Contemporary Bathrooms
There is a lot going on in the bathroom design world. According to a 2014 survey conducted by the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), contemporary bathrooms have become the bathroom style of choice for North American consumers and have surpassed transitional and traditional designs. The increased demand for contemporary style bathrooms represents a major shift in consumer behavior. Up until a few years ago the field was dominated by traditional style bathrooms, and 75% of the bathrooms designed by NKBA members were as such. However, in 2014, this figure dropped to 62% contemporary designs took the lead.
The report also sheds light on what North American consumers are looking for in their bathroom design. First and foremost, and a key element propelling the contemporary design forward, is the desire to have a bathroom with a spa-like feel. Homeowners want to be able to come home and pamper themselves in their mini-spa bathroom. In line with this theme, the report found that there was growing demand for soaking tubs (tubs that are larger and deeper than traditional baths). There is a preference for the tubs to be free-standing and non-jetted. People also prefer more luxurious showers, and the steam shower is an increasingly popular choice. Use of stream showers has surpassed whirlpools for master bathrooms and designers are forecasting an increase in their demand. Also growing in popularity is the trend to include benches and seats in the showers as well as decorative lighting. Finally, many homeowners are choosing electric radiant floor heating and designers expect the demand to increase.
Another major trend in 2014 is to have a bathroom with a universal design. This means that the bathroom is easily accessible to all- regardless of their age, size or ability. A key example of this theme is the rapidly growing demand for zero-threshold showers. These showers are very frequently used in contemporary design. You can find ‘open shower’ designs that have no barrier between the shower and the rest of the bathroom, or showers that use glass doors, but no threshold. Also, designers are choosing comfort height vanities and toilets. This again ensures that access is as simple and comfortable as possible. Within this context, wall-hung floating vanities are gaining popularity since they enable users in wheelchairs to tuck their legs in beneath the unit to gain access to the sink. There is also a preference for under-mount sinks, since they are easier to access and use. Other details that define a universal bathroom include an expanded doorway, slip-resistant flooring, and a bathroom with adequate floor space (at least 1.5 meters of open floor space).
The report also found that quartz was the preferred material for countertops. The reason for this is that quartz is an excellent material that provides both strength and aesthetics. Caesarstone’s quartz surfaces are made of 93% quartz and are incredibly durable. The surfaces are stain, scratch and crack resistant and impervious to heat, cold and common household chemicals. Also, Caesarstone countertops are incredibly hygienic and easy to maintain. Since quartz is non-porous, bacteria cannot grow within it, which means that the bathrooms can remain germ-free. They are also very easy to clean and require only a mild soap or detergent.
As far as aesthetics are concerned, there is no beating the immense selection offered by Caesarstone. For the contemporary bathroom one can choose from the 80 different colours and textures. Caesarstone’s collection is divided into 3 categories- Classico, Motivo and Concetto, here you can see more of the new Caesarstone's colours: http://www.caesarstone.ca/minisite_newcolours/#!bianco. The Classico collection ranges from salt-and-pepper motifs to vivid colour blends; the Motivo collection offers pattered and textured surfaces and the Concetto collection is made of semi-precious stones. With so many exquisite countertops to choose from, Canadian home-owners are certain to find the perfect design to match their contemporary bathroom.
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