When it comes to sharing design trends with my readers, I always feel a little ambivalent. I am not a huge fan of trends, especially when it comes to investments such as renovations. I tend to recommend colors and finishes in keeping with the home’s character and age, as well as the property’s resale value and future appeal to home buyers.

Usually, it is wise to invest in design components that will stand the test of time. Having said that, there are ways of integrating current trends that DO stand the test of time. ‘Trendy’ elements can be balanced out with classic features to create what we call ‘transitional’ design. Here are some ideas and valuable tips to inspire you.

Yes, Industrial design is still very popular! Although industrial-style design is not everyone’s cup of tea, I can assure that in urban areas it is still very high in demand. One of my favourite plumbing fixture collections is from Watermark in the UK. Other lines are available, but nobody does industrial style plumbing like Watermark. Brushed brass or gold fixtures look fabulous with stone, concrete, and even wood features. They are always a conversation starter, and frankly very fun to use.

Smart features for bathrooms

Bathroom components and intelligent technology has evolved at a rapid pace in the last few years. Showers are available with LCD panels that allow you to control temperature, steam options, music and chromotherapy.  You can program water-flow in your shower as well as program your toilet to clean itself. This steam shower we designed for a client also includes a wireless Blue Tooth shower head and Netflix streaming, as well as Chromotherapy.

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Patchwork tiles

These Mediterranean-style tiles have literally been around for thousands of years.  They made a big comeback about 5 years ago and are still going strong. They are available in a range of colours, many of which are cement. They usually come in 6’’ x 6’’ or 8’’ x 8’’ sizes. Because the pattern is very busy, it is important to balance out the pattern with simpler surroundings. Also keep in mind, less is more; pick a wall or the floor, but not both.

For the shower, several options are out there, but there is more and more demand for Italian walk-in showers with glass enclosures as they are seamless and minimalist. These require a linear drain for quick evacuation of water seeing as there is no ‘curb’ or ‘ledge’ to hold the water in. It is possible that the floor may have to be raised (less than an inch) to accommodate the slope needed for the quick water evacuation, but it is worth it. Once my clients learn about the option of a curb-free shower, most of them jump on the idea. There is literally more room in this type of shower, and as we all know, when it comes to bathroom square footage, every inch counts!

Freestanding bathtubs

Almost all the bathrooms we are designing include a free-standing bath as well as a walk-in shower. If our clients have an alcove bath and shower combined, we need considerably more space to separate the shower from the bath, especially if our clients are also requesting a large walk-in shower. Most of the time we can steal a bit of space from an adjoining room and/or closet or hallway. The only time I advise against a free-standing bath is for the washing of young infants. The sides of the free-standing baths are too high for parents to reach over, and therefore impractical and unsafe. In these situations, we design an updated and modernised bath-shower combination with the bath side at a more reasonable height.

Black accents and plumbing fixtures

Black and white bathrooms have been popular for at least 60 years. The wonderful component that can now be added to bathroom design is the availability of black plumbing fixtures as well as black accessories such as towel rings, soap dispensers, paper holders and more. Black bathroom fixtures and accessories look great with any colour palette or bathroom style. In this black and white bathroom, the clients desired a whimsical and bright bathroom with dramatic contrasts.

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The beautiful thing about warm metals is just that…they are warm! That means they play well off cool tones such as marble, stone, grey tile, white, neutral beiges, blues and even black…all of which are hues and tones that most homeowners are choosing as their colour palette for every room, not just the bathroom.

When it comes to renovating bathrooms, the design possibilities are as great as your imagination and your budget will allow! The options in bathroom design are almost unlimited.

Consider the various trends and choose the ones that inspire you the most. The role of the bathroom has evolved very much and it is now one of the most functional rooms in the home.

Increase the amount of storage and try to optimize every square inch that is available. The compartments in drawers, storage cabinets and shelves are sought after more than ever and are part of a well thought-out bathroom.

Stowing away your personal items inside closed storage is a good way of contributing to an uncluttered bathroom. The cleaner the space is, the bigger it appears.

The minimalist styled bathrooms are always trendy, but many desire a contemporary bathroom that is more personalized.

White, grey and warmer neutrals are still popular, but many of my clients are daring in choosing bolder patterns, especially in chevron, hexagon or Mediterranean-style motifs.

Marble is making its ‘come-back’ in 2018 for bathrooms. If your desire is to have a space that is sophisticated, clean and classic, then choose this beautiful natural stone, or to save money, opt for the budget friendly imitation marble tiles or slabs.

Rest assured, there is no need to empty your bank account. A variety of materials, much more affordable, have taken on the Statuario appearance. The result: Its elegance has contributed to ‘stepping up a notch’ many bathrooms, even the more budget-friendly ones!

For showers, walls and floors, tiles are still very popular, including porcelain and ceramic. Very trendy right now are various geometric patterns, some with relief, some tone on tone or multi-coloured, and even in patchwork patterns.

There are ceramics on the market that imitate higher-end materials like wood and marble or even concrete. Apart from ceramics, natural stones are preferred, such as quartz and marble.

For the shower, several options are out there, but there is more and more demand for large tiled showers with glass. Also very popular is the fully equipped multi-functional shower including the integration of a bench as well as a steam system.

Don’t forget the ever important storage by adding tile shelves or a niche to hold shampoo, shower gel and soap. There are even wall-mounted soap and shampoo distributors, such as those in hotel rooms, that can be installed to save space and which turn out to be an eco-friendly choice when buying bulk products to refill them.

After having been put aside in the last few years, the bathtub has come back even stronger by being more luxurious, more comfortable and offering more space for the ultimate pampering experience.

The freestanding bathtub is popular and is available in a multitude of shapes: square, oval, round, asymmetrical or rectangular. To maximize the wow- factor, it can be installed in the center of the room if you have the space.

Increasingly popular in Quebec, ‘imitation-wood’ porcelain tiles are a great floor or wall covering that offer the natural beauty of wood and the technical qualities of low-maintenance porcelain.

This type of tile was conceived to be durable and yet it has the natural sophistication of high-quality wood. Choose this product if you want an easy-to-maintain, rustic and inviting bathroom. Consider using it in the shower if you like, it is 100% waterproof.

In the context of a modern bathroom, wood brings a more classic side to the decor by balancing opposing styles. A multitude of types, grains and finishes are available, catering to everybody’s taste.

Contrary to what one might think, this material breathes very well and naturally absorbs humidity, making it a very popular option for the bathroom. However, it is necessary to wipe off the accumulation of water at the exit of the shower or the bath to avoid its deterioration over the long term.

As with any major renovation project, sound planning is required. Several points should be considered before you start and you should take advantage of all the resources at your disposal. For more ideas for your next bathroom project: