How a pro designs his bathroom

Water flowing from the ceiling fills the large oval tub.

The shower is so large that one of its built-in benches is in the drying area.

And there's a comfort highlight you can't see - Nuheat radiant mats warm the floor's coffee-colored marble.

Here's what Ron Nanberg and his wife, Missy, ended up with after wading through the myriad decisions involved with creating a luxury master bath.

Ron Nanberg has more experience than most homeowners because he's owner of Kitchens & Baths Unlimited in Glenview.

They started with an addition for the bath and closet over the garage of their 40-year-old Deerfield house. Such projects cost $150,000 to $180,000, while a large spa-style bath in an existing space is at least $50,000, Nanberg said.

"It's a lot for one room, but when you consider the difference between that and the cost of moving -"

The tub

Tubs are expensive and generally go unused, Nanberg said, so that leads many people who remodel existing baths to remove their tubs and expand the showers.

Missy Nanberg wanted a tub in their new bathroom, however. They selected an oval Kohler with air jets because Ron Nanberg thinks this is more maintenance-free than one with water jets.

Putting the spout in the ceiling keeps it out of the way, and helps keep the deck clean and sleek.

The shower

Here's where Nanberg thinks he made a mistake, but he had always been a little skeptical of the decision, so he made sure it was reversible.

He wanted to build the shower without a door. This works better if there's a turn from the drying area to the rest of the bathroom, but this room wasn't quite large enough.

Unfortunately, in this design the lack of a door meant there was a draft in the drying area. Brr. He quickly installed a door.

The shower has three Grohe shower heads, including a rainshower, and dimmable lights.

There are also speakers in the shower, which makes it easier to listen to music or peer through the shower's glass wall and watch the news on the rotating television set above the tub.

"It's nice in the morning to get up early and dim the light and watch television. It's a real relaxing spa feeling," Ron Nanberg said.

Marble

The Nanbergs chose coffee-colored marbles for their floor, countertop and other surfaces.

Marble is usually considered a little delicate for this purpose.

"Marble is a maintenance issue," he said. "We like the look of it. I know what to look out for. It's sealed and treated. It's not like a kitchen where you can spill food and wine and pasta sauces. Certain travertines and limestones would not work in a shower because of holes and chips."

Decoration

The major decoration is glass inserts on the marble tile floor and in bands by the tub.

"I don't want to overdo it with glass tiles," he said. "A bathroom this size needs some kind of second tiles. We wanted a simple look in the shower."

He also is very pleased with the setback ceiling, painted a darker color above the off-white woodwork.

And he pointed out the egg-and-dart design in the wood trim.

"Nice little touches like that make a big difference."

Missy also selected crystal features, including a chandelier and other light fixtures.

Cabinets

The dark cherry cabinets bring warmth to the room and contrast with the lighter floor.

"We like the richness of the wood," Nanberg said. "I don't think they will ever go out of style."

Windows

The window over the tub is the only natural light in the bathroom, but it is in the front of the house. Thus it needs a shade that can be operated from the top or the bottom.

The skylight brings light to the closet.

Sinks

Kohler's Ladena sinks are big, but not too big. The countertop is taller-than-usual kitchen counter height, which the Nanbergs find requires less bending.

Etc.

Nanberg likes a separate room for the toilet when the bathroom is large enough.

And pocket doors don't swing into anything and are quieter when someone gets up while a spouse is still sleeping. A door to the hall helps with this, too.

"Bathrooms have more detail than kitchens, the hardware and accessories, and they are more personal," Ron Nanberg said.

But you know who uses the tub almost every night. That's right, the Nanbergs' adolescent daughters.