Bathroom Of The '90s Comes Out Of The Closet

Read article : Bathroom Of The '90s Comes Out Of The Closet

November 14, 1992|By Ava Van De Water, Cox News Service

WEST PALM BEACH — Not since the outhouse moved indoors has the bathroom undergone such revolutionary changes.

Bathrooms have grown from just a necessary room to an enjoyable place where we do everything from soak in the tub to exercise.

Just as kitchens are combining with family rooms to become ''real living rooms,'' the master bathroom is joining forces with the master bedroom and closet to become a dressing/grooming/exercise/relaxation suite.

While nothing tops the sybaritic 1980s master bath that was big enough for a family of four, the paring down mode of the '90s has not affected the bathroom as much as one might think.

Some homeowners, especially those whose children have moved away, are combining a small, fourth bedroom and bath into a huge master bathroom suite.

''The master bath is becoming a personal haven, with whirlpools and steam rooms,'' said Dave Johnson of Jacuzzi Whirlpool Bath. ''It's not unusual to bring people through and show off your bath.''

And in areas where land costs are reasonable, the master bathroom is becoming equal in size to the master bedroom. But rather than being one huge room, the master bathroom is more compartmentalized, says Liz Hogan, editor of Sunset Books, which publishes home improvement books, including Ideas for Great Bathrooms.

Today's master bath suites have separate showers and tubs, his-and-her vanities, dressing rooms and dual walk-in closets. Some even have reading nooks and fireplaces, although the latter is more popular in northern climes.

Manufacturers are boosting the importance of the bath by offering more choice than ever in fixtures and materials. Besides tile, granite and marble are being used extensively in bathrooms. And cabinets come in as many different styles and materials as in the kitchen.

Today's master bathroom includes space for morning rush-hour dressing. It also functions as a retreat at the end of a stressful day. But it is not whirlpool tubs that today's homeowners turn to - it's the ''power shower.'' Accessories include everything from dual shower heads to therapeutic jets.

Whirlpool tubs, which made their mass debut in the late '70s and '80s, are still popular, although most people don't have time to enjoy them.

''Most people still put them (whirlpool tubs) in, even though 90 percent of the people don't use them,'' said Jane Throckmorton of Davis & Warshow, a luxury bathroom products dealer in Jupiter. But people still want the whirlpools because they give an important boost to resale values, Throckmorton added.

The biggest decision in choosing a whirlpool tub is acrylic or cast iron. Acrylic is lighter and offers more shape options. What's more, at $1,600 to $1,800, it's considerably less than the cast iron, which runs $2,400 to $3,200, depending on size and manufacturer.

If you can live without a whirlpool, a 5-foot cast iron tub runs about $250 to $280. But Throckmorton said most people prefer an oversized acrylic tub - a 6-foot tub that runs $800 to $1,000, depending on size, color and manufacturer.

''There is probably $600 to $1,000 difference between an acrylic oversize tub and a whirlpool,'' she said.

If you are remodeling or updating your bath, think white. Just as in the kitchen, all-white fixtures are the rage now.

''People have a tendency to get tired of color,'' Throckmorton said. It's more economical to change wallpaper, paint, towels and shower curtains. Even the colors they are using are neutral, like peach and 'innocent blush,' '' a sort of almond with a pink tint.

If you insist on using color, beware of black, teal, red and navy.

''Any of your dark colors are high-maintenance,'' Throckmorton said. ''They show water spots and dust. The way the water is down here, there's always a lot of spotting.''

If you really want color, consider colored faucets, which are gaining in popularity. Faucets come in mustard yellow, fire-engine red, teal, royal blue - and even simple black or white.

Bathroom size is still important to homeowners, but with the exception of the ''power shower,'' flashy accessories are not. ''In the late '80s, they would put $1,200 faucets in every bath,'' Throckmorton said.