Baths Get Personal

As for surfacing materials in other areas of the bath, natural stone tiles in marble or limestone, and other stone-look tiles also reign supreme with some nods going to engineered stone such as DuPont Zodiaq; composite materials such as Silestone by Cosentino and Caesarstone; solid surfacing; cultured marble; hardwood for floors, and sealed wood for counters, depending on the market, the bath and the designer.

"Overall, I've been seeing a lot of natural material for flooring and wall applications," adds Salerno. "We're doing a lot of tile in master baths, and now we're going to honed natural stones marble and slate floors. We're also doing onyx floors, countertops and shower floors."

FINISHING TOUCHES

As for finishes, the consensus among designers is that brushed nickel is currently the most popular choice. Consumers want it on faucets, fittings and bath accessories in order to give the bath a more uniform look.

"I'm seeing more brushed nickel.... I can't remember the last time I did anything polished," notes Pasqualucci.

"There's a lot less polished," agrees Salerno, who sees brushed brass making inroads.

Hendrick, too, sees more of a range of finishes "I see some brass, a little chrome, and a lot of brushed nickel. Brushed stainless is also quite popular," he counters.

"For faucets, we're doing a lot of brushed nickel, polished nickel and stainless steel," concludes Beall. KBDN