Tubs, Toilets, and Tiles, Oh My!

Bathrooms today play such an important role in our lives, easing us from day into night and night into day.  That means something different for everyone, but it surely doesn’t mean trying to function in a cramped, dated space with poor lighting.  So, here we offer a few things to think about if you are considering a bathroom remodel.  Updating a bathroom can add value to your home for resale, but don’t wait until then.  You deserve to enjoy the space long before someone else does.

The style of your bath will depend on the style of your home.  Understandably, you may want a spiffier new space, but it still needs to seem to belong to the rest of your home.  This flow can be accomplished largely through colors, materials, and profiles, e.g. more sleek, square, and contemporary vs. more beveled, curved, and ornate. Repetition creates unity and cohesion.

To keep costs down, you will likely want to maintain the existing floorplan.  If pipes are old and need ripped out, however, this would be the ideal time to relocate showers, tubs, toilets, and sinks for a more efficient or attractive layout.

In general, you will want a focal point that is something other than the toilet. And speaking of toilets, the tankless variety can be less obtrusive, though a tank provides a readymade shelf for an attractive tissue box or other necessities.  Beware of colors other than white which quickly look dated.

Pedestal sinks open-up spaces, yet don’t provide storage, though console sinks offer some of the same openness, yet may have a shelf below and a built-in towel rack.  However, if your bathroom is large enough for a tall corner cabinet, or if you store towels, toilet paper, and the like in a hall closet, you may not need a lot of storage.

But, if a vanity is more to your liking, the floating style—rather than those that extend to the floor—offer ample concealed storage, but with a more updated look.  If that is too contemporary for you, a vanity with furniture style feet or legs might be the perfect option.  The wide variety of vessel sinks available today are seductive, but they aren’t always the most practical option, as they tend to have a splash factor, and no one wants to be constantly mopping up water around their sink.  Whatever countertop material you choose, consider repeating it elsewhere as a ledge or shelf.

Framed mirrors above sinks are very popular right now.  A circular or oval mirror can help break up the right angles typically found in bathrooms while complimenting the curves of toilets and tubs.  Though we might tend to think of mirrored medicine cabinets as dated, there are beautiful styles on the market today and nothing provides handier storage.

Floating shelves are nice for displaying decorative objects or for placing necessities within easy reach.  But you will want to make sure the latter is visually appealing which sometimes means decanting body products into attractive containers.

Floor coverings run the gamut—anything but carpet, please(!)—with wood looking and feeling warm and inviting, but tile being somewhat more practical in wet spaces.  If you choose tile, try to find the middle ground between too smooth, which can be slippery, and too textured, which can trap grime.  When choosing a grout, bear in mind that a contrasting tone will emphasize the tile pattern more than the surface.  And darker tones will conceal dirt in between cleanings.

Freestanding soaker tubs are all the rage for the ultimate in relaxation, and some homeowners feel they need both a tub and a shower for resale.  However, if a luxurious new tub will cramp your floorplan, especially if the current residents are not bathers, eighty-six the tub and focus on the perfect shower—perhaps a walk-in style—with plenty of height and elbow room for its tallest and longest-limbed users.  Multiple and rainfall shower heads are yesterday’s news, but they are still desirable today.

Whatever you do, don’t resort to a shower caddy in your new space.  Design a built-in shower niche for shampoo and such and, if you like, create a mini-focal point by covering the back of the niche with a colored or patterned tile.  Perhaps repeat the tile as an accent wall elsewhere, say, behind the tub.  In fact, though tile is a more expensive option than a coat of paint for bathroom walls, it is stylish and highly practical for easy wipe-up of drips and splashes, even just partway up the wall.

Ventilation is critically important to prevent mold and mildew and other unpleasantries.  But a fan also muffles sounds in a bathroom and is highly desirable for “audial privacy” if the bathroom opens off a shared bedroom or a public space.

Lighting in a bathroom could scarcely be more critical to ambiance and function.  The style of lighting can also help the bathroom flow with the rest of your home.  Natural light is lovely in a bathroom, though it can impact privacy.  In that case, your bathroom may be an ideal spot for a skylight.

Choices in manmade lighting abound and, regardless of your choices, consider dimmers.  Recessed lighting is ideal for overall brightness.  For task lighting near the sink, keep in mind that side lighting is the most flattering and casts the least shadows.  Though it is against code to place a chandelier over a tub, a scaled chandelier somewhere in the space can add a hint of elegance.

If we can help you reimagine your bath experience, please don’t hesitate to contact me at chris@vbhomesliving.com.  We love helping our clients make what is old new again.

Virginia Beach native and JMU graduate, Chris Ettel, is founding partner of VB Homes. Ettel serves on the Tidewater Builders Association board of directors and is past chairman of the TBA Remodeler’s Council.