Luxurious master baths pamper new homebuyers

What could be more relaxing than soaking in a whirlpool tub full of mineral salts, surrounded by lit candles and the sound of soft music? Or what about stepping into a steam shower with the flow of rain water against your body?

When you step out of either, your feet meet a toasty floor and you wrap yourself in a towel from the warming drawer. This is what today's luxury bathrooms are all about - the spa experience.

Whether in high-end homes or the more affordable, builders today see buyers choosing to upgrade their bathrooms over some other parts of the house. Why the demand for luxury baths?

"I think that move-up buyers are moving up into luxury, most into larger homes, and downsizers are also moving up into luxury, so they want to put their money toward something they use every day," said Brett Taylor, senior sales manager for Toll Brothers, a builder of luxury homes in a wide price range for the move-up and empty-nester buyer.

"They might spend money down the road on a finished basement or amenities in the formal areas of the home, but they're going to spend money in the bathroom and kitchen at the time they purchase their new home," he said.

When it comes to luxury baths, showers are the crown jewel.

"We do a lot of his-and-hers baths with either completely separate rooms or separate spaces with a meet-me-in-the-middle shower," said Jeff Samuels, president of Samuels Homes, which builds custom residences in the $1 million to $4 million range.

Among the most popular elements in luxury master baths are the shower and steam shower with multiple shower heads, multiple body sprays and rain domes, Samuels said. Spacious showers can feature a large seat - some large enough for a person to lie down - high ceilings and marble or natural stone surround. Some buyers want music piped into the shower, and most enjoy hidden niches where shampoos and other necessities can be tucked away out of sight, Samuels said.

"We are also receiving requests for custom-shaped showers with perhaps five or six sides and two doors. A shower is often the largest single luxury item for the bath. A lot of work, time and money go into the shower itself.

At Toll Brothers, buyers also are choosing extra space and luxury touches.

"We offer custom options for an ultra shower, which is a large shower with a second shower head, shampoo shelves and a tile-based floor," Taylor said. "It's an overall enhanced shower, which is a very popular feature with our buyers. The heavy frameless shower glass doors are also popular."

Luxury baths also wear the crown in more affordable homes, townhouses and condominiums.

R. Franczak & Associates pampers home buyers at all its new home communities by offering sumptuous bathroom retreats with extra-large showers and spa showers featuring what is called a "waterfall" head with four horizontal jets and body sprays, said Katie Campbell, sales manager for R. Franczak & Associates.

"In the Monaco model at The Waterford condo development in Des Plaines, the spa shower allows you to surround yourself in water to soothe aching muscles and relax in a stress-free atmosphere. Incorporating new ideas and trends keeps our designs fresh, and the spa shower has been a big hit with our buyers," Campbell said.

Franczak offers a walk-in shower in one of their units, with the spa shower as an option.

"In the Monaco, (the spa shower) is a standard feature. Other inclusions are a whirlpool tub, double bowl vanity and ceramic tile flooring. Most people buy what they see, so we've had a lot of interest in the Monaco because of the bath shown in the model," Campbell said.

While tubs may be taking a secondary role in the bathrooms of today, buyers are still looking for comfort and luxury in them.

For buyers at Samuels Homes, air jet tubs are big. "The water circulation is more uniform and comfortable than a whirlpool tub, and it is also more sanitary because the air jets do not circulate dirty water. And after use, they blow air through the pipes to completely drain them, thus eliminating mold and bacteria," Samuels said. "These air massage tubs are usually acrylic or fiberglass, and are no more expensive than whirlpools. We are also seeing a trend toward oversized tubs, although not two-person tubs."

Toll Brothers finds buyers looking at tubs in different terms than in the past.

"Whirlpool tubs are popular enhancements, but secondary. Most people are doing the upgraded shower tile and would consider the tub in reality more prestigious than functional," said Taylor of Toll Brothers.

Buyers are looking for the high-end luxury feel, Taylor said, adding that buyers might cut back in other areas of the home to get the shower upgrade, along with items such as cherry cabinets, a stone type of tile and granite countertops.

Storage and user-friendly options also are high on buyers' lists.

"Right now people are looking for a lot of storage in the bath - special drawers and large linen closets," said Campbell of R. Franczak & Associates. "In one of our models, we show a full wall of linen cabinets."

Samuels offers vanity layouts with comfort in mind. "A couple always wants his-and-hers vanities with hers often including a drop down makeup area. Both vanities are elevated, which are standard these days in luxury homes," Samuels said, adding that people find the higher counter height is easier to use and more comfortable for their backs.

"Master baths are growing larger and more elaborate as innovative products provide new and improved elements for a luxury bath. The wide choice of beautiful stone-type tiles for walls and floors enables buyers to create unique looks with chair rail designs and inlaid tile floors," Samuels said.

Beautiful hardware gives the luxury bath a nice finishing touch, Campbell added. "With so many choices today, we show a variety of faucets and towel bars, some very detailed and beautiful," Campbell said. "We really work with every buyer specifically because buyers don't all want the same amenities. Some want more vanity space, some extra storage, some dark tile, light tile, different materials, so we find that working with every buyer individually is best."

Heated floors are becoming more common. "Floors tend to be marble or natural stone," Samuels said. "We rarely end up with ceramic flooring unless we do a period room."