Luxurious yet practical options abound for the bath, more
Q. We’ve made a plan to renovate our en-suite bathroom, enlarging it to give it a spa feeling. I’m a bath person — my partner not so much — but we splurged on a freestanding tub. Have you any ideas for making this new space even more special?
A. The idea of a spa bathroom conjures images of calm comfort, a place to indulge in soothing scents and sounds while luxuriating in a bath or shower.
For shower lovers such as your partner, there are multiple sprayers, lighting options, seats and sound systems that deliver the same rejuvenating experience as your soaker tub. Double sinks are a luxury, especially for couples who are heading out of the house at the same time.
A feature that is often overlooked is heated towel bars. Wrapping yourself in a warm towel, especially in cooler months, is a special treat. Heated towel bars are much more common in Europe than in North America, and are often used simultaneously as room heaters. North America has caught on to the idea, though, with companies such as Amba Products ( www.ambaproducts.com) offering a full range of styles and heating types.
Shown here are a pair of Jeeves warmers from Amba that have straight bars with a polished finish. The bars are solid stainless steel, not plated, so there will be no flaking. Jeeves is heated by a thick cable, while other models hold liquid (glycol and water) that’s warmed by a heating element.
Not just for warming towels, certain models double as space heaters. The Solo is a freestanding unit that simply plugs in and can be moved from room to room. The Solo uses dry-element technology and takes only 15 to 20 minutes to heat up. The bars of the unit never get too hot to touch, so it is safe around children. Consider installing a warming rack in the mud room and include a horizontal rack for drying shoes and boots, or hang coats from robe hooks.
Kitchens, family rooms, bedrooms — these warmers enhance any space, not just the bathroom.
For your en-suite spa, a towel-warming rack or two will make a splendid finishing touch.
Q. We are renovating a large bathroom on the main floor of our farmhouse. It gets lots of use, with four kids racing in and out. Have you any ideas to make it practical — but also OK for when company comes?
A. I’m sure you have seen the handsfree faucets in restaurants, airports and other commercial buildings; these faucets are becoming very popular in homes today, too. The sensor technology turns the water on and off, so there is no need to deal with taps.
You will also find battery-operated motion-activated soap dispensers. The hands-free combination stops a lot of germ transfer — and it also helps to keep the sink clean. The kids love it, and they might even wash their hands more often!
Both you and your guests will appreciate the accent on hygiene that these products offer. Look for good-quality sources, such as Delta and Moen, at your kitchen and bath store.
Q. We love the look of the big floor tiles we see on display, but will they work in a small bathroom?
A. You can use 3-foot-by-3-foot floor tiles even in a small bath. Position the tiles so that the full-size tiles are centered and the cut tiles are at the perimeter. This will actually make your bathroom look bigger.