Bathroom remodels add luxury with spa-like features

When Jay and Leanne Johnston of south Charlotte decided to remodel their home just over a year ago, the master bath was a priority. The home, built in the 1980s, had outdated features, like poorly designed closet space in the master bath and a small shower.

We simply adore our Park Crossing location and neighborhood and did not want to move, said Leanne Johnston, 54. But certain aspects of the house didnt fit our lifestyle anymore, and there were many features we wanted in our master bath to make it more comfortable and convenient. Double vanities, additional built-in storage space and spa features like two heads in our shower were all elements we added in the remodel.

The Johnstons tastes are in line with national trends that see homeowners adding spa-like bath features at home in larger, more expansive master baths, said David Bengston, president of Charlotte-based Lighthouse Residential Remodeling, the contractor the Johnstons used.

Five to seven years ago, remodels were more basic pull and replace on master baths, said Bengston. Those upgrades simply involved replacing old cabinetry, tiling and bath fixtures. Today, the trend is significantly more geared to complete bath remodels, expanding square footage, removing oversized Jacuzzi-style tubs for added space and a dramatic increase in demand for spa features, especially in the shower.

Bengston said hes worked on master bath projects over the past few years that have ranged from the low teens to well over $100,000. High-end upgrades may include complete sound systems, re-circulating hot water pumps, heated floors, and marble or granite countertops. He said the average mid-range upgrade for a master bath of 200-250 square feet would likely run between $30,000 and $40,000.

Fine-tuning wasted space

Anne DeCocco is an interior design consultant based in Raleigh. Her firm, DeCocco Design, provides consultation and design services for all manner of home improvements and remodeling.

I see a lot of fine-tuning of what was previously wasted space in master baths, said DeCocco. People want built-ins. More storage space for linens and bath products is great for de-cluttering, as are drawers equipped with electrical outlets for hair dryers and flattening or curling irons.

DeCocco said that granite countertops, popular upgrades a decade ago, are slowly giving way to quartz and high-tech composite materials such as IceStone ( icestoneusa.com) a surface made of recycled glass, cement and pigment. She also sees larger subway or oversized rectangular tiles used in remodels.

The color palates that I most often recommend lean towards beige and gray for the bath, DeCocco said. These are very classic and neutral.

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Bathroom remodels add luxury with spa-like features