 MAKE A
SPLASH
WITH A BEAUTIFUL
BATH
Create a restful retreat
space
with a well-planned
remodeling project
BY ANNE MOORE
We’ve come a long way from the shower-bath
combo, and the days of a master bath as a utilitarian
place for a quick shower and shave are
over. The master bath is now a retreat where you can start
and end your day bathed not only in water but in serenity,
luxury and convenience. And the powder room has
become a place to surprise and pamper guests with luxury,
too. Since bathrooms and kitchens sell houses, you can generally
expect to recoup 90 percent of what you invest in a
bathroom in resale value.
Mastering the master bath
You can make a big difference in your
bathroom by just choosing interesting materials.
Ron Bechtol of Lance, Larcade and
Bechtol Architects says, “What’s really exciting
these days is the variety of materials. Tile,
especially, has become amazingly varied and
interesting, with everything from mosaic and
glass tile to large-scale porcelains that can look
convincingly like certain kinds of stone or a
rugged piece of ceramic. The variety in something
as simple as a basin perched on top of
a countertop — grandly called a ‘vessel’ sink —
and the variety of faucets that can go with
something like that is pretty mind-boggling.
You can go well beyond the glazed porcelain
look to ceramic works of art — say, a vessel
hewn from a piece of alabaster from Mexico
to make something that was once routine
and humdrum into an event.”
San Antonio is full of great spots to look
for ideas in everything from flooring to tile to
fixtures. Allen & Allen has a great showroom
for distinctive faucets and fixtures, and Design
Materials and Art Tile have a plethora of
options for elements that can add pizazz to
your shower, sink and tub area.
 If you’re going to rip everything out and
start over with a new floor plan, an architect
or certified bathroom designer can help.
You may want to get rid of the space-gobbling
giant bathtub and opt instead for a
bigger shower with features like overhead
shower heads, dual or multiple shower
heads, body sprays, rain bars and steam
showers. Or perhaps you’d rather have a
smaller free-standing tub. You may also
want to use the extra space to enclose your
toilet or to add his-and-her toilets.
You can even go in a starkly new direction.
As Bechtol says, “The traditional bathroom
within the confines of four walls isn’t
the constraint any longer. There are even
mergers between bathing spaces and sleeping
spaces, where a tub is elevated on a platform
in the sleeping space, rather than in the bathroom,
perhaps behind a screen — or not. Or
you can open up a glass wall into a Zen-like
garden that can make the bathroom part of a
more sybaritic experience — not just bathing
and tooth-brushing.”
While you ’re planning a remodeling project,
consider “going green” with water-saving
toilets and faucets, natural materials and a hot water recirculation pump that moves hot
water to the shower before you turn on
the water and recycles the hot water still
in the pipes back to the heater when
you’re finished.
The owners of the new master bath pictured
on these pages wanted more space
and more light, so they included three windows,
including a great bay window over
the tub, and a chandelier, and they kept the
materials light and bright.
“My cousin described it as a ‘happy
bathroom,’” the homeowner says.
 A chandelier in the bath? Why not?
Luxury in looks, special touches and conveniences
are key to creating a real
retreat. Bathroom remodels can also
include built-in coffee pots, mini-fridges
that hold a refreshing mineral water for
when you step out of your steam shower,
flat-screen televisions that hide behind
mirrors and are invisible until turned on,
towel-warming racks or drawers, sound
systems and even a pass-through fireplace
that can be enjoyed from the bedroom
and the bath.
Pampering the powder room
Many people opt to redo the powder
room at the same time as they remodel a
master bath and save a little money by
using the same materials. However, remodeling
a powder room is a great way to
indulge your guests with a surprising miniretreat
of their own. The small space means
you can splurge on materials without
breaking the budget. You don’t really need
storage in a powder room, so here’s your
chance to use that great pedestal sink you
saw in the showroom that you didn’t think
would work in your master bath. Perhaps
you saw a fantastic, splashy tile that you
loved but didn’t choose for the master bath
because it would have been just too much.
The smaller space of a powder room may
be just the place for it. Bold colors like
chocolate, navy and merlot that you were
afraid would overpower a master bath
suite can be just the thing here. Try that
jagged-stone countertop or the delicate
glass-bowl sink that wouldn’t stand up to
the daily use in the master bath.
The finishing touches, though, are
what will make your guests feel special. A
great piece of art on a wall, expensive
soaps, wonderful lotion, monogrammed
fingertip towels and even a chandelier
can create a real mini-retreat.
Remember, remodeling a bath is an
investment not just in your home, but
also in yourself. Enjoy the luxury. You’re
worth it.
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