natural wood tones throughout this lengthy bathroom. Dual vanity with marble backsplash over floating cabinetry places mirrors between lengths of window, while all glass shower takes up end of the room." alt="Sparkling mixture of bright marble and natural wood tones throughout this lengthy bathroom. Dual vanity with marble backsplash over floating cabinetry places mirrors between lengths of window, while all glass shower takes up end of the room." width="1024" height="681" src="src" />
In addition to more baths, today's homes often sport more specialized baths than in the past. Easiest to create in newly constructed homes or additions, specialty baths can also be carved out of unused guest bedrooms, hallways, the space over the garage, or other existing areas. Here are a few of the most-wanted specialty baths.
While many homes can accommodate a master bath adjacent to the master bedroom, a master suite has the bathroom actually incorporated into a section of the overall bedroom area, both enclosed behind a door that leads to the common hallway.
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Large or small, a master suite looks especially spacious and elegant when both the bedroom and the bathroom share a design scheme.
Although the bedroom is largely soft furnishings and the bathroom is mostly hard-surface installed fixtures, you can incorporate the same motifs (neoclassical, English country, Early American, soft contemporary, etc.) in both, using the same color scheme.
You may elect to alter the proportions of each color to create variations on a theme. For example, an opulent European-inspired bedroom in wine with accents of hunter green, gold, and ivory may lead nicely into a master bath with hunter green fixtures, brass-gold fittings, and ivory ceramic tiles, sparked with towels and accessories in wine.
When designing the suite, you may want to avoid putting fixtures on the wall shared with the bedroom to minimize noise from a pressure-assist toilet, shower, and so on. You can further buffer sound by putting bath cabinets and bedroom closets on opposite sides of a shared wall, with the bed on the far wall.
If possible, locate the bath on an outside wall to make a window possible, and make sure the walkway between the bedroom and the bath is easily accessible, wide enough, and free of obstructions, to be safe for users in the dark or when ill.
With both halves of a couple rushing to get ready for work at the same time these days, a shared bathroom is under more demands. Even the closest pair often prefer a private toilet compartment, and bigger baths are beginning to reflect this desire.
Where your waste stack is (or can be) located will have a lot to do with where the toilet is located. If it's on a far wall and in a corner, a separate compartment is feasible. The compartment wall will run the full height of the room and should extend at least 3 feet in front of the toilet and a foot on each side; wider for universal accessibility.
The compartment should be equipped with an easily accessible artificial light source plus a skylight or small window if at all possible. If there's no operable window, be sure to install an exhaust fan to keep the space fresh. You'll also want to make sure that there's enough space for a hanging cabinet above the toilet tank to house commonly needed supplies and that there's room for a small wastebasket on the floor.
If a totally private compartment isn't possible, look into designs that include a half-high partition that can be tiled the same as adjoining walls or a tall, hinged screen covered in fabric that coordinates with your room scheme. If the toilet is located in or near a corner, these solutions may be an acceptable compromise.
You're going to jump into the shower right after you exercise anyway, right? So why not bring the exercise equipment to the bath area? That's the philosophy behind today's new exercise room baths.
If your space is big enough, it may be right for you. Plan to put all bathroom fixtures on perimeter walls, and offset the door to allow space for one or two pieces of exercise equipment in the free area. Make sure you're not blocking the door or access to bathroom fixtures: Measure the space required for normal use of all equipment, and give them plenty of berth. Specify nonslip floor tiles to guard against slipping due to perspiration and bathing, and plan systems for ample ventilation, too.
While many laundry appliances have come out of the basement and up to the mud room or kitchen, others are being located near where dirty clothes first accumulate: the bedroom or bathroom. If you and your mate are alone in the house, you may want to put the laundry equipment in your master suite; if you share the house with children, you may prefer to house it in the kids' bathroom or a nearby guest bath.
Laundry appliances can tie into the same water supplies as the bathrooms, and preferred flooring -- nonporous, nonslip tile -- can be extended for both to create a neater look. If space is scanty, you may opt for a stacked washer/dryer unit, although these handle smaller loads than a typical family creates.
Allow for plenty of overhead storage, preferably enclosed, for laundry supplies as well as hampers or other storage for sorting clothes. A pocket or folding door easily conceals the whole works from the rest of the bath, but you may want access on both ends of the laundry space so that laundry facilities can be used without going through the main bathroom area.
Closets between a bedroom and a bath make sense, and a dressing room area lined with roomy closets, all located next to a bath, is an even greater luxury you may want to consider. You might find part of the necessary space in a hallway closet, an unused area of the bedroom, or even a corner of the bath, provided they're contiguous.
This is one place where telling your architect, contractor, or designer what you want can really pay off. They'll be on the lookout for ways to shoehorn extra closets into even a tiny space for you. Once the basic space is in, consult a professional closet design firm, or explore the closet fittings section of your local home store for ways to maximize the closet space you have. You'll surely find ideas that work in the rest of your closets, too!
There are a few tried and true configurations for bathrooms. On the next page, find out more about basic bathroom layouts.
Only ZIP codes containing more than five sold properties were considered for the list. Property Shark helped us find listings that were close to each of the ZIP codes’ median sales price. Check out the full list below:
This two-bedroom, two-bathroom Los Gatos home will run you around $2.3 million, but it comes complete with hardwood floors, a detached guest house, and four private acres of wooded land.
In San Francisco, $2.27 million will get you a home like this one, which packs three bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms, a wood burning fireplace, stainless steel appliances, and a formal dining room into 1,900 square feet.
For around $2 million, you can snag a home like this one in Burlingame, which sits close to local schools and parks, and is only a hop, skip, and jump away from Silicon Valley. The 2,180-square-foot house features three bedrooms and two and a half baths.
This four bedroom Newport Coast home can be found inside the The Pointe gated community. On the market for $2.24 million, it features high-end appliances, quartz countertops, and an outdoor kitchen.
Call this four-bedroom, two-bathroom abode home for a little over $2.37 million. In addition to a private pool, it’s also decked out with vaulted ceilings and a spacious kitchen and dining area.
For $2.5 million, score this 1,540-square-foot Santa Barbara home right by Montecito Beach. In addition to the killer views, the place features a remodeled kitchen and cathedral ceilings.
This three-bedroom home in Newport Beach is just a short walk from the beach. It’s on the market for around $2.3 million and offers tremendous ocean views.
Full of natural light, this airy and secluded home in Water Mill is on the market for $2.67 million. Located on two acres of private land, it comes complete with multiple outdoor decks, a pool, and a wood burning fireplace.
Just a short walk from the water, this beach style home in Newport Beach is breezy and welcoming, with clean white walls, dark wood floors, and abundant natural light. Make it yours for $2.75 million.
On the market for around $2 million, this 3,020-square-foot home boasts breaktaking views of Ross Valley and an outdoor sun deck that will let you enjoy California’s fantastic weather all year round.
Located in NYC’s TriBeCa neighborhood, this 1,439-square-foot home features 40 feet of windows, an open kitchen, and stunning views of the Hudson River. Building amenities also include a saltwater pool and landscaped courtyard. Make it yours for $2.8 million.
Located in one of the only non-California or New York zip codes on the list, this $2.7 million Boston home boasts floor-t0-ceiling windows, granite countertops, and 1,589 square feet of space.
This Portola Valley home is on the market for around $2.6 million. It comes complete with three bedrooms, a spacious kitchen, and high, wood-beamed ceilings. The surrounding forest views add a cozy touch.
Snag this five-bedroom Los Altos home for around $2.7 million. The freshly painted interior is airy and bright, while the newly landscaped backyard provides a quiet, private place to relax.
For around $3 million, this two-home lot in Palo Alto allows owners a rare opportunity to build the house of their dreams up to 2,600 square feet in size. The newly renovated guesthouse out back boasts 950 square feet of space and can be utilized as a separate rental unit.
For just over $3 million, enjoy this luxury penthouse in the heart of Beverly Hills. The unit comes equipped with high ceilings, two master suites, and a private rooftop deck.
Boasting both pool and beach views, this 2,744-square-foot Miami Beach home is available for around $3.4 million. It also has also high-end appliances and a glass walk-in closet to swoon over.
This classic Hamptons beach house comes complete with a heated pool, outdoor gardens, and a spacious deck, perfect for entertaining all summer. The home is on the market for $5.75 million.
