The Grimes' new master bath allows has plenty of natural light, views of their park-like backyard and both a soaking tub and a large shower with a frameless door. .
|
|
New master bath creates luxury at home
 |
|
Tracking the Trends
Looking for the latest in bathroom trends? From HGTV’s popular shows to home decor and do-it-yourself magazines, it’s tough to keep up with the ever-changing line up of design ideas.
We asked Amy Arnett, a designer at Kitchen & Bath Images in Brentwood, to weigh in the area’s hottest styles.
Cool Colors – Whites and off-whites have surpassed browns and beiges, but cool colors such as green and blue are also making a splash in modern design.
“The spa look has emerged as a style unto itself,” Arnett says. “Even in a very traditional home, people are stepping out a little bit in the master bath to embrace clean lines and cool colors.”
Bigger Custom Showers - Giant whirlpool tubs have fallen out of favor, with more and more people opting for custom showers with multiple heads, hingeless/frameless doors and plenty of decorative tile.
“In the past, a large tub was absolutely expected in a master bath. But we’ve seen a lot of clients who are willing to give up their tub in order to expand the shower space.”
Fine Fixtures – Oil-rubbed bronze is giving way to satin and polished nickel finishes for fixtures and lighting, according to the National Kitchen & Bath Association.
“We’re seeing chrome and shiny nickel making a big comeback,” Arnett agrees. “We’re also seeing a lot of matte gold bronze, as opposed to the oil-rubbed bronze.”
Granite Still Rules – Although many national sources are reporting a surge in quartz, granite remains the top choice for bathroom countertops.
“Natural stone, marble and granite are all popular choices – not just for floors but for countertops. Quartz is a nice option for bathrooms because it’s nonporous and easy to maintain. But we still see 85-90 percent of our clients using granite.”
Vessel Sinks/Basins - Under mount sinks remain the dominant choice for most designers, but there’s no denying the appeal of this chic look.
“There’s a lot of talk about vessel sinks, and it is a cool, contemporary look. But we find that it’s more popular in a smaller powder room setting. It’s just not as practical in a master bath, which tends to have taller counters.”
“Trends come and go,” Arnett adds. “But what makes our market unique is that we tend to be a little more consistent. This area is less impressed by keeping up with trends and more interested in going for traditional style and quality.”
|
By AMY STUMPFL
For Brentwood Home Page
As the mother of three young children, luxury spa visits are not exactly the norm for Amy Grimes. But thanks to the recent addition of a gorgeous new master bathroom, she says she often feels like she has stepped into an elegant retreat.
“In our old house, my kids were in our bathroom all the time,” she says with a laugh. “I was so tired of looking at the bath toys, and really wanted to create a prettier, more peaceful space.”
She got her wish last year when she and her husband James bought a traditional, two-story home in Meadowlake with the idea of expanding and renovating the 1964 structure. The Grimes enlisted the help of designer Alyson Sailer, as well as longtime friend and custom builder Justin Davis, to tackle the huge project.
“We started with 3,400 square feet, and once we’re done we’ll have about 5,300,” Grimes says. “We pretty much gutted the downstairs, reconfiguring the space, raising ceilings, moving a staircase and expanding the kitchen. But one of the big things on my list was creating a whole new master suite.”
As much as Grimes longed for that cool, spa-like bath, however, she also recognized the need for practicality.
“We have a huge yard now, which is great. But I was really worried that I wouldn’t be able to see my kids from the bathroom, so windows became a huge priority. We actually designed the whole project around the windows.”
The result is a light-filled oasis that balances both style and function. Shimmering white subway tile is accented with Carrara marble and cool blue walls. The marble floors and countertops, along with furniture-quality custom cabinets offer a nod to Grimes’ traditional tastes. But the sleek lines of the frameless shower door and polished nickel fixtures add a decidedly modern touch.
The much-anticipated wall of energy-efficient Pella windows provides tons of natural light, while plantation shutters maintain privacy. And the tankless water heater ensures hot water on demand.
“I absolutely love it,” Grimes says. “It’s simple, but elegant – even better than I ever imagined.”
One of her favorite features is the huge walk-in shower, with its multiple shower heads, Carrara tile and built-in bench with marble slab.
“One of the first conversations we had was ‘are you a tub person or a shower person,’” Davis says. “There’s no sense in dropping $2,000 on a tub that you’re never going to use. So we decided to go with a basic garden soak tub, and then focus more on the shower.”
Along with such big decisions, however, Davis also contributed thoughtful upgrades and details that Grimes says, “made the space my own.” For example, he included an electrical power strip in one of Grimes’ vanity drawers for necessities like hair dryers and curling irons, freeing up valuable counter space. He also used recessed can lighting over the vanity area to counteract shadows from decorative wall sconces.
“Every step of the way, Justin was there to think of little things like that,” she says. “He has great taste and offered such good advice. If I wasn’t sure about something, I would ask, ‘Is that what you would do with your home?’ And he told me. I absolutely trusted that with each decision, he had our best interests at heart.
“We’ve been friends for years, but I think that level of trust and experience carries through with all of Justin’s clients.”
Email
Print
