Spa-like bathrooms that are tailored to homeowners personal tastes and lifestyles will be a big trend in 2014.  “As homeowners decide they’re going to stay in their homes, they’re deciding to make the changes that make them happy with increased functionality,” says Normandy Designer Laura Barber, AKBD.  “In this case, the Western Springs homeowners wanted an updated master bathroom with three firm requirements:  a large walk-in shower, increased storage and a spa-like aesthetic.”

“The spa-like aesthetic relies heavily on the color scheme and texture in a bathroom remodel,” commented Laura.  “We selected neutral colors and warm cabinetry that resulted in a soothing outcome.  My favorite elements in this bathroom are the textured portion of the walk-in shower and the armoire created to look like a piece of furniture.  Both elements make the bathroom unique, while contributing to the project goals.”

“Quality was also important to the homeowners, leading us to select Kohler fixtures and porcelain tile for the floor and walls,” noted Laura.  “Porcelain is a very low maintenance stone to begin with, but we also selected large format tiles that resulted in smaller and fewer grout lines overall.”

This bathroom recently received a Remodeling Excellence Award for its solution oriented design from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, Chicagoland.