“Homeowners now make big psychological, emotional, and financial investments in both their kitchens and baths,” says Ryan Hall, vice-president of marketing for Baywest Homes.

“In recent years, nearly every element of these two rooms has seen upgrades in materials, functionality, features, and performance. Consumers and designers can choose from literally a world of products and finishes to outfit today’s kitchens and baths. That has allowed them to push the design boundaries to create kitchens that are worthy to be the centre of home life and baths that soothe the body as well as the soul.”

What’s new and exciting in Calgary for bathrooms? New Home Living recently toured Calgary show homes and talked to builders, designers and retailers about bathrooms in 2007.

The New Bathroom
“North Americans have decided that we like a private bathroom for ourselves and another bathroom for our guests and children – so without a doubt the attitudes have changed over the years,” says Hall. Some 15 years ago, the bathroom was a practicality rather than the luxurious sanctuary that they have become in 2007. The typical one-bathroom homes from the 1970s and earlier are obsolete, admits Hall. Homes in general are now much larger, more expensive and contain more bells and whistles than ever before. Proportionately, there are more bathrooms in a home, he says, and ensuites have become larger and more luxuriously appointed.

Baywest Homes
Custom builder Baywest Homes sees the client limited only by their imagination and budget. Most of Baywest Homes standard-plan ensuites come with soaker tubs, separate stand-up showers, private water closets (toilet room) and dual his-and-hers vanities. “Dual vanities give couples that bit of extra space in the morning, and we have some floorplans with a master bedroom/ensuite that literally takes up half of the upper floor,” says Hall. Their higher end estate homes feature large luxurious ensuites, adorned with granite countertops, vessel sinks, oversized air and Jacuzzi tubs, shower stalls large enough for two people surrounded in fine tile, and high end plumbing systems that include dual showerheads, water tiles and steamers.

 “Calgarians have an abundance of choice when it comes to bath and plumbing. Many work hard and long hours, spending more time at home then going out all the time, so they envision the ensuite as their personal spa, and will spend extra money to have these creature comforts when they build a new home.” Among the most popular Baywest bathroom features include the larger showers with dual heads and steam capabilities for larger budgets. Air jet tubs are becoming an alternative to the traditional jetted tub as well as vessel-style sinks (sinks that sit above the counter).

Albi Homes
Barb Kelly, director of interior design for Albi Homes, says Calgary consumers are more design savvy and aware of what’s available to them through print media and television. “People want an ensuite bath that has a real spa feeling. They are into luxury products and items. A focus for consumers is putting a lot into the details,” explains Kelly. “Men want a shower, body spray and steam shower. Women prefer a soaker tub and a spa feeling … Albi homes are more classic with timeless finishes.”

When Kelly visited Albi Homes built ten years ago, she noted differences in bathrooms compared to their new Calgary homes today. Now bathroom design at Albi Homes has greater emphasis on cabinetry and tile, different finishes and more options, from like rain-can shower heads to body sprays. “We stay current with what’s on the market,” says Kelly. “Delta (for example) is a standard faucet line we review to see what new products are available.” Increasingly, steam showers and more detailed tile designs are in demand by Calgary homebuyers. Consumers can step up their luxury level from standard to classic by, for example choosing tile surrounding. Light therapy in tubs is a newer, alternative bathroom feature at Albi Homes.

“It’s really about timeless elegance for us. We really want it world class for Albi Homes, world class in design, service and quality,” says Kelly. Her interior design team gets inspired by North American kitchen and bath shows, other home builders, designers and markets across Canada.

“Ensuite baths have a lot more design and details like storage with tower cabinets, for example, for hairspray bottles, to 36-inch vanities,” she says. The comfort-height toilet was more a standard feature in assisted living homes before. Now, in Calgary, Albi Homes has more baby boomers requesting these higher toilet seats for their homes.

Meanwhile, the ensuite morning bar is emerging as an Albi Homes luxury bathroom favourite. “The ensuite morning bar with coffee maker and refrigerator is quite a decadent convenience,” laughs Kelly. “While you are racing to get ready for work, you can have a coffee in the morning. Then after work, you can have champagne chilling waiting for you in the fridge.”

Sabal Crafted Homes
“Today, the trend is more towards the bathroom as a living space. It’s progressed to be an integral part of the home,” says Chris Lu, marketing manager for Sabal Homes. “Before, it used to be a soaker tub was an extravagant upgrade. Now it’s standard.”

He illustrates giving the example of Sabal’s 1,800 to 2,000-square-foot home. The bathroom will have a six-foot soaker tub instead of the formerly standard five-foot tub. While the shower stalls are five feet long, with a water closet, if possible, and double sinks. “It’s more about a lifestyle for a couple,” he adds. Bathrooms are a major selling point for Calgary homes, he says, especially the five-piece bathroom.

“For plumbing, Delta is fantastic with progressive designs. They are more Euro, sleek faucets that fit perfectly with our style,” says Lu. In tubs and showers, he says their rectangular soaker tub and one piece shower is more contemporary. While Sabal favours low-flush toilets and offers several lighting options and sound systems.

What about the influence of Scandinavian design on bathrooms in Sabal Homes? “The bathroom design, (inspired by Scandinavia) is very clean and functional,” he explains. “The vanity stands on its own. The colour is warm white. Natural light is very important so we have a balance of privacy and light by placing a high transom.”

Lu predicts the Calgary market trends of darker cabinetry, air jets and more tiling will continue. “Water conservation will become very big with the great leads in faucet pressures,” he says.

2007 Trends
Recently, Calgary interior designer Reena Sotropa, partner of interior design firm Corea Sotropa, actually designed a morning bar complete with coffee maker, bar sink, refrigerator all cleverly concealed by millwork. Corea Sotropa bathroom designs/renovation project usually range from budgets of $15,000 to $60,000 plus. “The master bathroom isn’t its own island anymore,” says Sotropa. “We’re seeing it as almost a hotel suite with bedroom, bathroom, closet and laundry room. We want to recreate the luxury feeling of a hotel and spa and feel pampered.”

Her firm’s Calgary clients, who are late thirty-somethings  to mid-forty-somethings, prefer transitional style, halfway between traditional and contemporary. She considers their style similar to Canadian House & Home and Canadian interior designer Sarah Richardson, host of “Design Inc.” on HGTV. “People don’t want the starkness and coldness of the ultra contemporary but a little bit of
detail that’s not fussy,” she says.

“When we’re talking about master bathrooms, we usually have luxury in mind with real stone countertops. I can’t remember the last time we used plastic laminate," she says. “We recently had custom silk carpets made for someone’s bathroom!” Sotropa often chooses Kohler, Moen and Grohe for fixtures; Bain Ultra for tubs and showers and Toto for toilets.

She frequents Calgary retailer Empire Kitchen & Bath (http://www.empirekitchenandbath.com ) for its extensive selection and harder-to-finds like a Wawirka bronze sink for an Elbow Park client. They enlisted Corea Sotropa to custom design a traditional craftsmen-style bathroom. Copper is prevalent throughout their client’s bathroom with the $7,000 trough-style sink and a barrel-like Japanese soaking tub.
“Increasingly, bathrooms are more innovative in their designs!,” says Sotropa. “For example, sinks may be set into antique dressers rather than utilizing a modular-built-in approach.”

“The sky’s the limit when it comes to bathrooms in Calgary,” laughs Sotropa. “For one client, we designed a dog shower with its own split door in the mudroom, off the guest bathroom!” NL

The newest 2007 trends in Calgary bathrooms

Sotropa design tips are:
Freestanding Tubs.  Often these tubs are accompanied by more decadent accessories like chandeliers hanging overhead.

Two-way fireplace.  Essentially, this acts as a dividing wall between the master bedroom and bathroom and can be seen from both places.
Antiques and millwork. More and more, antiques as vanities or millwork are being  used to look like furniture.

Sitting areas.  Builders and homeowners are incorporating more sitting areas into bathrooms.
Luxurious step-down showers.  Particularly in new home construction, showers are being designed for homeowners to step down into them.

New fixture finishes.  No longer are home buyers limited to classic chrome and brushed nickel finishes. The latest in finishes is matte gold, brushed and oil-rubbed bronzes.

Plasma TVs.  Wherever plasma TVs can be mounted, homeowners are placing them in their homes. In the bathroom, the TV can be viewed from every angle.

White versus warm tones.  Usually, there are two schools of bathroom colours: Pristine, spa-like whites versus more textured, warm tones.

Jack & Jill bathrooms.  Popular for siblings, these shared ensuite bathrooms are entered from two separate bedrooms.  The joint bathroom often has an enclosed toilet for privacy.