The bath, like a spa, is a space devoted to making you feel something. In the morning it’s where you realign yourself for the coming day; during evenings or weekends perhaps it’s where you go to be cradled by a giant tub full of hot, scented water and to shed your stress. Peace of mind is quite a valuable thing, and if you can get it by self-pampering, you probably should.
Particularly in our own highly charged metropolitan area, where so much time is spent coming and going and goal-chasing, there seems an earnest need for relief at home. As an expression of that, we’re seeing people transform their baths into rather exotic and expansive destinations. In the bath we’re seeing an emphasis on neutral tones as well as sea blues and greens, fabulous interplay of classic materials with clean modern forms, and a primary sense of warmth and elegance.
Custom Touches
“The last time people put this much effort into bathing was [the time of] the Romans,” says Stephen Paul, president of Mid-Atlantic Builders, who continues that bathing has become a veritable experience for people these days. Often people buy homes because they’re in love with the kitchen and bath designs, as these spaces are usually the costliest and most difficult to remodel. So his company implements semi-custom spa-style baths that create an atmosphere of relaxation on a grand scale. In one model a bedroom suite connects to the bath suite that includes a powder room, a dressing area, and an enormous columnal shower that easily accommodates two.
In some of Mid-Atlantic’s baths, bay windows are placed above bathtubs high enough for privacy but large and close enough to the tub that the bather can catch some sunlight streaming indoors. Strategically placed panels of textured glass block are used as a way to filter in light and retain privacy. Tiles, wall coverings, and fixtures can be selected and upgraded based on the buyer’s preferences. One bath, shown right, is almost entirely surfaced in dramatically veined Emperador Dark marble.
Finding Serenity
“The only thing that really matters in the bath is how it makes you feel,” says Barbara Sallick, co-founder of Waterworks. “It has little to do with the size of the room or the budget and everything to do with whether you leave feeling rejuvenated.” If that’s so, it takes a bit of self-awareness to design something ideal, and the ability to reject fashionable trends that simply don’t work for your lifestyle or personality. It’s an emphatically personal space, and it should reflect you.
Magical Thinking
Coming up with a true private retreat can be a challenge. The transcendent commercial spas in the world often employ a small amount of the fantastic, as shown in the bath opposite for a Kohler Co. show house this spring. Think of the unforgettable places you’ve been and how they made you feel – a wall of glass, a view of treetops, a room bathed in cool, soothing blues, a shower that directs water from all sides. Get thinking, get creative, and get to making the most private space in the home one where you can sit and soak away all your cares. ws
