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MODERN
BATHROOM DESIGN |
Like most Americans, we begin and end our days in our bathrooms,
thus a pleasing and functional design is not just a privilege but
also a necessity. Whether you live in the West Village or Westchester,
the bathroom is your home’s haven: oftentimes the only place
where you can shut the door on stressful work situations and chaotic
family life to decompress and wash away the day’s tribulations
with a calming bath or steam shower. The competing needs of American
living present different requirements for different personalities,
making your bathroom one of the most personal and private rooms
in your home. These days, more and more homeowners are finding that
a modern or minimalist design aesthetic can accommodate these needs
without sacrificing style and comfort. In fact, achieving this balance
between functionality and luxury can also be as cost effective as
it is beautiful.
Define Your Bathroom Needs
Of course, your needs are going to be much different if you
own a two-bedroom condo on the Upper East Side or a five-bedroom
Paramus ranch so the most important step in modernizing your space
is to define your needs as accurately as possible.
If your New York City condo is cramped and space is a critical issue,
think about incorporating space-saving furniture and features that
float, such as wall-mounted vanities, wall-mounted faucets, and
even wall-hung toilets. (Some designers have even started hiding
the toilet tank inside stud walls in an effort to free up space.)
Pedestal and console sinks are also an option, because they’re
open underneath and often have shelves or racks. You can then store
common bathroom items in decorative baskets beneath, or even simply
stack towels and linens for easy access.
Clear glass showers doors also eliminate visual barriers, creating
a feeling of airy openness that all homeowners crave. Other clever
designers incorporate innovative elements like custom vanity drawers
that double as towel rods to fully maximize space.
Showers and Bathtubs
The showers or the bathtub is the most important aspect of your
bathroom, and once you’ve accommodated space-saving elements,
you can turn to it. Most of us only associate bathtubs with the
luxurious feeling of a spa, but modern technology provides a wide
variety of sumptuous features to make your showering experience
more blissful. From customizable shower systems like Kohler’s
WaterHaven to an overhead-showering panel that simulates real rain
showers to electronic shower settings that incorporate thermostat
valves and pressure control, your showers need not be humdrum experiences.
In terms of aesthetics, custom and imported tile, sleek modern fixtures
and glass walls all join to make the modern shower a work of art
as well as a warm-water haven.
Baths
Top-end bathtub will allow you to melt away the day’s frustrations
as well as drive up the resale value of your property, especially
if you live in Westchester and Bergen County, where space is less
of an issue. Modern technology has likewise afforded us a wide variety
of innovative and intriguing bathtub options: whether you choose
a drop-in or freestanding tub, a hydrotherapy or whirlpool tub,
an opulent overflowing bath, or a Japanese-style soaker (which is
deeper and shorter than the average bath) investing in such a feature
will offer you and yours hours of stress-relief.
Sinks
A sink is a deceptively simple feature of the modern bathroom, but
it can make or break the whole design gestalt, so choose carefully.
Your choices include: drop-in, console, wall-mounted, corner, pedestal
and under-mounted sinks, among others. For a dramatic look, consider
the vessel sink, which fits on top of a consol or vanity. (You’ll
need either a wall-mounted faucet or one with a long spout to reach
the bowl.) Vessel sinks come in a variety of materials like glass,
porcelain, imported hand-painted ceramic, and hammered metal.
Toilets
The toilets - last, but not least. From traditional to energy-saving
and eco-friendly toilets, there are styles and features to fit every
design sensibility and budget. Many homeowners are also installing
sleek and functional bidets, but if you don’t have room for
both a bidet and a toilet, consider one of the new hybrid toilet
seats that you install onto a preexisting traditional toilet. These
offer bidet functionality along with seat warmers for those bitter
North East winters.
Creating a modern bathroom design can be an exciting and beneficial
process that keeps on giving for years to come. Make sure you spend
time researching your options before settling on a course of action
for making your modern bathroom a reality. Of course, our MyHome
specialists are always on call to help you construct your dreams. |
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