New Bathroom Design Ideas

Top Five Bath Design Trends

Royal Flush - 10 Luxury Bathroom Designs

 Top Five Bath Design Trends
No longer just a utilitarian space, today's bathroom can be a place of luxury and convenience.
Achieving this is a matter of keeping up with the latest and greatest design elements. Last month's
Kitchen and Bath Industry show, where over 1,000 exhibitors released new products, gave us a peak
into this year's trends. Read on to find out the top five.

1. High-tech Twists
• Cool Cabinet
• Tricked-Out Shower
• Sound System

2. Water-saving Fixtures
• Low-Flow Toilet
• Hands-Free Faucet
• Smart Shower

3. Seamless Looks
• Concealed Commode
• Sunbathing
• Revolving Cabinets

4. Universal Design
• Easy BathingWalk-In
Tubs
• Shower-Bath Hand
Grips
• Shower Seats

5. Nature-inspired Tiles
• Blossoming Collection
• Bamboo Beauty
• Earth Tones
1. HIGH-TECH TWISTS

Bath-time can be an experience for the senses with the option of built-in audio systems, chromatherapy
(using mood-enhancing colors), or even tub-side refrigeration.

Cool Cabinet

Keep cold beverages on-hand with Robern's latest medicine cabinet. A portion of it includes
refrigeration—also perfect for nail polish, or organic skin products (with no preservatives), or
medications that need to be kept cold.
Tricked-Out Shower

Kohler's DTV shower was introduced last year, but the latest version is fully loaded. It features a
control system for the shower with functions like water pressure and temperature, but also
chromatherapy (from above), steam, and a built in stereo system, all controlled from a LCD screen that
can be mounted on the wall.
Sound System

MTI brings music to bathers' ears with its Stereo H2O—a built-in stereo system. Controlled from a
remote amplifier that can be placed inside a cabinet and connected to CD or MP3 players, the sound is
broadcast through the tub walls, with no visual speakers. Also available from MTI are radiant heating
pads that can also be built-in; so what looks like a simple tub is actually a spa-like escape.
2. WATER-SAVING FIXTURES

With the introduction of the government's WaterSense label (similar to Energy Star), manufacturers are
getting smart about reducing toilet and faucet water use.

Low-Flow Toilet

Caroma, an Australian company, was one of the first to offer dual flush technology, which allows for
two different flushing options: .8 and 1.6 gallons per flush. And now almost all of the large toilet
manufacturers offer dual-flush toilets. Caroma has 31 different models (shown is the Adelaide Cube).
Hands-Free Faucet

Homeowners can easily and affordably save water by installing low-flow aerators on new and existing
faucets. Kohler's version features a 1.5 gpm flow rate, a 30 percent reduction over 2.2 gpm models. The
company's Tripoint Touchless Electronic Faucet (shown) utilizes an activation sensor that saves water
by keeping false activations to a minimum.
Smart Shower

This showerhead offers traditional looks combined with forward-thinking technology. The water-
efficient fixture with H2Okinetic Technology® from Delta uses only 1.6 gpm as opposed to the
standard 2.5 gpm. The technology manages the water droplet size and velocity, spray coverage and
thermal dynamics, delivering the feeling of a standard showerhead at a lower flow. Approx. $50
3. SEAMLESS LOOKS

Keeping fixtures and storage undercover allows for a clean, minimalist look, similar to that of a spa.

Concealed Commode

Here, the BenchToilet, by designer Troy Adams for Julien, provides a decorative solution for hiding
away the toilet. It incorporates a sliding exotic wood panel concealing the fixture and doubling as a
powder room bench.
Sunbathing

Sundeck, the latest whirlpool tub from Duravit, can go anywhere in the home. A cover is designed to
keep warm water in while concealing the tub and offering a surface to lay on, and when not in use, to
be used as a headrest for bathers.
Revolving Cabinets

Part of the Piu-Due collection from VitrA, this cabinet revolves 180-degrees for easy storage access
when open and a clean look when closed.
4. UNIVERSAL DESIGN

Walk-in tubs, shower seats, and towel bars are not only functional, but they can be stylish too.

Walk-In Tubs

Walk-in tubs like this one from Oceania, allow people with reduced mobility to enjoy bathing. The
Serenite model is available with an air bath system, great for getting the circulation going for users with
diabetes or other circulatory problems.
Shower-Bath Hand Grips

Nine-inch designer hand grips from Home Care by Moen can be easily installed near hazard zones for
added convenience. Available in both chrome and brushed nickel, the contemporary look allows for
easy integration into any bath design.
Shower Seats

Bristol and Bath's foldaway seat is ideal for showers with limited space. Available with or without a
seat back or shower wall bar, it is made of stainless steel and opaque acrylic and hangs only 3½ inches
out from the wall when closed.
5. NATURE-INSPIRED TILES

With bathroom suites getting simpler, tile can offer a decorative backdrop. Nature-inspired designs, like
this one from collection, can serve as artwork for the bathroom.

Blossoming Collection

With a name meaning "cherry blossom" in Japanese, Ann Sacks' Sakura collection represents the
beauty of the changing seasons. The tiles are sold as a set.
Bamboo Beauty

Walker Zanger's Mizu Umi line's bamboo tiles are ideal for creating a spa-like atmosphere. What's also
unique about the collection is the large scale—each tile measures 24 inches.
Earth Tones

Another popular trend is metal tile, also available from the two previous companies. Dal-Tile's Metal
Fusion line combines ceramic tile with metallic granules for a chic, industrial-meets-natural look.
 Royal Flush
Once private havens, bathrooms today are increasingly becoming showplaces with high-end fixtures,
imported bath tubs, and miles of marble

A huge shift is under way in the $290 billion industry of home remodeling: Homeowners are beginning
to leave the kitchen alone and invest in luxurious, spacious, high-tech new bathrooms. In 2005, 5.2% of
owner-occupied homes in the U.S. underwent some kind of bathroom renovation, with an average price
tag of $2,520, according to the nonprofit, Tampa (Fla.)-based Home Improvement Research Institute.
The No. 1 reason for the bathroom remodels was to increase the value of the home, while the desire to
increase space and beautify the home came in a close second and third, respectively, the group's survey
shows.

"The bathroom is the new trophy room," says Janice Costa, editor of Kitchen & Bath Design News.
"Whereas it used to be a very private space, it has become more of a reflection of people's personal
tastes." She says about 45 million home bathrooms in the country have remained unaltered since 1970,
a number that is dropping faster than ever as homeowners rush to transform their plain old water
closets into elegant showrooms of form and function.

Expert Methods

For an impressive bathroom, it's best to consult the experts. Architects, interior designers, remodeling
contractors, and plumbing contractors may all be necessary for the most complex of projects, but an
increasing number of homeowners are employing full-service design firms that both plan the room and
make it come to life.

Covenant Kitchens & Baths in Westbrook, Conn., will inspect the layout of your home, work with you
on a custom bathroom that suits your needs and budget, and construct it for about $5,000 to $30,000.
The desire for more or better utilized space, says Covenant designer Kira Van Deusen, is a common
priority for many of its clients.

"Many times, bathrooms are small and like a puzzle, [and] the pieces can only fit in one particular way.
We tend to investigate adjoining rooms to see if we can beg, borrow, or steal from the space to enlarge
the bathroom," says Van Deusen. For a recent project in Branford, Conn., Covenant removed a wall to
combine a small bathroom with a neighboring dressing room. Workers enlarged the window, added a
whirlpool tub, shower, and vanities, and installed richly colored mahogany cabinets.

Homage To Hotels

Customers of Covenant and other bathroom remodeling professionals frequently want to emulate in
their own home the design styles they notice in hotels, resorts, and other upscale commercial
bathrooms. As a result, the hotel room innovations of top-dollar design firms have come to bear heavily
on trends in residential design. High-end and high-tech bathroom implements, such as chromatherapy
(color-changing) tubs, mirrors with LCD television screens, fireplaces, and heated towel racks—once
luxuries reserved for the vacation or business trip—are becoming a more affordable part of everyday
life.
Hotels have good reason to invest heavily in top-notch bathrooms, according to Ariane Steinbeck of
Gettys interior design firm, which specializes in resorts and hotels. "About 80% of the waking time
that's spent in a hotel room is spent in the bathroom," she says. "When [people] go to resorts or hotels,
they want to be inspired about things they can use at home."

But the relationship between hotel and residential bathroom design works both ways. "As people spend
more time in hotels, you're seeing more hotel baths take on a home-like or personalized look to get
away from that sterile, institutionalized feel that some hotel baths have," says Costa of Kitchen & Bath
Design News. She says natural textures, such as wood and stone, and warm earth tones have made the
leap from the home bathroom to the upscale commercial bathroom.

The Design Difference

And then there are designers who seem to take the evolution of bathroom design entirely into their own
hands. For a bathroom that looks like it's from another planet, take up residence in one of the few
remaining apartments at Jade, a 57-unit building in New York's Chelsea neighborhood. The latest
project of celebrity heiress-cum-jeweler Jade Jagger and real estate developer Michael Shvo, Jade takes
space utilization to another level with its "Pods," large metal cubes that open on one side to reveal a full
bathroom with fixtures by Waterworks, on the opposite side a small kitchen, and on the end a closet
with washer and dryer.

Despite a perplexed response from the New York real estate community, Shvo says the Pods have given
the building's studios and one- and two-bedroom units a competitive edge. "A creative bathroom design
should always be top of mind for real estate developers.… [The Pod] is not something you can buy at
Home Depot and plunk into your apartment. It has to be designed," he says.

Whatever route you choose to go when planning your new bathroom, don't be afraid of committing to a
large investment. According to the research of Kitchen & Bath Design News, midrange bathroom
renovations are currently returning homeowners an average of 102.2% on their investment, while
upscale renovations return an average of 93.2%.
 Super Bathrooms
Luxury bath makeovers that stress space and elegance without sacrificing privacy

Move over, kitchen. As more and more people focus their home improvement efforts on the bathroom,
expressive designs and luxury amenities are taking the place of drab white private sanctums.

This article peeks under the stall doors of some of the most beautiful and innovative bathrooms on the
market. From luxury hotels to chic urban condos, professional designs like these are the trends you’ll
want to follow for your new bathroom.
Hilton Hartford Presidential Suite, Hartford, Conn.
Design by Gettys
Price: $700 to $1,200 per night

“About 80% of the waking time that’s spent in a hotel room is spent in the bathroom,” says Ariane
Steinbeck, principal designer for hotel and resort specialist firm Gettys, who completed a
reconfiguration of the Hilton Hartford in early 2005.

For the presidential suite bathroom, Steinbeck and colleagues had a small footprint to work with. They
chose this custom-made curved vanity, which creates the illusion of more space, to complement a
Kohler chromatherapy tub with adjustable color lights, soothing bubbles and a splash basin ($9,028 and
up).
20 Pine Condominiums, New York
“20 Pine – The Collection”
Design by Armani/Casa
Price: $650,000 to $2.9 million

Giorgio Armani’s in-house interior design team Armani/Casa used entirely custom materials and
fixtures for the minimalist bathrooms of this new condo building in New York’s financial district.
Striking dark contrasts are set off by Galaxy Schist stone that covers the walls and floors, and the
Brazilian Ipe wood used around the tub. The recessed shower head (about $500 and up) creates a rain
effect—adjustable from sprinkle to monsoon.
Waterworks Product Line
Products and design by Waterworks
Fixtures about $13,000

Waterworks fixtures are favorites of the top designers because they offer a nice blend of luxury and
affordability. This .25 line of products features an elegant bathtub, a double lavatory in matte white,
and a metallic double mirror.

Waterworks employs experienced designers who are available for free planning consultations by
appointment.
Home Bathroom Renovation, Branford, Conn.
Design and installation by Covenant Kitchens & Baths
Price: $25,000 to $30,000

Covenant, a Westbrook (Conn.)-based full-service bathroom design firm, specializes in creating space
in homes where there isn’t any. “Many times bathrooms are small and like a puzzle, [and] the pieces
can only fit in one particular way. We tend to investigate adjoining rooms to see if we can beg, borrow
or steal from the space to enlarge the bathroom,” explains designer Kira Van Deusen.

In this Branford home, the company removed a wall to combine a small bathroom with a neighboring
dressing room. They enlarged the window, added a whirlpool tub, shower, and vanities, and installed
richly colored mahogany cabinets.
Four Seasons Hong Kong Suite, Hong Kong
Design by Wilson Associates
Price: About $1,000 per room per night

When planning the bathrooms for the new Four Seasons Hong Kong, constructed between 2001 and
2005, the designers of Wilson Associates faced a novel challenge: huge 148-sq. ft. guest rooms,
supposedly the largest in the city. Their solution came in the form of this spa-like room with big mirrors
and subtle dark tones to encapsulate the space.

The mirror that overlooks the tub is fitted with an LCD television screen by Seura (around $4,000 and
up), one of the hottest new features in designer bathrooms.
8 Union Square South Condominiums, New York
Design by Eric Cohler Design, Fixtures by Waterworks
Price: $1.89 million to $8.9 million

Bathroom design knows when to save space and when to go high-tech, but sometimes bigger is simply
better. The humongous bathrooms of the newly completed 8 Union Square South could accommodate
an elephant, and feature textured limestone walls and floors, fixtures by Waterworks, and a towel
warmer for chilly mornings.
Nine Zero Guest Room, Boston
Design by Wilson Associates
Price: About $350 to $400 per room per night

Wilson Associates designed the Nine Zero hotel’s bathrooms to accommodate the fast-paced lifestyle of
the jet-setting business traveler. Forgoing a bathtub because of the room’s small footprint, the designers
included a large, state-of-the-art shower and a mirror that floats in front of a window.

“In hotels, we try to create a home away from home. But now people are implementing the bathroom
experience they get at hotels in their own home,” says project designer Jacques Coetzee.
Kohler Product Line
Products and design by Kohler
Price: $18,182 for fixtures, furniture and accessories

For more than 20 years, the three-level, 36,000-sq. ft. Kohler Design Center in Kohler, Wis., has been a
resource for homeowners, architects, and designers embarking on bathroom remodels. One of the many
bath suites on display is this spacious contemporary design, which includes a chromatherapy tub, a
pressure-balancing shower faucet ($319 and up), and a natural lavastone countertop ($4,332 and up)
Hilton Kuala Lumpur Suite, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Design by Wilson Associates
Price: About $200 per room per night

The new Hilton Kuala Lumpur, completed in 2004, exemplifies the trend of integrating bathroom and
bedroom spaces for greater airflow, mobility, and sunlight. Two full-length opaque glass sliding doors
can be concealed in the wall to expose this bathroom’s white Italian marble walls and dark green
granite floors to the bedroom.
Jade Condominiums, New York
“Pod” design by Jade Jagger and Tom Bartlett
Price: $550,000 to $3.7 million

The recent opening of the 57-unit Jade condos in New York’s Chelsea neighborhood, the latest project
of celebrity heiress-cum-jeweler Jade Jagger and real estate developer Michael Shvo, unveiled a bold
experiment in bathroom design they call Pods. Designed to economize space and add a sleek, modern
look in smaller-than-usual apartments, Pods open on one side to reveal a full bathroom with fixtures by
Waterworks; on the opposite side is a small kitchen, and on the end a closet with washer and dryer.

“A creative bathroom design should always be top of mind for real estate developers,” says Shvo.
“[The Pod] is not something you can buy at Home Depot and plunk into your apartment. It has to be
designed.”