One of the things I love about the residential remodeling business is that every home and every client is unique. This means that with each new project, we accept new challenges that help us evolve – we are constantly evolving to meet the needs of our clients. In the history of our business, and residential design in general, nothing has evolved nearly as much as our love for custom showers. Often, as we discuss the remodel of a master bathroom, we hear a common phrase over and over, which is, “we almost never use our tub.” Ironically, it’s the unused tub that takes up the most usable space in a bathroom. Sometime in the 1980s, it became fashionable to have a large drop-in tub, frame an even larger deck to support it, and then design the rest of the bathroom around it with whatever space was leftover. The shower was often cinched in the process, creating a space that got smaller and smaller, eventually feeling more like a phone booth.
Otherwise, if there was space for a larger shower, it became a dark cavernous space surrounded by walls covered in tile. Neither option seems acceptable. Today, we design and remodel bathrooms in a way that gives due respect to the shower. After all, it’s the one room in your home that you’ll use nearly every day. It needs to be comfortable and inviting instead of cramped and dark. There are many great products and design ideas in the marketplace that you can incorporate to customize your modern-day shower.
Here are some suggestions to help you decide:
Recessed Storage Niches Tucked into the wall, these keep the soap and hair products out of the way and your shower looking neat.
Frameless Glass This surround creates a crisp and clean enclosure that looks great and is easy to maintain.
Multiple Shower Functions You could plumb your shower to feel like a car wash with a whole suite of sprayers, but at a minimum a separate hand-held showerhead is handy when cleaning, sitting, or shaving your legs. If you plan to use it as a second showerhead, it can be installed on an adjustable slide bar. If you’ll use it in your hand, a simple bracket works just as well.
Thermostatic Shower Controls If finding the perfect temperature for the water each time feels like a hassle, consider a thermostatic shower system. A thermostatic system has one valve that only controls the temperature, so you can find the perfect temperature and lock it in. Each showerhead has a separate volume control allowing you to customize your shower experience as needed.
Bench Seating or Foot Props This feature will “give you a leg up” in your shower design and benches are great for those that have trouble standing or just want to relax. A bench seat is highly recommended for universal design.
Steam Generator This creates the ultimate “in-home-spa” experience, especially when combined with bench seating.
Curb-Free Base Essential for a barrier-free or walk-in shower design, this is another great feature for those who plan to age in their forever home.
Brad Little is the President of Case Design/Remodeling of Charlotte and has been leading a team of award winning designers and craftsmen since 2005. to view more of their projects and schedule a free consultation visit www.CaseCharlotte.com or call 704-759-3920.