Stunning bathrooms can be one of the most important selling points of a home. If you’re designing and building your own home, you’ll be able to design bathrooms to perfectly meet your family’s needs and tastes. Here are a few tips to help make all your new custom home’s bathrooms stylish and pleasant to use.
Wide Open Spaces
For your master bath, the most popular layout right now is to have a bath or soaking tub that is separate from a walk-in or spa shower. Most couples prefer dual vanities or one large vanity area with separate sinks and counter space; think about incorporating sitting areas as well for comfort while styling makeup or hair. Open spaces are currently favored over closing each bathroom component off in its own little room; glass dividers can help keep things separate yet open and airy. Include plenty of storage in your bathroom’s layout, utilizing nooks, cabinets, and built-ins subtly tucked where they are needed to supplement (or replace) traditional storage options like a vanity or medicine cabinets.
Countertops and Fixtures: Reclaimed & Repurposed
Today’s bathrooms are worlds away from the sterile, pastel-tiled monstrosities found in many older homes. A cool new trend is to “upcycle” or repurpose existing pieces of furniture into vanities or dressing tables. This can help bring a warm, cozy look to your bathroom. Using vintage fixtures that are more traditionally suited for more public home spaces, like chandeliers or candelabra, can lend an unexpected upscale touch. Pairing one-of-a-kind reclaimed finds with sleek marble, quartz, and wood finishes is a modern way to give your bathrooms character. Don’t forget the walls! Feature walls made of repurposed wood, reclaimed shiplap, brightly colored vintage tile, and other accents can add interest to small bathroom spaces.
Sleek & Contemporary
If your tastes run more towards crisp and clean lines than rustic antiques, stick to your style! Using similar materials throughout your home helps tie it all together, especially in ranch homes. Quartz, marble, and subway tile that matches the kitchen counters, backsplashes, and living room fireplaces is a subtle, stylish touch. Tiling the entire bathroom from floor to ceiling (in complimentary tile styles and colors) gives the room a clean, modern look. For a cozier look that’s still very sleek, tile the entire walk-in shower area (rather than using a drop-in shower pan or surround). Using undermount sinks helps maintain clean, uninterrupted lines; add pops of color to clean grey and white palettes using tile accents, textiles, and unexpected touches like drawer interiors. Statement fixtures like a contemporary chandelier over the bath or a sculptural standalone tub can add character and interest without seeming busy or fussy.
Up, Down, and All Around
Because bathrooms tend to be relatively small, you can often spend more money per square foot on your flooring material and other custom touches. Think about how your flooring will stand up to the moisture of any environment that has a bath or shower. In a master bath, think about installing floor warming cables to prevent cold feet. Modern flooring trends for bathrooms still lean strongly toward various styles of tile, including ultramodern cement tile, timeless marble or slate, and traditional ceramic materials. Warm hardwood-look laminate styles and low-maintenance bamboo are also great choices. Small bathroom areas are the perfect places to add expensive custom touches like hand-turned woodworking, handpainted wallpaper, and custom tilework that may be outside your budget in bigger areas of your home. Plus, a statement piece like an antique mirror, art piece, or lighting fixture that might get lost in the rest of your home’s design can really be celebrated in a more intimate bathroom space.
If you’re ready to begin designing the bathrooms of your dreams (and the home to go around them), contact Homes by Brill custom builders today! We’ve built over 500 homes in the Des Moines area, including the surrounding towns of Johnston, Waukee, Ankeny, Altoona, and Urbandale. Learn more about how we can help you get started and find land and check out our gallery for some more ideas.
Call us or contact us online to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation today.
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