We all dream of that "home spa" feeling—a space to luxuriate in after a long, hectic day or a calm corner to start a busy morning. However, achieving that sense of zen requires a bit of design acrobatics during the design and planning stages.
Because bathrooms are often smaller spaces with specific plumbing and electrical requirements, they require a level of care and attention to detail that other rooms don’t. Striking the perfect balance between a generous walk-in shower, an elegant vanity, and the necessary toilet placement is a study in scale and proportion.
If you are planning a renovation, here is how to navigate the flow of your future sanctuary.
The Shower Sweet Spot:
Showers are such an essential component of an exceptional home spa experience, but sizes are often miscalculated.
A generous shower in a medium-sized bathroom should be at least 34” wide by 50” long. This allows one to stand outside the stream of water without wasting space when square footage is at a minimum. It also leaves ample room for a 24-inch wall niche for your shampoos and soaps.
Don’t let drains be an afterthought. Their location dictates your tile sizes and layout. Considering a suitable drain location and type early in the design process is essential.
Also, consider going curbless. It is not only a sleek, modern aesthetic but also a smart choice for aging in place.
The Door Debate: Hinge vs. Slide:
Shower doors typically need to accommodate other fixtures within the bathroom or adjacent door swings. Oftentimes, frameless sliding doors are necessary for these reasons, but hinging doors tend to have a cleaner aesthetic and are more desirable.
Warmth and Comfort:
Nothing ruins a spa vibe faster than a cold winter morning. Heated floors are a game-changer for family bathrooms. Beyond the luxurious feeling of warmth underfoot, they help keep the space dry, reducing moisture buildup. Although they can increase energy costs, they also offer the benefit of quicker towel drying and warm the whole space. Alternatively, heated towel warmers achieve a similar drying effect without warming the floor tiles. These warmers are also excellent space-saving solutions when wall space for traditional towel bars is limited.
The Vanity Dilemma:
When designing the primary vanity, we all want two sinks. However, careful consideration must be given to usable counter space, storage below, and placement (location) of the sinks along the vanity run. For example, a sink cabinet with drawers typically requires U-shaped cutouts to accommodate the plumbing pipes, limiting what you can store.
We strive for maximum storage in bathroom vanities, but there is often a trade-off when sink cabinets take up what could be functional storage space. Therefore, careful review of sink placement and storage below allows for the best of both worlds.
The "Throne", The “Best Seat” In The House:
And lastly, the necessary toilet. When space allows, we propose a separate toilet room to provide the most comfortable and elevated bathroom experience. This is not always the case, and existing plumbing often dictates where the toilet can be located.
Dalia Nishimori of Studio Nish has been working in the world of interiors since 2004. She has worked with renowned firms such as Gensler and The Wiseman Group in San Francisco. After moving to Lamorinda in 2012 to raise a family, Dalia started her own design studio to work directly with homeowners on kitchen and bath design. Passionate about the perfect marriage of functionality and aesthetics, she adheres to a thorough design process, using detailed floor plans, elevations, and 3D renderings to ensure all elements of the space work for her clients. Richly detailed mood boards ensure smooth communication, enabling her clients to “see” their dream space come to life before making a single purchase. Above all, Dalia is very involved from concept through to completion on all her clients’ projects.
Visit: Studionish.com/
A Checklist for Your Next Remodel
Before you break ground, ask yourself these six questions to ensure your design flows:
- The Shower: What is the ideal threshold and drain placement?
- The Doors: Are they hinging or sliding? What are my space constraints?
- The Climate: Will I regret not having heated floors in December?
- The Towels: Do I have wall space for bars, or is a warmer a better fit?
- The Vanity: Do I prioritize two sinks or more drawer space?
- The Layout: Can I squeeze in a separate water closet?