As a dedicated reader of bath design magazines (temptingly displayed by the check-out of my usual grocery store, I can’t resist), I can easily rattle off at any time the latest news in bath trends. The current experts are touting larger-than-life vanities, strategic mirror placement (to maximize reflection, place your mirrors near a window or other light source), and nature-inspired accents like getting a plant! So, to move beyond design magazines, I spoke with Paul, a pro from HomeSquare.
One of my favorite home design sites, The Spruce, is encouraging bathroom upgrades with lighting. More light is better, as is adjustable light, and if your bath is big enough, go for a chandelier. Tile, they say, is also a big deal, but not just any tile. Of course everybody wants subway tile because it’s both durable and timeless, but the size of the tile is strategic, especially when you’re working with a more petitely scaled bathroom. Why is that? It’s because grout lines create a grid. Small and medium sized tiles mean more grouting which can make the space appear smaller than it really is. The Spruce experts also recommend selecting the same tile color and pattern for walls and floor. They also love storage niches, not cabinetry, which eats up floor space. So niche away wherever space allows.
If you’re in the mood to go a little wild, consider bold design choices like a floating vanity or back lit mirrors and cabinets. Quartz countertops in the bathroom may seem luxurious but are actually a sensible choice considering quartz is non-porous and less susceptible to fostering bacteria. And we’re all hyper-conscious now about germs, right?
Tips From a HomeSquare Professional
Paul Mignone, producer for HomeSquare, is very busy this year doing bathroom remodels. He said the biggest trend he’s seeing now is tiling the entire bathroom. “Years ago, we’d do a bathroom and we’d tile all the walls,” Mignone said. “And then people stopped tiling the walls and only tiled the wet wall area.” He said he’s seeing a return to tiling the whole room, going up about 42” from the floor with the wall tile and then a nice paint job above.
The tile of choice, he said, is subway in shades of gray. “A lot of people are choosing the same tile now for the bathroom they put in the kitchen,” he added. Paul said he’s getting calls for smaller bathrooms, not just master baths. “I suggest with the smaller wall space, we can dress it up and accent what wall they have.”
Lots of tile isn’t really your thing? Mingone suggests wainscoting or a chair rail design instead. “A mix of light and dark gray walls is popular with clients right now.”
Timeless Trends
While some vintage looks are timeless, nobody ever initiates a bath remodel that will look dated in a few years. What does Mignone recommend to “future proof” the room? “While gray and white tones are timeless across the board,” he said. “I do get some color requests for old school mid-century modern colors. ” An enduring favorite from any era is — you guessed it — blue. Yellow is also a timeless color choice, as is green, if it’s done right. My own favorite old school green right now is a subdued sage. To me, green and white are a timeless color combination. Lots of grays have green in them, so consider a luxurious gray green such as Benjamin Moore’s Grey Wisp or Adirondack Green.
“Peel and Stick” paint samples at $5.95 a pop are a great tool to help you decide. “You can’t go wrong with white,” Mignone said. “White tile paired with a gray vanity is staying in style for a long time.”
Other timeless bath trends include good lighting and good fans. “Heated floors in the master bathroom are absolutely a timeless upgrade,” Mignone said. “And of course we always try to do as many plumbing upgrades as we can.”
Listening to the Client
Hearing what the client wants and addressing their specific needs is integral to the work Paul Mignone does when discussing a new job. “We’ve been getting more requests for shower stalls that have no saddle or curve,” he said. “Showers that someone in a wheelchair can roll right into.” He said he’s also getting more requests to enlarge the footprint of a bathroom and waterproofing the entire room. “They’re coming out now with great products that can help us achieve that,” he said. “We’re also getting more calls for showers that have no doors.”
He described a hall bathroom remodel he did at a home in Wilton. “It was very old school which was in keeping with the rest of the house, which was quite traditional,” Mignone said. “The old bathroom had one big mirror across the back of double sinks. I said, ‘Let’s keep the double sinks but have two mirrors and nice overhead lights over each sink.’” He said he brought the bathroom into this century by brightening it up with a modern custom vanity with a custom quartz top and molded sinks.
“The client feels like he’s in a whole new house,” he said. “In fact, we are renovating the whole house in anticipation of him selling. The client keeps saying he loves it so much, he should have done it earlier.”
Eve Marx
Eve Marx is a national journalist and book author. Follow her reflections on home design and interior style on Instagram at the hashtag #funkybeachhouseseasideror.