Bathroom Design Trends

What was once a purely utilitarian space has become a refuge with four-star amenities normally found only in posh resorts. Now, master bathrooms are designed to be an oasis from the daily grind with luxurious body washes, overhead rain-forest-style shower heads, steam generators, saunas and multiple body-jets.

"In the past 20 years, I've witnessed a dramatic change from utilitarian master bathrooms that encompassed spaces as little as 5 feet by 7 feet to ones that cover several hundred square feet and, in some cases, are larger than the master bedroom," says Mark D. Shermeyer, an architect registered American Institute of Architects and owner of York, Pa.-based SAAarchitects.

Flat, wall-recessed gas-fired fireplaces; heated towel bars; radiant heat flooring; whisper-quiet ventilation; flat-screen, hi-definition TVs; and exotic lighting elements are just a few of the accessories consumers want incorporated into new or remodeled bathrooms, Shermeyer says.

Beyond the Master Bath
However, according to home builders, today's consumers are expanding beyond the confines of master bathrooms and bringing these same luxury features to in-law quarters and/or children's bathrooms. Safety features previously reserved for assisted living facilities—such as heavy-duty grab-bars, non-slip surfaces, faucets incorporating ASSE-1016 certified scald-guard protection, walk-in showers with little or no threshold; and tubs set into a deck for ease of entry/exit have become mainstream features, too.

By the Numbers
Home improvement product sales topped $271 billion in 2004, according to HIRI (Home Improvement Research Institute) figures. Of that figure, the share of plumbing supplies was $23.5 billion with sales in 2005 expected to be $25 billion while projecting another boost in 2006 to $26.1 billion.

According to HIRI, there were 4.6 million new bathrooms created in 2004, along with 8 million bathroom remodeling projects. While many homeowners are purchasing plumbing products for DIY installation, 60 percent are contracting with professional plumbing contractors to ensure safety and code compliance.

HIRI figures also show that consumers were satisfied with contractor charges for installations and felt they had received substantial value for services delivered: 20 percent were repeat customers, 25 percent direct word-of-mouth referrals, and 20 percent by way of public ads. Direct mail to your existing customer base by way of newsletters or other media can perk up sales and increase your niche market for high-end sales. Depending on codes in your area, you'll either need to expand your knowledge of control (typically low voltage) wiring or partner with a licensed electrical contractor who is interested in this emerging field of technology.

"Today customers who visit our showrooms want products that offer luxury, while incorporating accessories that allow their installation to be customized," says Kim Raub, owner of York Corrugating, multiple-branch wholesale supply houses. "Professional installers of these high-end products who pay closer attention to things like distribution piping and corresponding flow rates have seen an opportunity for ancillary sales of larger, more efficient water heaters. Where whirlpool tubs used to be combined with the shower, we now see consumers choosing to have them as separate fixtures. Whirlpool tubs, spa-like enclosures with multiple shower heads and body jets all combine to create a sensory experience that's sure to please even the most demanding customer—unless the support systems can't handle the necessary boost in flow and heated water demands."