Kitchen, Bath & Beyond

It’s time to make that dream home a reality. With countless options and price points in remodeling, homeowners face a bewildering number of choices. To guide you through this process, work with a certified remodeling company or show room resource. Most of these experts will tell you that bathrooms and kitchens are among the most popular remodeling zones in the home—and the best places to see a return on your investment. We talked with several local experts about kitchen and bath trends and also asked them to identify exciting, new trends they’re seeing elsewhere in the home. Here’s their take.

Bathroom Boost

Photo by Andrea Rugg

Choice Wood Company crafts a clean, vibrant bath.

Homeowners tackling remodeling projects often turn first to their bathrooms to realize big redesign dreams. A relatively small space with large potential, the bathroom can be transformed into a sanctuary for guests, a functional space for families, or even a spa within the home. According to some of the Twin Cities’ top remodelers and resources, here are a few of the most exciting trends in bathroom makeovers:

For that all-important shower, one of the hottest trends creating buzz among show room specialists is the walk-in shower, a larger stall that can be up to twice the size of a regular shower and accommodate one or two people. Body-spray shower heads and nozzles and steam showers—creating the feel of a spa right at home—are also gaining popularity, says Pat O’Brion, manager of show room and builder sales in southern Minnesota for Ferguson Enterprises, a national distributor of plumbing supplies and heating and cooling equipment as well as fireplaces, lighting, and appliances.

Specializing in kitchen and bath needs, Ferguson also offers a hot product that could transform your shower into a high-tech retreat: The DTV shower uses an advanced digital system to control the shower environment from an electronic control. This latest innovation from Kohler allows you to control your entire shower experience from temperature and water pressure to ambience. “Instead of having a water valve in the wall, there’s actually an electronic control outside the shower,” O’Brion says. “You can preset the temperature, spray control, add steam, plug in your iPod, and use different lighting.”

Keith Holtan, president of Holtan Kitchens & Remodeling, notes that glass shower doors are growing more elaborate and expensive as homeowners upgrade their bathrooms. “The shower doors are lit from the inside, and they’re really pretty,” says Holtan, who won the 2008 Regional Contractor of the Year award from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry’s Midwest region, for his work on a French country bathroom in Maplewood. In addition to upgrading the shower in that home, Holtan also moved a sink and vanity to a space by the bathroom window and added much more storage.

Seeking a more leisurely soak? Homeowners have embraced both classic tub styles, such as copper designs, and modern soaking tubs. Free-standing tubs are gaining in popularity, while whirlpools have fallen out of favor. And don’t be distracted by old-fashioned notions about tubs. “Free-standing tubs can be modern,” says Kirsty Froelich, store designer for national chain The Tile Shop. “You don’t just have to use the classic tubs.” Froelich cites one frequent choice for homeowners: a pedestal base with a soaking tub on top. “They look a bit like a Japanese bath. They can be filled from faucets on the wall, floor, or even the ceiling! There are so many options now. Separate showers and tubs are what people really like.”

At the bathroom vanity, vessel sinks remain very trendy, Froelich says. These sinks sit on top of the counter, rising three to six inches above the countertop. The shapes of these vessels range from simple bowls to more creative themes, such as large, hollowed-out rocks.

Photo courtesy of The Tile Shop

Colorful glass tiles add sparkle throughout the bathroom.

Tile is another area that people can turn to for a fresh perspective on their bathroom style. Froelich says one of the most exciting trends she’s seen recently is the use of glass tile and splashes of color throughout the home bath. Remodelers are incorporating glass tiles in different colors and nontraditional sizes and shapes, including circles and ellipses—rather than simply standard square and rectangular tiles. Homeowners are embracing jewel tones and metallic elements, which add sparkle throughout the bathroom. Designers also are using colorful glass tiles to accent classic white “subway” tile—creating a modern, edgy look. This fresh perspective on tile is exciting. As Froelich says, “Adding color and sparkle in remodeling really pays off.”

Bath Tips: Don’t underestimate the cost of plumbing makeovers, says Pat O’Brion of Ferguson Enterprises. Factor in the cost of the new products, the size and increased demands on your water heater, and drain sizes. Looking for less expensive alternatives? Try installing shower nozzles that attach to the wall and convert to a body spray. Some even attach directly to the showerhead. Do as much research as possible to narrow your choices before venturing into the show room. Visit the website for the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. It’s a great place to find a quality contractor and other resources.