Bathed In Luxury

Color and materials matter
According to Richardson Robertson III, principal of Robertson Partners Architects in Los Angeles and New York, who designs high-end residences and five-star hotels, the light, warm colors used in upscale hotels are perfect for residential baths. "Everyone looks better in that color scheme," says Robertson.

In fact, striving for a warm color scheme in the bathroom is one reason natural stone is Robertson's first choice for flooring. Lately he's been using honed and waxed marble slabs. Because marble requires some maintenance, a low-maintenance option can be spa-inspired porcelain tile that looks like limestone and is laid with minimal grout lines.

Warm color scheme and marble flooring for a luxurious look

Lose the clutter
Jennifer Runner, a residential designer with Hinsdale, Ill.-based Normandy Builders, creates the hotel spa look for homeowners, in part, by emphasizing uncluttered lines. Among the elements she prefers are square under-counter sinks, a soaking tub (the Kimpton chain of boutique hotels features the Fuji brand, and even includes them in their marketing), and a separate shower with frameless glass. "It's a contemporary look," she says. "It's also a warm, welcoming place to come home to."

Light it up
Natural light is an important part of the high-end spa and hotel bath experience. "We strive to have a good-size window in every bath in a five-star hotel," Robertson says. "It's pretty much expected."

Count to five
According to Robertson, emulating a hotel bath at home requires a five-fixture design: toilet, tub, shower, and two sinks on one vanity. "The tub in a hotel might never be used, but it is always expected."

Because cleanliness is so important in a hotel bath, Robertson prefers wall-hung toilets. "They look cleaner, which is an especially big issue," he says. He also puts the toilet in its own enclosure, separating it with a frosted-glass door, much like a shower is separated from the bath.

Water works
Runner finds clients are extremely interested in the multi-head massaging shower experience found in resort hotels and spas. "The more jets, the better," she says. "The 'car-wash effect' is in. They love it all." For clients who want the ultimate showering experience with multiple heads and settings, she recommends a digital control, such as the Smart Shower.

Install Smart Shower for the ultimate at-home spa experience

Build in warmth
Heated floors are a popular feature in the baths of both luxury hotels and home. Runner says 90 percent of her clients request them. Customizing the installation will allow your customers to enjoy heat in every area of the bath, including around the toilet, under toe kicks, even in the shower.

Taken together, these six elements provide homeowners with a place to feel pampered at the end of the day. "When people show me pictures from a hotel, it's about a feeling of getting away," Runner says. "Master baths have become people's retreats. It's their own getaway."