Whether a towel warmer can heat the room depends on the amount of heat it generates and the size of the room. Most towel warmers definitely will not heat the room, and those that are designed to heat the room, need to be carefully selected. There are a couple of different types of bathroom towel warmers, electric and hydronic. The ones that use more power can heat the area. These are examples of companies have towel warmers that will heat your towels and the room: http://www.runtalnorthamerica.com/ and http://www.zehnderamerica.com/
Signature Hardware has a large selection of towel warmers to give you an idea as to what is on the market: http://clawfoot-tub.signaturehardware.com/search?w=towel%20warmer
Another way to heat your bathroom is with electric radiant heat (or with hydronic radiant heat if you’re doing the rest of the house). Many people like having a warm floor and Bill installs more of these than towel warmers
You’d need to check with your contractor to determine whether the product you have in mind can heat your bathroom.
:) Rhoda

Similarly - http://www.ambatowelwarmers.com/traditional/traditional-t2536-towel-warmer.php

No it just warms the towels. Here are the details: http://www.kitchendesigns.com/blog/kitchen-designs-by-ken-kelly-wins-a-national-award-in-the-2010-nkba-design-competition/