"The sink and vanity areas are becoming the artistic and aesthetic focus of today''s bathrooms, with hand-blown glass and vessel sinks gaining in popularity," says a certified bathroom designer. hand-painted porcelain bathroom tile on countertops and walls around the vanities are also popular for their limitless color and pattern possibilities. storage space is critical, with vanities on either side of pedestal sinks, low-hung cabinets and even dressers for undergarments incorporated into the overall design. cabinets should be furniture-grade with accents that complement the bedroom furniture. most are oak or maple in natural or light tints."extra attention should be paid to such details such as outlets inside tower cabinets for hair dryers, electric shavers or other electrical appliances as well as ironing boards and hampers built inside closets,"

toilet/bidet area should be sequestered in a separate room, or at least behind a half-wall. wall-mounted fixtures make cleaning easier, keeping the room more sanitary and healthy. build tubs with a platform area, not steps. tub controls should be accessible from inside or outside the tub and offset toward the room. handrails make sense not only for safety, but they also make bathing children easier. roll-in and walkaround showers are very popular and should include a bench seat 17[inches]-19[inches] high and at least 15[inches] deep. make sure tile slopes toward drain to keep outside floor dry. windows and skylights should be equal to at least 10% of the total square footage of the bathroom. install auxiliary heating sources, such as electric radiant heat panels or a heat lamp/exhaust fan near the open shower. his-and her sinks are becoming the norm, with each mounted at a different height and a dressing table and vanity chair separating them. full mirrors can be used in smaller baths to give them a larger feel, but overdoing it can affect depth perception.

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