The Luxury Bathroom 101
Bathroom remodeling is a personal venture and whether you are remodeling or building anew, it should reflect your style and your lifestyle. But before getting started, you should ask yourself if you are remodeling in order to make your bathroom a dream sanctuary or because you just want to increase the resale value of your home. If you are thinking along the lines of upgrading your house for resale you need to stay within the guidelines of what your area market will bear. In that case you will need to see what other homes in your area are showing and keep the improvements to visible changes that will look good but not price you out of the market.
If you want to create your very own haven, the sky is the limit. Regardless, you will want to evaluate your own personal priorities. Are you thinking about more room, more light, accessibility issues or luxury features that will make your bathroom a soothing retreat? “At home spas” are the latest trend in bathroom designs. This is where you are talking about steam showers, oversized showers with multiple body jets, hydro walls, exercise areas, soaking tubs, whirlpool tubs, heated floors, heated robe racks, towel warmers, and the like.
Most high-end homes feature large bathrooms with plenty of room for two. These larger rooms have the space to include luxurious amenities such as double vanities, separate showers, oversized tubs, whirlpools or soaking tubs and even an enclosed toilet. Dreaming about a luxurious bathroom and actually having the space to include all of the amenities that you want are two different things.
If you live in a standard sized house, especially one that was built decades--or even centuries--agao, this probably isn’t an option unless you start thinking about removing a wall or two. Knocking down walls and building additions isn't always practical though, especially if you are trying to remain true to a home's historical character.
If you are stuck with the space as it is, and there is no way to expand it, make the most of every square inch. A small bathroom can look nice with the addition of luxurious wall papers, ornate cabinetry and marble countertops, but if you are dreaming about a home spa you are going to have to consult an architect for recommendations and professional help.
The bath today is less utilitarian (if you're old enough, you may remember the days before real bathrooms, where you just jumped in a tub in the middle of the kitchen floor) and more of a room to retreat too. Bathroom fixture manufacturers are banking on the fact that more and more people are looking for ways to create a little self indulgence in the comfort of their own homes. For many years the standard bathroom was five feet by eight feet. Today, the norm has grown to 10 by 15 or 20 feet and this is the space you're working with, it will give you a little more leeway when it comes to creating the bathroom of your dreams.
Statistics show that bathroom and kitchen remodeling are at the top of the list when if comes to home improvements. There are many interesting products coming to the market that are begging to come to your attention. Close your eyes and think about whirlpool tubs, air-jet tubs, walk-in showers, multi-featured shower heads, steam immersion showers and shower towers, frosted enclosures, or even decorative grab bars, beautiful faucets, lighted mirrors, tanning lamps, toilet enclosures and everything else that you can think of. Manufacturers suggest that if you don’t have enough money to create your “spa” all at once, buy pieces one at a time. Anything that is added in good taste and which enhances the spa feeling in the bathroom is likely to add value to your home.
Further Reading: Your Dream Bathroom: Stylish Solutions for the Home
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