Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.
Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe... More »
Many of you chimed inon the questions board when a fellow Houzz user asked what kinds of cool new things she should consider while planning her new home. Today we're continuing the compilation of answers with Houzzers' suggested dream features to include in bathrooms and closets. There were many dream features on the list that I did not know existed, and it was fun to read through all of them.
A shower bench and a shower niche. Make sure the niche is large enough for Costco-size shampoo bottles. A bench in the shower is especially useful as a universal design element (and a place to prop legs on while shaving).
Universal design elements. Many of you are wisely planning ahead and adding features that will allow you to age in your homes, such as wider pathways, curbless shower stalls and grab bars.
A handheld shower nozzle. These can help you save water as they can target that sudsy area more efficiently. Also, you can set the whole thing up so that when the handheld is on, the overhead is off, with a third option to turn them both off for what my grandpa called "a Navy shower" (which saves the most water).
This reminds me of when Seinfeld's Kramer kept putting his clothing in various ovens to make them warm and toasty. A drawer is much more convenient and won't smell like pizza.
A TV over the tub. To be honest, I am not sure anyone suggested this. I just saw the picture and thought it belonged on a list of the ultimate home options. While a good novel and a candle are all I need, I certainly can see the draw of watching a nightime soap while soaking in suds.
OK, OK, I lied about the novel. I really need the latest issue of Entertainment Weekly, and I would very much enjoy watching Revenge at the same time.
Salon convenience. Give your hair dryer, curling iron and straightener a designated storage spot that includes outlets. There will be no more worrying about where to stash a hot appliance or tangled cords underneath the sink to deal with.
A morning kitchen. This is a sneaky and luxurious little spot, often near the closet or dressing area, where you can get that first cup of coffee going the second you rise. A morning kitchen can consist of just an espresso maker or be elaborate enough to hold a small refrigerator for juice, milk and other morning snacks. Some people even incorporate a dishwasher and sink for their morning dishes. If I had this, I wouldn't make it downstairs until I was hungry for lunch.
Ample shoe storage. Moving into the closet, Houzzers want space to store and admire their shoes. Personally, I want all the shoes in this photo, and I don't care what I would have to do to store them.
A pull-out ironing board. Pulling a built-in board out of the wall is more convenient and easier to use than a traditional ironing board. Also, it takes up less space. If you had to pick, would you want this in your big closet or your big laundry room?
A shower bench and easy access in and out is something most people don't think about until they really need it - like after an injury or surgery. So important and so beneficial in the long run.
Oh I wish I wish I had a heated floor! I do have a heated towel rail though, and the towels are always dry and sweet-smelling.
The main thing on my wish list is a handheld attachement to the shower, but I already have a shower/tub diverter, and I can't find a three-way diverter! do you have special insight into this problem Becky?
I could live without the rest, including the vast closets. If I had a closet that size I'd rent it out!
Valet hooks in the closet. So useful for hanging garment bags while packing, for dry cleaning, for airing woolens.
Electrical outlet for hand-held steamer.
Big splurge: pants presser.
Specialized storage for scarves, belts, handbags.
In the bathroom: storage for a rolling laundry hamper.
Window and/or skylight for natural light which doesn't require turning on a light every time you enter.
Wall-mounted, lighted make-up/shaving mirror.
Here is an example of a nice compact Tub/shower combination that works when space is limited. We found this example in Perry, Ga. It really opens the bathroom up by using glass walls. It has a corner shower, a accesories niche, and a single handle ORB faucet. I didn't know how to save a picture here, but You can see it at: http://cwwilliamshomes.com/listing/113-stilesboro-court/
This is a "neat thing to do but not in the bath comment"!
The other neat thing you can do in your kitchen is to designate a "coffee cupboard". We did a sliding shelf with an outlet in the back of the cupboard to plug in the coffee maker and had enough room for coffee cups, sugar, extra coffee, & filters all in one place! Pull the shelf out while coffee is brewing (we also had the door of the cupboard be able to push back into the side so it isn't sticking out. Everyone loves this cupboard!
I'm building a new house. In the "mistress" bathroom, I designed a walk-in, handicapped accessible shower with a portable bench and a hand-held attachment to the shower. Portable because it can be moved to the best location for different tasks. Next to the vanity is a 7-foot cabinet; at its side level with the vanity top, I'm placing a bathroom appliance garage with a tambour door. The door slides up and there are all the plugged in appliances necessary for a bathroom -- dryer, toothbrush, water pick, curler, whatever, and this shelf will have the same surface as the countertop. Way cool!
Curbless shower in the cabana bath is one of the best changes of my recent renovation. Old terrazzo floors paired with new porcelain tile walls, storage niche, wider pocket door and more towel bars converted this 1960s bath to a spacious senior friendly place.
All are wonderful ideas, but I have a dream-list necessity and I need an opinion, please. My husband and I are building a home in Alaska for resale in a couple of years. If you lived in Alaska, would you prefer to come home and thaw out in a sauna, or crawl into a bathtub and soak? My preference is the definitely the sauna because it heats quickly, uses minimal water, and the water doesn't eventually get cold, but since we are building for eventual resale, it's the opinion of others that count. What do you think?
I think the ultimate towel rack would be tying into the hot water line and bringing it out of the wall and making a rack of copper tubing. When you shower the hot water goes through the rack and then out the shower head. Of course if you have radiant hot water floor heating you could also use that as your hot water source and the towel rack then becomes part of the room heating as well. Copper is beautiful and this could be the ideal for some.
Rather than a towel warmer drawer the inexpensive alternative is to put a small microwave in your dressing area (works well with a morning kitchen), then put a bit of water on your towel and fire up the wave. I know it is not as cool as a dedicated towel warming drawer but the results can be pretty close to the same.
Thanks Becky. Nice article. A couple of additional things worth mentioning would be sliding closet doors (so that they don't come out into the space and disrupt traffic flow) and lighting in the closet on a dimmer switch, so that one can adjust the 'mood' in the wardrobe area.
ancjw : we had a sauna in our house in a ski resort area in Colorado and used it often, but not as often as I just took a long, hot shower! Just make it large enough that 2 or more can be in there and not be clausterphobic (I think ours was about 5 feet wide x 8 feet long).
We used to run a mosaic arts company and for a while we were creating some more "out of this world" bathrooms. Here is an example of what we created...
I completely love the shower handles, the curbless shower, the heated towel bar and floors. For the closet I love the shoe storage, valet hangers and lighting - especially natural light. I would include a vanity in the dressing area, as I prefer that then in the bath. In my dream home, my bathroom, dressing room and gym would all be connected. So there would be a space for home gym equipment, with room for yoga/aerobics, a small kitchenette and spa - wet massage area and sauna. also specialized storage for handbags and scraves. And jewerly storage and display.
