A bathroom is one of the most complex rooms in any house.
It is home to shower, tub, sink, toilet, perhaps a bidet, as well as faucets, storage, medicine cabinet, mirrors, lighting, fan, towel bars and heat lamps.
That’s a lot to get into one room, and the list goes on.
Such rooms have to be sparkling clean, well organized and highly functional, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be gorgeous too.
Here are some of our favourites, photographed in the past year, and loaded with imagination and style.
A whole lot of creativity is being poured into bathrooms these days, and the trend has completely transformed these once predictable and pedestrian rooms.
Bathrooms today often include a television, free-standing tub, fireplace, roomy walk-in shower with bench, steam room, perhaps even an infrared sauna, skylights, antique armoire or appealing chaise lounge.
And while some are filled with pale aqua colour notes and masses of cool and serene-looking surfaces, others have a nightclub vibe with dark espresso walls and hidden speakers.
Large and small, bathrooms are a challenge for designers and homeowners alike who aim to fit in all the basics, but also want to have a little fun and fantasy on tap.
Lighting is a primary focus and whether or not there’s an opportunity for skylights, many opt for multiple sources of light from sconces, ceiling fixtures and valances — all on dimmers.
Experts say lighting either side of a mirror is best for makeup or shaving, as double lights illuminate both sides of the face, and don’t add shadows (and years) the way overhead lights can do.
Vanity flair is another focus.
Old fashioned or antique furniture adds a continental look to the bathing room, whether it’s sideboards, armoires, bureaus or chests — perhaps with a vessel sink atop. And higher counters are a boon to taller homeowners or anyone tired of stooping to wash or shave.
A classic sideboard adds old world ambience, not to mention drawers for linens, and if it happens to have glass-fronted shelves above, this is a perfect spot for toiletries and other attractive items.
Many owners of today’s minimalist bathrooms store rolled towels on open shelves, which is practical, handy and gives the room a spa-like look.
Storing cosmetics and pharmaceuticals in a creative and safe way is one of the key features of any bathroom.
Some of the newest cabinets have integrated lighting, built-in electrical outlets and mirrors that defog automatically. Other mirrored models are fitted with safety locks and small refrigeration units for longer storage of meds or makeup.
Those concerned about aging in place are installing barrier-free thresholds for showers, and mirrors that tilt, so they are practical for those in wheelchairs. Grab bars don’t have to look institutional and can double as towel holders.
The powder room is a potential jewel box where owners can go a little wild without spending too much money. It’s a place to experiment and have fun, to splurge on a special mirror or chandelier, to mirror a whole wall or wallpaper everything including the door and ceiling.
With a little high-gloss paint, vessel sink, fancy fixtures, ornate taps and marble accents, this small space can look like a richly furnished room. Some designers suggest using glass shelves for fancy bottles of scent or salts, and fitting them across a window if the view is less than exciting.
In a space-challenged area such as a powder room, a single curtain, swagged to one side over a window is smarter-looking than two — and dark-coloured paint is your friend if the room is squeezed into a corner, attic or tucked under a staircase. It helps camouflage irregular walls, rooflines and odd angles. Whatever your taste, experts remind us that fixtures in a bathroom are not easily changed, so this is not where you want to be too trendy.
Go for classic pieces in neutral colours, and set them off with bold paint, wallpapers or accessories. Colourful towels and bright bath mats, pretty toiletries and flowers are easily changed with the seasons.