QUITE OFTEN PEOPLE start with the rooms that people spend the most time in and the living room and kitchen are the most popular. However, the bathroom, whether it’s the main bathroom or the ensuite, is a very important room as well. The look of the main bathroom is important because this is the one that guests will see, and the design of the ensuite is important because this is the one that the homeowner will quite often use every day. One of the places that people like to go to find out what makes a bathroom beautiful is the nearest show home.

Julie Punter is a designer with Homes by Avi, and has been working with the company for four years now. She has made countless showhome bathrooms beautiful and over the years she has followed the trends in decorating and design. When it comes to decorating these show home bathrooms Julies says that although it is dependant upon the house, she shops for accessories based on colours drawn from the master bedroom. She says that things like towels, spa-type trays, soaps and such, make a bathroom feel more inviting.

However, it’s not just the accessories that make a bathroom special. In the new Evergreen Estates show home, the Springbank, the bathroom faucets and sinks throughout the home are very distinct and very attractive. The bathroom faucets are all made by Kohler, and add a touch of elegance to each bathroom.

“Primarily we went with Kohler because it was a very sleek line that they offered,” says Julie. We used it in the Springbank because it’s an estate area and we wanted to display an upper-end product.” The sinks used throughout the home are a basin-bowel style that sit above the cabinets and create a very unique look. “We are still seeing a lot of the spa bathrooms with basins and with cabinetry that looks like pieces of furniture,” says Julie. “People want bathrooms that are a place to retreat to.” This spa-style bathroom includes deeper and more luxurious tubs that you can relax in and soak away all the stresses of the day. 

Kal Macdonald, part of the design team with Shane Homes, agrees that spa-type features are becoming more popular. “Steam showers in shower enclosure units are becoming more popular,” says Kal. “Vessel sinks on top of the counters are also really popular right now, and free standing furniture as opposed to the traditional bathroom cabinets.” Kal says that another style trend seems to be altering the height of the countertops. “We’ve been seeing a lot of vanities with higher countertop profiles,” he says. “This means that sinks can be used without the need to hunch over.” He also says that warmer and darker colours are being used more and more, getting away from the traditional all-white bathroom.

As well, he mentions that lighting has become quite an important feature in the bathroom. “Mood lighting over the tub is becoming more popular,” says Kal “People want good quality lighting in the bathroom so that they look good when they look in the mirror.” According to Kal, another trend that is evolving is the use of different styles of wall-tiles. Much of the newer bathrooms include a great deal of tile, especially surrounding the tub and vanities. “Right now we are seeing the larger format 18 inch x 18 inch tiles becoming more popular. As well, the use of the tiny mosaic glass tiles add a little sparkle and come in many colours and finishes such as opalescent and iridescent,” says Kal.

With the busy lifestyles today, this spa-style bathroom trend reflects the need for homeowners to be able to relax and enjoy their time at home, and as with any other room in a home, the designs follow trends and current lifestyles. It’s rare to find a new home with only one bathroom, whether it’s an estate home or a starter home, and even those homes that are single bathroom homes offer rough-ins for future plans. Bathrooms aren’t just functional rooms in homes now-a-days. Now they are extensions of the complete home and as such, are just as attractive and well-accessorized as the rest of the home.

There are various stores boutiques and shops that either carry or specialize in such accessories, and so creating your own beautiful bathroom can be as enjoyable as relaxing in your jetted soaker tub. Big-name stores such as Linens and Things and Home Outfitters are good places to browse, and of course big department stores always have a bed and bathroom section. The secret is to get an idea of what you want, and like decorating the rest of your home, incorporate your personality and colours to create a bathroom that suits you.

Julie says that seeing as she does about 30 show homes a year, when she is shopping for a lot of the smaller accessories she typically goes to HomeSense, Home Outfitters and Linens and Things; depending on what she is looking for. As well, she has found items from Pier One, Home Evolution and even Michael’s, which have helped her put the finishing touches on some beautiful showhome bathrooms. Of course the phone book is filled with many great places that offer unique items and ideas. If you don’t have your own interior designer or decorator, these places will help get you started on the road to a beautiful bathroom. If you are building a new home, most companies offers the services of professionals to help you create the look you want.

After all, why should all the beautiful bathrooms be found only in show homes and magazines, when you can have your very own beautiful bathroom at home.   NL