Ten tips for bath design.

When you are planning a bath remodel, consider using one of these ten ideas to customize your design:

1) Use glass.  Adding walls or shower enclosures of glass will open the space.Whether you use standard glass, glass blocks, an obscure glass, or custom privacy glass, the results will be fantastic.

2) Add legs. Instead of placing cabinets on linear toe kicks, use furniture style legs. To avoid dust from gathering underneath, use that toe kick but back it off so it's not readily visible.

3) Teak it up. Teak is a favorite material for bathrooms with its natural water resistance.  How about a teak fold-down bench?  A shower mat?  The shower floor? 

4) Upscale.  Bathing or showering as a couple can be practical as well as romantic. Increase the size of your walk-in shower or spa tub for function and enjoyment.

5) Think commercial.  Although many commercial fixtures are now made for residential use, products like Infinity drains, hands free faucets and auto-flush toilets are sleek and very functional. An added bonus is durability and eco-friendliness.

Adding curves and a platform creates drama.

6) Go curvy.  With many bathrooms being strictly linear, the addition of curves imparts softness and interest. How about a platform for the spa tub? The edges of the vanities? With more space you can design a curved shower enclosure.

7) Buy local.  Adding to the sustainability and the beauty of your bathroom, is to use products found locally. Stone from quarries, wood harvested in the area, and other finish materials or fixtures crafted locally are more customized for you, and may add resale value later... the costs may be more competitive for local customers.

8) Define the spaces.  Rather than set all of the fixtures and cabinets onto a uniform floor, if you have the space, delineate it with meandering tile designs leading towards each functional area.  Doing so adds artistry, accentuates cabinetry, defines functional areas (wet-dry) and even allows for more creative use of surface materials.

9) Take it outside. With a second home that is used seasonally, try creating an outdoor shower or soak tub area in lieu of a hot tub.  Using materials designed to withstand weather changes, you can expand your home and capture the essence of the surrounding environment.

10) Add detail. Use the architectural details of your home or the style you have created in other spaces. Use wrought iron in lieu of chrome for shower doors and decorative details on doors and walls, use quarter -sawn oak to create block legs or a platform for the tub in a Craftsman home. Have a Tuscan home? Use terracotta and colorful ceramic tiles in the shower to bring the flavor of the Italian countryside into your bath.