Tara's Tips: Master Bathroom Trends - Bathroom Ideas

Joy Design + Build’s Design Concierge Tara Richmond is here to help you every step of the way to outfit your dream home. Her expertise as a personal shopper makes it easy for you select all the details you want to make sure your home work perfectly for you.

A place to retreat, relax and find time for ourselves, Tara shares her tips on what her clients most want in master bathrooms now.

1. What trends are today’s clients asking for master bathrooms?

Although our clients aren’t specifically asking for it by name, typical universal design elements like curb-less showers with linear drains, multiple shower heads (including a rain shower system and body sprays), and built in shower benches all top the list of “must haves” by our clients. And to further their solidify their relaxing retreat, most are adding LED accent lighting and free standing soaking tubs.

Nicole Gerulat

Weston Colton

Lucy Call

2. Other than size, what are the biggest factors that affect the cost of the space?

Who says that luxury has to come at a luxurious price? The spa-style bathroom can still be achieved with a conservative budget with the right mindset. However, per square foot, no room in the house takes more work or costs more money to build than the master bathroom. So making good choices is vital. Specifically when it comes to cost, the three items that can make and break your budget are the items used for your floors, walls and any additional custom features.

Lindsay Salazar

Marie Flanigan

3. What do most homeowners underestimate when planning for their dream bathroom?

The process of narrowing down the options for your dream master bath is daunting. You can’t afford to do it all—no matter how much luxury you build into the space, there’s always “just one more thing” you could add. Today’s technology includes pre-programed water temperatures, voice activation, personal playlists and mood-inspired chromotherapy to name a few. Having me involved helps to keep the customer on budget and on track.

Morgan Harrison

4. Any tips for where to splurge and where to save?

This is a question I get asked often! Today’s large format porcelain tile can provide a very similar look to marble for less. The fact that porcelain is a man-made material makes it water resistant, stain resistant, and less likely to fade than marble. And although all-marble walls and floors are gorgeous, a proper mix of porcelain, paint and personal art and wall-coverings can result in a warmer, more customized space. That said, spend money on great faucet fixtures and you’ll never regret it.

Kate Osborne

Marybeth Wagner Interiors

Marie Flanigan

5. Is there anything a client can do to make your job easier?

As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words! With platforms like Houzz and Instagram, its easier than ever for our clients to view photos and gather inspiration, share it with others and put their design dreams on the path to reality.

A Houzz Ideabook is a place where you can save everything you see on Houzz, including your favorite home design photos, stories, products, discussions, notes and other details of your home project. My job would be 100% easier if every client came to me with an Ideabook or Instagram gallery in hand!