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The latest in luxury bathroom design, from bidet toilet seats to designer lighting, heated floors to deep soaking bathtubs, showers and skylights
Published June 26, 2024 • Last updated 26 minutes ago • 3 minute read
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When it comes to renovating their bathrooms, Lima Martinez says people are looking for a luxury, hotel-like experience. Photo courtesy of Lima Martinez Design
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Bathroom design and remodeling is trending upscale, says Vancouver-based interior designer Lima Martinez of Lima Martinez Design. Postmedia caught up with Martinez to learn more about the shift.
Rising costs drive demand for the perfect bathroom makeover
Martinez said bathroom renovations are now more expensive than they would have been before the pandemic: Before 2020, a bathroom renovation would have cost around $20,000 to $25,000, but now it's $30,000 to $35,000, he said. If there's water damage or asbestos issues, the cost can be even higher.
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Martinez added that rising costs mean customers, especially wealthy ones, are keen to have everything perfect and are willing to splurge on high-end elements.
Designer lighting is a trend in bathroom design. Photo by Rima Martinez Design.
Premium elements and extravagant features
Some of the luxury amenities people choose for their bathrooms, Martinez said, include bidet toilet seats and designer lighting from brands like Bocci. She and her team use multiple levels of lighting, including pot lights, LED lighting and sensor-activated “occupancy lighting” for the master bedroom.
“So when you go to the bathroom at night, just a small light under the vanity comes on, rather than the whole bathroom,” she says of the growing number of sensor-activated lights.
Other luxury features, Martinez said, include heated floors, heated towel rails, steam and rain showers and deep soaking tubs. “Some of it is beautiful. The Kohler has a beautiful overflowing bathtub. It's crazy expensive, like $38,000, but it's amazing,” she said.
Functionality and style
Designers point out that bathroom design has changed dramatically over the past decade, with clients now looking for sleekness and functionality in their bathrooms. Docking drawers are a great idea, as they provide a place to store all your accessories, like hairdryers and straighteners. And ample storage is a must, especially in smaller bathrooms like those found in condos and townhouses.
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Bathroom design is becoming very personal, says interior designer Lima Martinez. Photo courtesy of Lima Martinez Design
Bathroom extension
Martinez says that, especially if it's a master bathroom, don't be afraid to take away some square footage from an adjacent room or closet to increase the bathroom's size. She suggests using a screen or wall to separate the toilet from the rest of the bathroom as much as possible to give people a little more privacy. “Ideally, put the toilet in a separate room.”
Modern farmhouses are a big trend
Martinez says people are making more personal choices when it comes to choosing colors, textures and styles for their bathrooms and their homes overall.
“Since the pandemic, I think people are moving away from trends and toward personal preference,” she says, adding that this probably has to do with people renovating their homes to live in rather than reselling. She thinks that's due to current interest rates and the state of the economy. “You have to adapt to it and learn to love it,” she says.
Midcentury modern lovers are going for a '60s or '70s vibe — greenery and dark woods — while others are drawn to the modern farmhouse look, Martinez says. “It's a big trend: modern farmhouse.”
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When people renovate their bathrooms, they're looking for functionality (plus tons of storage) and sophistication, says interior designer Lima Martinez. Photo: Lima Martinez Design
Changing color palette
Neutral colors like cream, beige and gray blends are popular paint choices for luxury bathrooms, Martinez said, adding that after nearly a decade of “everything gray,” gray is all but gone. “Thank goodness!” she says.
Besides neutral colours, “neutral colours using natural wood and stone are still in use, but some people are drawn to the Japanese style of black and white,” she says.
Nature Lovers
Martinez says a lot of people seem to be really drawn to nature right now, and she notes that “biophilic phenomena” are becoming more prevalent in bathrooms, including textures, plaster walls and the use of liquid cement on walls and shower floors.
Have fun in your powder room
Powder rooms are a great place to have fun and be creative, Martinez says. Because it's not a room people typically spend a lot of time in, you have the opportunity to experiment with bright colors, fun patterns, and wild wallpapers.
A skylight over a shower is the height of luxury, says interior designer Lima Martinez. Photo: Lima Martinez Design
High-maintenance material
Natural stone, marble, quartzite, granite and other natural stones are beautiful but expensive and high maintenance, requiring annual sealing to keep them looking their best, but Martinez says, “It's definitely worth it. I have marble in my own home.”
locally grown
If you're looking for sustainable, eco-friendly materials for your eco-friendly bathroom, look for locally sourced stone such as Vancouver Island marble, low- or zero-VOC paints like Farrow & Ball, and solid wood trim and moldings, says Martinez.
What are your tips for renovating a bathroom?
“Having a skylight in the shower is always a great luxury,” Martinez says.
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