Shower
After: Patterned ceramic floor tiles and a sliding glass door give the bathroom a fresh, modern look. Designer Susan Klimala of The Kitchen Studio of Glen Ellyn used black, white and gray for most of the space, and then added in chrome and oak accents. For the tub-shower combo, she chose a chrome barn-door track for the glass door. The change from curtain to glass lets the light from within the showering area shine into the entire room.
After: The refinished tub-shower combo gleams in the bathroom designed by Michelle Ruber of Encircle Design and Build. The design-build firm, which focuses on sustainable work, had the original tub refinished. Not only did that save resources, but it also saved Ruber’s clients money. That allowed them to splurge on these aqua glass tiles. Inside, the family opted to include a shower head on the left side and a handheld sprayer along the back wall. This comes in handy when they bathe their two children. While bathing the kids, the parents can swing open the glass door. When it’s closed, the clear pane gives the room a more open, airy feel.
Their Durability Will Stand the Test of Time With fewer fittings involved in their design than in standard enclosures, walk-in showers are a robust feature that will stand up to years of usage and plenty of wear and tear. No more replacing hinges or door seals that have worn out; a walk-in shower will keep its good looks for a long time.
You’ll also be pleased to know that achieving this designer look doesn’t need to come with a hefty price tag, thanks to the minimal fixtures and fittings required. Fitting a visible tray will bring your costs down as you won’t have the need for extensive waterproofing under the floor, although you’ll still need to tile from floor to ceiling around the tray.
Top 5 Bathroom Trends 1. Curbless Showers “More and more of my clients are concerned with aging in place when renovating their homes,” Alfin says. “Curbless showers are a popular request because they allow you to enter a shower without having to lift your legs over a lip.” A curbless shower also allows wheelchair access as long as the entrance is at least 32 inches wide.
After: A bright and cheery bathroom, designed by Pamela Lin of Urbanism Designs, gives the couple the midcentury modern style they wanted and makes the bathroom feel bigger. Much of that feeling is thanks to the tub-shower combo’s new glass panel. The sheet of glass, which extends 60 percent of the way across the tub, lets light shine through into the showering area and visually takes up less space. The couple opted to use a movable glass panel so that they can easily get their dogs in and out of the tub for a bath. It’s attached to the left wall with two hinges.
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