How to Design a Better Bath.

(Luxurious Master Baths)

Author/s: Rob Fanjoy
Issue: March, 1999

A luxurious master bath is more than a selling point for today's homeowners, it is a necessity.

Today's homeowners are spending more time in, and money on, their master baths, so it is no surprise that they are one of the most highly regarded amenities in the home. No longer a strictly utilitarian room, master baths are becoming a personal retreat to rev up for the day's start or wind down at the day's end.

People want a gracious yet comfortable place to spend their time, and neutral color schemes are reflecting that. Wall and floor treatments feature soft, natural hues of green, yellow, blue and beige. Fixtures are commonly bone, biscuit or white and the most popular finish for faucets is chrome with soft brass accents.

Tile is still the most common floor-covering, typically in marble, granite or limestone finishes. Larger tile sizes are gaining in popularity, with colored grouts for a touch of excitement and personal expression. Plenty of clear floor space should be provided for maneuverability, especially in the wet areas, and matte or textured tiles should be used to improve traction and prevent accidents.

"The sink and vanity areas are becoming the artistic and aesthetic focus of today's bathrooms, with hand-blown glass and vessel sinks gaining in popularity," says Mary Jo Peterson, a certified bathroom designer (CBD) from Brookfield, Conn. Hand-painted porcelain tile on countertops and walls around the vanities are also popular for their limitless color and pattern possibilities.

Storage space is critical, with vanities on either side of pedestal sinks, low-hung cabinets and even dressers for undergarments incorporated into the overall design. Cabinets should be furniture-grade with accents that complement the bedroom furniture. Most are oak or maple in natural or light tints.

"Extra attention should be paid to such details such as outlets inside tower cabinets for hair dryers, electric shavers or other electrical appliances as well as ironing boards and hampers built inside closets," says Molly Korb, a CBD from Newcastle, Calif.

Plumbing fixtures are becoming more luxurious, with showers having multiple heads and tubs featuring soft, sloping curves and pillow pads for comfort. Walkaround showers with benches are growing in popularity, with glassblock separating them from the rest of the room. Toilets and bidets should be placed for privacy, either behind a wall or in a small room within the bathroom.

Windows and glass are becoming more copious to open up and brighten the room. Many windows and skylights and their dressings are equipped with remote controls so that bathers may open and close them while soaking in the tub.

Luxury items such as see-through fireplaces, mini-refrigerators, exercise equipment, saunas and televisions are also being incorporated into master baths to create a gracious and pampering living space. In keeping with that atmosphere, many design items should be taken into consideration such as putting the plumbing wall away from the master suite wall, hampers in storage areas, and temperature and pressure-balancing valves in shower, tub and vanity faucets.

Bathroom Basics

1 Toilet/bidet area should be sequestered in a separate room, or at least behind a half-wall. Wall-mounted fixtures make cleaning easier, keeping the room more sanitary and healthy.

2 Build tubs with a platform area, not steps. Tub controls should be accessible from inside or outside the tub and offset toward the room. Handrails make sense not only for safety, but they also make bathing children easier.

3 Roll-in and walkaround showers are very popular and should include a bench seat 17[inches]-19[inches] high and at least 15[inches] deep. Make sure tile slopes toward drain to keep outside floor dry.

4 Windows and skylights should be equal to at least 10% of the total square footage of the bathroom.

5 Install auxiliary heating sources, such as electric radiant heat panels or a heat lamp/exhaust fan near the open shower.

6 His-and her sinks are becoming the norm, with each mounted at a different height and a dressing table and vanity chair separating them.

7 Full mirrors can be used in smaller baths to give them a larger feel, but overdoing it can affect depth perception.

8 Every functional area should be well illuminated with task lighting, night lights and general lighting.

Flexibility Is Key

Universal design goes beYond simple accessibility issues for those with physical challenges, it also incorporates flexibility for all age groups, heights and family status. Among the most common universal design aspects: minimal effort controls, handles and pulls, no threshold showers, wide doorways and walkways, and grab bars mounted to reinforced walls. "A general bath design should incorporate accessibility - it just makes sense," says Mary Jo Peterson.

Acknowledgements:

For their help is putting together this piece, special thanks to: Mary Jo Peterson, Mary Jo Peterson, Inc., Brookfield, Conn.; Molly Korb, MK Designs, Newcastle, Calif.; Margaret Barge, Figel, Inc., Chicago, Ill.; MCL Companies, Chicago, Ill.; Rhonda Moritz, National Kitchen and Bath Association, Hackettstown, N.J.