Centuries later, home baths are undergoing a similar, if much more modern, transformation.
The most recent American Institute of Architects home design trends survey notes that home bathrooms are increasing in both space and number. Private baths are the norm for master bedrooms, but even children’s rooms and guest rooms often incorporate their own baths. And those baths are airy and filled with light and ever more luxurious amenities.

And the décor is as elegant as in other rooms in the home, with fine, furniture-styled cabinetry, hand-carved sinks and pedestals, designer faucets and fittings.

“Homeowners enjoy planning for a functional bath at home, featuring all the amenities they have experienced while visiting luxury resorts,” says Jim Butler, president of CCS Cabinetry. He envisions today’s bath as an environment that is not just part of the master bedroom but a “comfortable retreat space of beautiful wood cabinetry, a mini kitchen with refrigerated beverage station, Italian coffee service, unique lighting and access to a private garden, Jacuzzi and pool.” 

Turning Up the Heat

Cleopatra had servants to heat her bath water. We’re accustomed to the hot-water heater, but modern baths heat things up in whole new ways. Kermit Baker, chief economist of the American Institute of Architects, notes, “Upscale products and features are going into bathroom design, with heated floors and towel racks, and even fireplaces becoming more common in homes.” 
    
In fact, those heated floors and towel racks are replacing heat lamps in popularity. Scott Frank, a spokesman for The American Institute of Architects, explains that heated towel racks warm the entire room and floor more gently and may even be more energy-efficient. 

John Smithman of Sarasota’s The Plumbing Place just returned from the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show in Las Vegas, where glass towel warmers were one of the hottest products. “With glass panels between metal side bars, you can look right through it to see the wallpaper or décor,” he says.
   
Smithman says his clients are also adding heated floors, which involve laying a rubber-encased wire mat below the ceramic or marble flooring in order to take the chill off it. “I never thought that would be popular in Florida,” he says, “but I guess people here have the same aversion to cold floors in the middle of the night!”

A Shower of Light

Lisa Klempner, showroom manager for Hill’s Showcase of Designer Plumbing, also attended the recent National Kitchen and Bath Show, where she was amazed at dramatic new glass shower bases. “They’re made of extremely thick glass that infuses light into that one area to brighten up the bathroom,” she says. “It was really impressive.”

One surprising result of the AIA design trends survey: 31 percent of firms reported that the mainstay of a luxury bath—the whirlpool—has lost favor. Scott Frank offers the explanation that “a lot of homeowners have realized that, while whirlpools seem like a good idea, they take up a lot of space and aren’t used as often as they imagined.”

Instead, 63 percent of firms reported increased popularity for multihead showers, those elaborate combinations that offer options from a gentle overhead rainhead to pulsating side massage jets.

Doorless showers have been popular for several years. And now they’re often designed as a couple-sized double shower with two entrances. These double showers often incorporate double rainheads, massage jets, and toe testers near the floorso you can test the temperature before entering.

Furniture-style Elegance

The look of freestanding furniture has moved into the bathroom with quality wood vanities and cabinetry that feature decorative and applied molding compatible with living or family rooms. Adding footed cabinetry with the look of fine furniture lightens the appearance of what used to be a solid block of cabinetry.

Traditional mosaic and decorative tile is still popular. Smithman, however, sees a rise in the contemporary look, with sleek, minimalistic styling. “It used to be in our market, 80 percent were looking for Tuscan traditional,” he says, “but now there’s been a big swing as more people are venturing toward this new typeof style.” 

Along with the emphasis on furniture styling comes the bowl sink. The stone bowl has been extremely popular recently, but newer versions include glass vessels and free-form bowls that appear to be created from nature. 

“We noticed a lot of integrated bowls with countertops in porcelain or glass,” says Klempner. “They’re all one piece. It looks like a pedestal sink but very cool looking.”  Smithman adds, “Copper is everywhere, especially in the bathroom sink. We’re seeing copper, hammered or distressed, antiqued or polished. It’s used as an accent or maybe in a faucet with copper tones.”
Accessibility Rules 

“Aging in place” is a big concern among baby boomers, many of whom have experienced the difficulties of caring for elderly parents. As a result, the step-in tub is primed to take off. New versions incorporate a sealed, latchable door that enables someone to walk in and sit on the integrated seat or wheel themselves in a wheelchair. Adding luxury to practicality, several companies now offer step-in tubs with whirlpool jets or an air bath system. Prices were prohibitive when they began at $12,000 to $15,000, but that’s coming down, with the lowest step-in tubs now starting in the $5,000 to $6,000 range.

Klempner adds that wall-mounted faucets are more popular. “The advantage is that they can be adjusted to any height you choose off the counter and bowl,” he says.

Add Some Pizzazz 
Here are a few of our favorite new products.

1. MCSTEAMY MOOD
The Steamshower by ThermaSol offers a serenity sound and mood light system with shower, high-intensity chromatherapy LED lighting, and high-performance speakers with FM and options for CDs, DVDs, television or just about any audio player device. Lighting includes a changing rainbow effect or a change of colors based on the music beat. 

2. Ooh-la-la
Famed Lalique crystal handles add sparkle to two new lines from THG. The Profil Collection features the elegant crystal as a faceted inset for a traditional look. The contemporary Bambou Faucet fuses straight-lined chrome to dramatic Lalique crystal handles in amber, black or clear. 
 
3. Au naturel
The Stone Forest bathtub is carved from a blue/gray granite boulder for a grotto effect. The company also creates unique sinks carved from natural granite boulders.  
 
4. Soaking wet
Troy Adams created this dramatic, sophisticated design for the Julien product line. The contemporary hand-crafted look results from its stainless steel brushed finish exterior and pewter-finish interior with contoured bench seat.

5. New wave
Elegant pedestals from Stone Forest come in curvaceous, fluid shapes that resemble a flowing wave. Each sculptural form is carved from solid stone. Top it with a matching sink vessel.
 
6. City cool
The Sonia City Collection is a minimalist series of straight lines and graphic elements. Among the designs is this limited-edition Atic Pop bath console with storage shelf, pullout drawer and fireclay basin.