installing a bidet," Stacholy says. "But when they see they will have to sacrifice space, they often go with commodes that either have a built-in bidet type of feature under the seat, or add on these features to regular toilets."