bathroom trends | wsh&g spring 2013 - home | a kitchen that … · 2013-02-21 · remodeling...

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TEXT BY MOLLY ERIN MCCABE, AKBD , CGP, CAPS Generally it is the first thing you see in the morning and the last thing you see at night — your bathroom. If this room is not inspiring you to embrace your day with vigor, it may well be time for an update. Whether you simply need a low- maintenance space for general hygiene or you crave a spa-like retreat, there are plenty of options for consideration. Start your journey with the following four basic design principles then move on to specific material selections. First, review the space or footprint of your bathroom. If the room provides all your basic necessities, then focus on updating the fixtures and finishes. However, if the space does not afford you the amenities you desire, such as storage, counter space, etc., then investigate reconfiguring or expanding it by incorporating space from an adjoining closet, bedroom or other contiguous room. One thing to keep in mind: In order to keep costs down, try to leave all plumbing fixtures in their original locations to minimizing re-piping for supply lines, waste lines and vent pipes. Second, the great resale debate. Many homeowners worry about the resale value of their home when they are considering a renovation. As a general rule of thumb, if you plan on staying in your home for five years or more, then choose a design and materials that suit you, as it is likely that after five years, the WSH&G|Spring 2013|www.WSHomeAndGarden.com Copyright © WestSound Home & Garden Magazine/Wet Apple Media, Inc. Bathroom Trends FROM UTILITARIAN TO BLING Tips on finding the right look and the right features for your bathroom Delta Curbless shower pan

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Page 1: Bathroom Trends | WSH&G Spring 2013 - Home | A Kitchen That … · 2013-02-21 · Remodeling your bathroom can be an enjoyable experience, provided you take adequate time to plan

TEXT BY MOLLY ERIN MCCABE, AKBD , CGP, CAPS

Generally it is the first thing you see inthe morning and the last thing you see atnight — your bathroom. If this room isnot inspiring you to embrace your daywith vigor, it may well be time for anupdate. Whether you simply need a low-maintenance space for general hygieneor you crave a spa-like retreat, there areplenty of options for consideration. Startyour journey with the following four basicdesign principles then move on tospecific material selections.

First, review the space or footprint ofyour bathroom. If the room provides allyour basic necessities, then focus onupdating the fixtures and finishes.However, if the space does not afford youthe amenities you desire, such asstorage, counter space, etc., theninvestigate reconfiguring or expanding itby incorporating space from anadjoining closet, bedroom or othercontiguous room. One thing to keep inmind: In order to keep costs down, try to

leave all plumbing fixtures in theiroriginal locations to minimizing re-pipingfor supply lines, waste lines and ventpipes.Second, the great resale debate. Many

homeowners worry about the resalevalue of their home when they areconsidering a renovation. As a generalrule of thumb, if you plan on staying inyour home for five years or more, thenchoose a design and materials that suityou, as it is likely that after five years, the

WSH&G|Spring 2013|www.WSHomeAndGarden.com Copyright © WestSound Home & Garden Magazine/Wet Apple Media, Inc.

BathroomTrendsFROM UTILITARIAN TO BLING

Tips on finding the right look andthe right features for your bathroom

Delta Curblessshower pan

Page 2: Bathroom Trends | WSH&G Spring 2013 - Home | A Kitchen That … · 2013-02-21 · Remodeling your bathroom can be an enjoyable experience, provided you take adequate time to plan

next occupants will want to put their ownmark on the space with the nextgeneration of fixtures and finishes.Along these same lines, there is “the

great bathtub debate.” Mosthomeowners find that their busy lives donot afford them time for a long soak inthe tub; they would appreciate aspacious shower but they hesitate toremove the tub in favor of a largershower. Contractors and bathroomdesigners say that over the course of thelast several years, they have removedmore tubs in favor of larger showers thanthey have installed — and that this trendwill likely continue.Third, in an effort to get the best return

on your bathroom remodel investment,consider features that will accommodateyour changing needs as you age,allowing you to live in your home insafety and comfort (and more cost-

Folding shower seat from Health Craft

KohlerElevance Tub

Moen Vosscollection singlelever faucet andgrab bar in oil-rubbed bronze

WSH&G|Spring 2013|www.WSHomeAndGarden.com Copyright © WestSound Home & Garden Magazine/Wet Apple Media, Inc.

Page 3: Bathroom Trends | WSH&G Spring 2013 - Home | A Kitchen That … · 2013-02-21 · Remodeling your bathroom can be an enjoyable experience, provided you take adequate time to plan

effectively than in assisted care) for aslong as you choose. For example,include grab bars in the shower/batharea (or at the very least, wall blockingfor future installation), comfort heighttoilets, single-lever faucets, zero-threshold showers with hand-heldshower heads, built-in shower seats andwalk-in baths. There are a myriad ofbeautiful options for these items thatdon’t look the least bit institutional.Lastly, one person’s bling is another’s

necessity. Bathroom bling can bedefined in many ways, whether it be amirror with an embedded televisionscreen to keep you up to date on theday’s news, an ornate chandelier overthe bathtub, a steam shower systemcontrolled by an iPad or a medicinecabinet that has a chilled compartmentfor perishable personal care products.Whatever strikes your fancy, there is noshortage of luxury options for today’sbathroom. Take solace in the fact thatluxury does not have to be wasteful. Ifyou compare the energy and waterusage of a steam shower to that of a 6-foot jetted bathtub, the steam shower ismuch the miser. A heated towel bar canserve more than one purpose — you canhang a towel on it for luxurious warmthand provide energy-efficientsupplementary heat to a room that maybe a long duct run from the furnace.

Product TrendsBathtubs: Free-standing soaking tubs,

properly sized for the homeowner, arevery popular these days, supplanting theoversized, water-heater-draining, noisy,

Thermasol steam showerElectric mirror – Eternity

Robern Medcab with cold storage

Devon&Devon Admiral Lux (clawfoot tub)

ICO heated towel bar

Graff Immersion tub filler

WSH&G|Spring 2013|www.WSHomeAndGarden.com Copyright © WestSound Home & Garden Magazine/Wet Apple Media, Inc.

Page 4: Bathroom Trends | WSH&G Spring 2013 - Home | A Kitchen That … · 2013-02-21 · Remodeling your bathroom can be an enjoyable experience, provided you take adequate time to plan

built-in jet tubs of yesteryear. These tubscan be traditional or modern and maybe complemented by sculptural, floor-mounted or wall-mounted tub fillers.Showers and shower heads: Bigger

sometimes is better, as evidenced bytoday’s showers trending up in size andamenities. Multiple shower heads, built-in seats, beautiful tile work, steamfunctionality, frameless and doorlessshower glass and more can be found in

many homes today.Who knew a shower drain cover could

be so beautiful? Decorative and seamlessdrains augment a stylish bathroomdesign. Shower heads come in so manyconfigurations and finishes that whenselecting a head, you feel much like youdo at the ice cream parlor trying to pickan ice cream flavor. From chrome to oil-rubbed bronze finishes, from fixed to thewall to fixed to the ceiling, from hand-

held on a hook to hand-held on a slidebar, there is a right shower head foreveryone. Having both a fixed and ahand-held shower head in the sameshower gives you the best of both worlds— spot showering, hands-free showeringand easy cleaning.Sinks and faucets: Undermounted

sinks are the most popular for bathroomsthat get everyday use while vessel sinksare a popular style for eclectic powder

Fleurco Aria Tranquility tubBe by Wetstyle

WSH&G|Spring 2013|www.WSHomeAndGarden.com Copyright © WestSound Home & Garden Magazine/Wet Apple Media, Inc.

Page 5: Bathroom Trends | WSH&G Spring 2013 - Home | A Kitchen That … · 2013-02-21 · Remodeling your bathroom can be an enjoyable experience, provided you take adequate time to plan

rooms. Two sinks or one? For truecomfort, you need at least 60 inches ofvanity width with sinks that are no widerthan 17 inches to accommodate twosinks. Two sinks can minimize siblingsquabbles in a shared bathroom andincrease efficiency for working coupleswho rise at the same hour; however, twosinks typically means less usable storagein the bathroom so weigh the benefitswhen selecting.Toilets and washlets: Utilitarian or

luxurious, the biggest trends in toilets areskirted bases (who wants to clean aroundthe nooks and crannies?), wall hung(smaller footprint, ease of maneuveringaround and just plain stylish) and HETs(high-efficiency toilets that use 1.28gallons per flush or less). Fromcontemporary to traditional, there is awide range of toilets available to matcheveryone’s taste and needs. For evenmore family harmony, don’t forget thesoft-close toilet seat — no more startlingbangs in the middle of the night!Washlets are effectively a toilet seat

that performs like a bidet but better.Spendy as they are (prices start around$700 and go up depending on whetheryou are purchasing just the seat or awhole toilet package), they are not just anice luxury; they are a means ofpreserving the safety and dignity ofindividuals who lack the dexterity toservice themselves when using the toilet.Washlet features include heated seats,heated washer and heated air drying.Cabinets and countertops: From

alder to zebrano, today’s bathroom

Fleurco Evolution doorless showerDoorless shower — Design by A Kitchen That Works LLC

A simple yet elegant tile coupled with anangled backed shower seat makes forhighly functional and beautiful shower.

Kohler Katalyst rainheadCalFaucets CeraLine custom trim

Ark Showers hinged shower glass

CalFaucets Style Drain Tile basketweave

CalFaucets Style Drain Deco Swirl

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Page 6: Bathroom Trends | WSH&G Spring 2013 - Home | A Kitchen That … · 2013-02-21 · Remodeling your bathroom can be an enjoyable experience, provided you take adequate time to plan

cabinets come in all wood species anddoor styles. Current trends are soft-closedoors and drawers, conveniencehardware such as built-in laundryhampers and built-in grooming stations,as well as mirrors and medicine cabinetsbuilt to match the cabinetry. As withcabinetry, countertop options run a widegamut, from the value priced laminate tothe fully custom concrete.To ensure long life, it is important to

select your countertop material based onyour lifestyle and grooming habits. Forthose individuals who use alcohol-basedpersonal-care products such as perfume,cologne, hair spray or hair gels, it wouldbe best to choose a laminate, solidsurface or engineered-stone countertopand to avoid quarried-stone countertops,as these personal care products candamage the stone’s sealant.

Undermount sink –— Design by A KitchenThat Works LLC

Icera Karo one-piece elongated comfort-height toilet with soft-close seat

WSH&G|Spring 2013|www.WSHomeAndGarden.com Copyright © WestSound Home & Garden Magazine/Wet Apple Media, Inc.

Page 7: Bathroom Trends | WSH&G Spring 2013 - Home | A Kitchen That … · 2013-02-21 · Remodeling your bathroom can be an enjoyable experience, provided you take adequate time to plan

Lighting and mirrors: Bathrooms arebest lit with a variety of lights. Forexample, it is nice to have a recessedcan light directly over the shower orshower/tub unit to illuminate activitiessuch as shaving or reading (it is evenbetter if you select a combination canlight/exhaust fan unit such as thoseoffered by Broan Nutone, Panasonic orFan Tech). It is advisable to have a canlight over the sink, with wall sconces onthe wall behind the sink space slightlymore than sink-width apart. Considerincorporating a dimmer for both moodlighting and night lighting around thetub and water closet.Decorative and functional hardware:

Decorative and functional hardwareprovide a true customized look andfunctionality to a bathroom. From blingycabinet pulls to pullout cabinets andwall-mounted brackets designed tosecurely store your hair dryer, there is amyriad of choices. Many manufacturersoffer decorative hardware “families,”allowing you to coordinate your towelbars, robe hooks and toilet paperdispenser with your sink faucet andshower head.Flooring: Choosing a flooring material

for your bathroom will likely be theeasiest decision of all because manyflooring materials are not appropriate forthis wet environment. Electric radiantheat is a popular feature in today’sbathroom and the most compatibleflooring material with in-floor heat is tile.Porcelain tends to be the most cost-effective, durable and low-maintenancetile for flooring but other tiles can beused, bearing in mind that you need tofactor in the slipping potential from aglazed tile surface. Linoleum is a goodchoice when in-floor heat is not desiredand you want to keep your doorthresholds low. Vinyl is a low-cost optionbut not nearly as durable orenvironmentally friendly as other flooringoptions.Remodeling your bathroom can be an

enjoyable experience, provided you takeadequate time to plan the project andenlist professional help for those aspectsthat you do not have the requisite vision

or expertise to handle. To minimizefrustration and avoid falling in love withitems that don’t fit in your budget, setyour project budget before you head outto showrooms or start your internetsearch. Develop a style for the room byperusing through books, magazines andonline to get ideas for colors, fixturesand finishes that appeal to you and arebefitting to your home. Set a realistictimeframe for completing your project byavoiding hemming yourself into eventslike a family reunion or the holidays.Once you have covered thesepreliminary bases, you will be ready tostart your project.

Note: In order to meet the NationalElectrical Code, a chandelier hung overa bathtub must be no less than 8 feetabove the rim of the tub (bottom edge ofchandelier to top edge of bathtub).

Thermasol fog-free mirrors — available in four distinctive designs, from left to right:Cupola, Rhombus, Eclipse and Avant

Custom mirror — Design by A KitchenThat Works LLC

CaromaInvisi wall hung toilet

Toto washlet S300

Stone Forest Quattro vessel (copper)

WSH&G|Spring 2013|www.WSHomeAndGarden.com Copyright © WestSound Home & Garden Magazine/Wet Apple Media, Inc.

Page 8: Bathroom Trends | WSH&G Spring 2013 - Home | A Kitchen That … · 2013-02-21 · Remodeling your bathroom can be an enjoyable experience, provided you take adequate time to plan

Crowning Glory by Carpe Diem

Rev-A-Shelf hair dryer pull-out

Moen Voss collection in chrome hair dryerholder

WSH&G|Spring 2013|www.WSHomeAndGarden.com Copyright © WestSound Home & Garden Magazine/Wet Apple Media, Inc.