They Know Bathrooms

"I'll go to a National Kitchen & Bath Association meeting, and there will be three bathroom designers and 150 kitchen designers there," says Carolyn Thomas of Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Baths.

It's a now-common complaint in the home-design community: the disappearance of bathroom designers.

"Bathrooms require more man-hours, more handholding, more attention to detail than kitchens, but they don't necessarily bring in more money," says Thomas, who explains that while kitchen design revolves primarily around cabinetry, bathrooms require labor-intensive design around plumbing.

Many certified kitchen-and-bath designers also complain that bathroom remodels are formulaic and leave little room for creativity. As a result, a lot of companies that used to design kitchens and baths have changed their focus to just kitchens.

Although it can be hard to find a bathroom designer, it is not impossible-the firms listed here all have dedicated bathroom designers on staff and will take on bathroom-only projects.

These firms can guide you through an entire renovation. They will draw up a plan and do the construction with either their own employees or subcontractors. Designers can help you choose tubs, showers, sinks, faucets, flooring, and decorative hardware.

It's useful to look at a firm's Web site before making an appointment. You'll often find photos of its work and lists of products it carries. Always check references before signing on the dotted line. The National Kitchen & Bath Association certifies bathroom designers; certification is a good indication of credibility.

To come up with our list of good bathroom designers, we talked to homebuilders, architects, and other industry experts as well as customers. Not listed here are architecture and design/build firms that do bathrooms usually only as part of a larger project like a master-suite addition. If you are planning a project larger than a bath, see our August 2006 list of top architects and remodelers on Washingtonian.com.

If a designer or contractor isn't listed here, that doesn't mean the firm doesn't do good work. Even being listed does not mean it will be right for you. Designers are usually happy to provide other referrals. Consider this list a starting point.

Although this list focuses on local, independent bathroom-design companies, keep in mind that superstores such as Expo Design Center, Home Depot, Lowe's, and the Great Indoors also offer design help. Many of the bath designers listed here recommend those chains as good places for ideas.

Bath & Kitchen Creations, 43671 Trade Center Pl., Suite 112, Sterling; 703-996-8600; bathandkitchencreations.com. This family-owned design/build firm has three bath designers and handles lots of traditional bathrooms. Owner Bob Clements says it can work within existing walls to make a bathroom seem larger. Common techniques include installing large mirrors behind vanities, using glass-enclosed showers, or adding windows and other sources of natural light.

Dee David & Co., by appointment, Falls Church; 703-560-6601; deedavidandco.com. Dee David has more than 30 years' experience and works only in Northern Virginia. She incorporates safety into her designs: "All of my bathrooms get grab bars, and I always recommend materials and surfaces that aren't slippery." Function does not preclude form; David and her two assistant designers have degrees in interior design. Projects have a $20,000 minimum.

Design Solutions, 1598-D Whitehall Rd., Annapolis, 800-894-7349; 218 N. Washington St., Talbot Town Center, Suite 1, Easton, 410-820-6770; dsikitchens.com. Owner Joni Zimmerman has been designing bathrooms for almost 30 years. She likes whimsy: She recently outfitted a bathroom with beach furniture. What you won't see: "typical tile that just screams bathroom." Instead, she looks for classic, sophisticated tile.