Natural Beauty

It was poet John Keats who said “What the imagination seizes as beauty must be truth.” Those words endure – particularly with regard to master bath suites, which frequently call for a balance of vision and understanding from designers in order to create true spa-like retreats.

Indeed, it’s often a mixture of consumer fancy and design ingenuity that requires a designer to think outside the box or – with regard to space and storage constraints – inside the box, especially with remodel projects.

Jennifer Owen, designer for Kitchen & Bath Cottage in Shreveport, LA, notes: “Clients want products that will reflect their personal style, meet their needs and remain stylish.”

In keeping with this idea, designs for master suites are going organic, with customers displaying a growing interest in natural materials, such as stone slabs, travertine on vanity surfaces and tub surrounds, and marble tile floors.

Charlie Allen, founder of Charlie Allen Restoration in Cambridge, MA, explains: “We’re seeing an increase in products that bring natural outdoor feelings into the bathroom, including rain showerheads and natural stone floors and countertops. We’re seeing a lot of limestone and marble, as opposed to manufactured products. Clients are drawn to ‘natural’ design elements.”
Design styles range from traditional to clean and contemporary. A combination of both provides a touch of transitional eclecticism.

Jean Zinner, ASID, CID of JAZ Designs, Inc. in Santa Monica, CA, notes: “The design of the master bath depends on the overall look of the house, and the design themes tend to be mixtures of traditional and contemporary.”

Surely many high-end clients have their own ideas of the perfect bath environment. Some find inspiration during vacations spent in exotic locations and posh hotels, says Stuart Harle, allied member ASID of Tulsa, OK-based Showcase Kitchens and Baths, Inc.

“Our clients are high-end and travel a great deal, and they stay in five-star resorts. As a result, they have seen many things,” he explains.

Even if clients can’t find the time for across-the-world jaunts, they can still enjoy the same amenities in their master baths, says Pamela Durkin, ASID of Naples, FL-based New Line Design, Inc. “Everyone wants their bath to feel like they have gone to an expensive getaway at their favorite spa,” she says.

Regardless of the design influences, Owen believes that clients have one thing in common when it comes to creating their dream master bath – “to simplify their day-to-day activities.” She believes that integrated products for the bathroom help achieve that goal.

Durkin concludes: “Even the smallest detail needs to work with everything else. It’s a balancing act between the colors, textures and materials. That’s what keeps the space interesting.”

Water Everywhere

Water serves as the life force for any master bath project, so the most frequent challenge facing designers is how to use water to maximize the spa experience.

“We’re seeing a lot of overhead rain showers, as well as wall-mounted thermostatic valves with volume control or transfer control,” says Michael Boyette, CKD, president of Boyette Kitchens and Baths in Bloomfield, NJ.

“Steam jets are also being added to showers. Raising the height of the stall to the ceiling and adding transom windows creates the steam function that is desired,” states Allen.

Boyette adds: “If the space allows, consumers are opting for a whirlpool or steam unit and spending money on the heavy series glass enclosures. Showers feature more glass than tile.”

Susan Palmquist, CKD and co-owner of Minneapolis, MN-based Sawhill Custom Kitchens & Design, Inc., notes that her firm is seeing more requests for steam showers as well, along with ceiling-mounted showerheads and handhelds.

Harle notes that multiple showerheads, much larger showers, walk-through showers and showers without doors are very popular.