Designers explore the key design and psychological elements of the luxury bathroom. By Dianne M. Pogoda

 

Luxury in the bathroom is just as much about the emotional qualities of the space and the feelings it inspires as it is about bells and whistles and high-end materials.

In “Mood Board: Exploring the Functional and Emotional Elements of the Luxury Bath,” three designers described the components that go into a design and take the bathroom from beautiful but utilitarian to luxurious fantasy.

Among the takeaways:

  • Design must be personalized to evoke emotions while meeting functional needs;
  • Visual, tactile and experiential elements are all in play;
  • Technology plays a key role in creating the luxury experience.

The session was part of NKBA’s Luxury Bath Summit, presented in partnership with Cambria and sponsored by House of Rohl. It was moderated by Wendy Cohen, founder and CEO of Powerhouse Smart, a consultant in the luxury building and architecture realm based in Chicago. She began by asking the designers about what their clients told them they wanted in a luxury bath.

“Personalization,” said Joy Chao, lead interior designer for John Henshaw Architect in Vancouver, B.C. “Clients want one-off details.”

She noted that there can be a lot of standardization in many bathrooms, since products, materials and design have to meet certain codes and safety protocols. “So clients want to know how to tailor the space to their unique requirements. Personalized storage, to house supplies and tools, makes the bathroom truly spa-like. In one example, we worked with a local metalsmith to add a custom scoop-shelf to a bathroom mirror to hold toiletries or makeup for easy access. We try to make lighting warm and inviting and flattering to skin tones. We also use custom millwork, towel warmers and radiant-floor heating for additional warmth.” 

Aparna Vijayan, an architect and designer at Ulrich Inc. in Ridgewood, N.J., described one project for a Japanese couple who had recently relocated from Japan to the U.S. She re-created the experience of a tatami room, evoking their heritage and providing a touch of home.

“In a tatami room, you go barefoot, so it had to be a total tactile experience,” she said. “We used textured porcelain tiles that look like wood planks for the floor, which is heated. The ofuro, a Japanese soaking tub, fills and overflows, so there is a drain built into the floor around the tub, which is set in a bed of rocks.”

She created undulating edges throughout the space, on the tub and the cedar-lined curved ceiling. Rice paper is embedded into glass panels on cabinet doors, and the countertop is honed slate. The curbless shower features glass tiles that are translucent, almost the color of water, and thermostatic controls on the side of the shower control heat and flow. She integrated technology in the space, including speakers and a TV, and most of the technology is voice-activated, creating a traditional vibe with ultra-modern conveniences.

Michel Smith Boyd, founder and creative director SMITHBOYD Interiors in Atlanta, said, “I want my clients to identify with the space, to see themselves in the design. Also, we install floor-to-ceiling slabs to combine beauty and low maintenance — no grout lines, no mildew. A clean look is very luxurious.”

Using artwork in the bathroom, like paintings or sculpture, is also luxurious, he added. “You can inject a lot of personality with wallpapers, custom quartz, ceiling and wall treatments. You can have a lot of fun in a powder room because it’s a small space, so you really get to show off!”

Vijayan pointed out that, especially in this price range, aging-in-place considerations are crucial. “We call it ‘designing with dignity.’ For every bathroom I do, I always try to sneak it in. I bring up the curbless shower, I try to use grab bars cleverly, and incorporate a seat and multiple jets in the shower. And everything is low maintenance.”

Boyd said another important luxury is concealing everything that’s utilitarian, like fans and ventilation. “I don’t want to see how things function, because it takes away from the fantasy. Once we figure out that function, then we can make it beautiful. 

A few other luxury elements that still might not be on most homeowners’ radar include:

  • Private toilet compartment.
  • A heated washlet bidet seat. Chao offers them in almost all bathrooms she designs now. “If the client doesn’t want it now, we still install or rough-in an outlet behind the toilet so they can add it later.”
  • Showers for two, with separate heads, which helps enhance the romance in the space, further boosting its emotional quality.

Chao concluded that technology is certainly a key to luxury bathrooms, “but it’s how you use the technology to create a space that’s unique to the clients’ needs. It’s all about a curated experience for the client.”

NKBA’s Luxury Bath Summit was based on the exclusive 2022 Luxury Bath research report. The report is available for NKBA members to download as part of their annual membership. Non-members may purchase the report for $1,995. Visit NKBA Research to download.

The Luxury Bath Summit is available to watch on demand. Members need to log in to nkba.org and may view at no additional charge; non-members who registered may access the videos as part of their registration fee; other non-members may purchase the video package for $99. Click here for more.