Designers discuss how the bathroom has transformed into a hub of relaxation and the elements that create the new home sanctuary. By Dianne M. Pogoda

 

The bathroom was once a space of pure function, where efficient use of time and effort was paramount. Now, this room — especially the primary bath — has evolved into a personalized retreat where homeowners relish the opportunity to relax and spend extended periods of time.

“How we live in our homes and interact with our space has changed in the past three years. We no longer start the day in a strictly utilitarian way,” said designer, blogger and consultant Susan Brinson, co-founder of House of Brinson in New York’s Hudson Valley. “And the bathroom has changed, too. It has transformed into a place to start and end your day in a more relaxed way.”

Brinson moderated the session “No Longer a Pitstop: The Bathroom’s Changing Role,” part of NKBA’s Luxury Bath Summit, presented in partnership with Cambria and sponsored by House of Rohl. Panelists Christopher Grubb, president of Arch-Interiors Design Group in Beverly Hills, and Shea Pumarejo, CMKBD principal designer at Younique Designs in San Antonio, Tex., described design elements that contribute to the bathroom’s new role.

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“Luxury is not about price,” Grubb began. “It’s about customization and the quality of the experience.”

Pumarejo observed clients are savvier now. They do a lot of research and have an idea of what they want their space to look like. “But it’s rare that they say they want a particular technology or have a well-thought-out storage plan,” she said. “So it’s up to us to figure out the look and the function. For instance, they might know they want a bidet seat for their toilet, but they may not know about installing a warming drawer — typically used in the kitchen — for towels.”

Grubb concurred, adding that his clients want extraordinary surprises, not expected elements they already know about. Among these are customized lighting, special niches or storage just for them, built-in hampers, steam showers, multiple shower heads, body jets … “even whether they want outlets with USB ports for charging devices. We focus on lighting. We install lighting under the toe-kick or cantilevered vanity, and have lighting on motion sensors, so at night they don’t have to light up the whole bathroom. A lot of people don’t think about that.” 

The designers offered a few key elements that create the personalized luxury experience.

  • Taking cues from luxury hotels: lighted mirrors, soft lighting behind a mirror to create a warmer ambient glow and spa-like experience.
  • The curbless shower — also key for aging-in-place.
  • Frameless glass.
  • A heated, angled bench in the shower for more comfortable seating.
  • Wellness factors include shower jets that can be precisely positioned, chromatherapy, steam showers with aromatherapy that can help relieve allergy symptoms.
  • Not frosted glass, but “switch glass” that can be turned on to provide privacy when needed.
  • Natural light wherever possible, or layered lighting to create a natural feeling.
  • Customized organization, slide-outs in cabinets and drawer dividers. “One client wanted a slide-out ironing board in the vanity to touch up shirts in the morning,” said Grubb. Drawers or small cabinets are designed for specific needs, from hair dryers and cosmetic tools to toothbrush or razor chargers and makeup. “I’ve been doing makeup vanities and closets for years,” Pumarejo added. “The things we use every day should be handy, and not a hassle to access. Our medicine cabinets don’t look like medicine cabinets, but are integrated in the cabinetry at eye level to keep them hidden but still convenient.”

“For some clients, it’s about the finishes and the feeling of opulence,” said Pumarejo. “For others, it’s about the experience. Our interview process can be up to three hours, to find out how each person needs the space to function: how do they shave their legs, in shower or tub, do they want a toe niche or do they want to sit on a bench? What are they storing? Do they want separate water closets, sinks, vanities? Some people want separate, private spaces; others want to feel more connected to their significant others.

Grubb concluded, “To me, every project is a luxury project. I ask what their budget is, to find out what they think about luxury, and if it’s not a ‘luxury’ budget, we adjust. We may not be able to do all custom cabinets, or we might need to use clips for glass panels and not build them into the floor. If they’re on a tighter budget, we won’t bring up radiant-floor heating. But we will figure out how to deliver the look that they want.”

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.