Volume 21, Issue 1 - January 2007

Bigger and Better Bathrooms

Increasingly, homeowners are installing high-end design bathrooms with glass as a key element.

Today’s cutting edge bathroom trends lean toward the contemporary, rather than traditional. Fixtures, sinks, tubs and showers have simple, clean lines, with more modern, highly engineered construction. Contemporary favors high-functioning stainless steel, acrylic, glass and enamel over decorative wood and brass. 

According to Bill Lane, owner of The Glass Works, Wenatchee, Wash., “The bathroom is certainly taking on a new role and function for homeowners today.” Lane, who has been in business for more than 12 years, just completed a 120-square-foot master bathroom addition to his own home with all the amenities, including a custom glass shower enclosure, custom vanity mirror with cut outs for the light fixtures and custom full-length mirror in the large walk-in closet. 

“Nine out of ten rooms we work on involve the bathroom,” Lane says. “The sizes of bathrooms are increasing, as are the number of bathrooms in the home,” he adds. “Not only are room sizes bigger and taller, but so are the showers and mirrors, from floor-to- ceiling in many cases. We are seeing more big vanities with big mirrors and more glass. Standard is going by the wayside and custom is in. Brushed nickel and oil-rubbed bronze are our most requested metal types.” 

Ray Adams, president of Coastal Industries, Jacksonville, Fla., sees increased, quality glass options. “The trend is moving toward heavy glass and ever larger showers,” he states. “The shower door has gone from a utilitarian item to a real focal point of the bath. Homeowners are able to really personalize their enclosures with patterns of glass and finishes that were not available five or ten years ago. Also, the trend is consistent with universal design options (for those aging baby boomers). Glass shower enclosures are particularly useful in this area because they can be manipulated to flat walk-in units, etc.,” he adds. 

Adams also makes the point that it is very common for homeowners to seek first floor master bathrooms. “The trend is moving towards the bath being looked at as a personal sanctuary. Homeowners seeking this space for extended living spaces where they can relax and have time for themselves. They are beginning to spend more time in this area, therefore are spending more money on luxury amenities that make this space complete,” he states. 

According to Mark Carter, branch manager for Agalite Shower Enclosures, a division of Hartung Glass, South Bend, Inc., homeowners are utilizing a wide variety of different metals, colors, glass and textures in their new home construction plans or when remodeling.

He points out that there is an increasing demand for 3/8-inch heavy shower doors and higher shower doors that range in height from 90 to 105 inches. “In terms of metal, brushed nickel and oil-rubbed bronze are very popular choices. We are seeing more clear glass types, ultra clears and crystal (low-iron) glass (satin etched and glue chip) being used. Full-standing showers, hot tubs and fully-enclosed steam rooms are also increasing in bathrooms locally and nationwide,” he adds.

Frameless Designs
“The biggest trend in our area is large walk-in showers with heavy frameless doors,” says Kay Young, owner of All Valley Glass, Rio Grand Valley, Texas. “Customers like the fact that there is very little hardware to maintain and it opens the room to give a broader look at the other features of the room. We get a lot of requests for beveled-edged mirrors and see a wide assortment of decorative ceramic tile and Corian flooring along with fixtures in just about every finish imaginable.” 

Mark Singleton of Desert Star Glass Interiors in St. George, Utah, helps create trendy bathrooms. “We have the luxury of individuals coming into our community from both coasts with money to spend on new homes,” says Singleton, one of the co-owners of this high-end custom glass shop. “Our customers want the best in custom design and function.”

Like other areas of the county, he says that tall, frameless shower doors with heavy [3/8-inch] glass are very popular. “We are designing custom mirrors with unusual shapes. We are seeing an increase in requests for back-painted glass for use in shower walls in lieu of tile, and that plays into the clean, contemporary look that people want their bathroom to reflect. Products that are in high demand are glass-surface protectors and sealers.”

He continues, “The technology we have available today certainly affords us more creativity and options in our work. It’s great to do the fun stuff when customers have the money to spend.” 

Architects' Guide to Glass & Metal
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