Here’s to a Better Bath
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They may be among our smallest indoor spaces, but washing-up rooms are central to our sense of peace and well-being. That helps explain why the various elements that go into a well-designed bath or laundry room come in such a wide range of styles, functions, and prices. We studied the latest trends and combed through countless options to find new solutions for these hardworking spaces. Here, TOH separates the best from the rest.
1. SMART ALL-IN-ONE WASHER & DRYER
Whirlpool
No space? No problem. Slip this ventless, duct-free washer/dryer combo into the nearest plumbed and wired corner. It’s just 24 inches wide and 28 inches deep, and it cycles socks from smelly to toasty all on its own. You may want one on each floor of the house.
$1,439; Whirlpool
Buy now at The Home Depot
2. CURVED SHOWER ROD WITH MAGNETIX
Moen
Draw me a shower and make it snappy—the magnetic posts embedded at each end of this adjustable-length rod deftly grab the end rings so the curtain doesn’t flap around. Your now-snug enclosure has extra room for maneuvering, thanks to that genius curve.
$57; Amazon
Learn more about the Curved Shower Rod in the video below:
Top 20 Bath: Moen
3. DUQUESA CEMENT TILE COLLECTION
Walker Zanger
Nothing compares to the look of authentic cement tile, which only gets better with age. These 8-inch squares, handmade from cement, marble dust, and mineral pigments, weather well indoors and out.
From left: Fatima, Alba, and Fez, $21 per square foot; Walker Zanger
4. NANO TOILET
Niagara Conservation
Finally, a compact toilet with a downsized tank and an elongated bowl. Even better: This water miser has a vacuum-assist so it draws just a bit over a half gallon per flush, on average.
$204 (single flush), $215 (dual flush); Niagara
5. XSQUARE VANITY
Duravit
Floating vanities are plain swank and free up floor space, making mopping a cinch. This one, crafted from MDF, is enhanced with chrome trim and a choice of 28 finishes, from wood-look to what the maker calls “matt” light blue and “matt satin” aubergine. High-performance ceramic allows the washbasin shown to have stylishly thin walls that stand up to hard knocks.
23-inch vanity, $1,260, and washbasin, $675; Duravit
6. MONARCH COLLECTION KNOBS AND PULLS
Belwith-Keeler
Gentle curves and detailing give this hardware a graceful profile. The collection includes fluted knobs and angled pulls 11⁄8 to 12 inches wide, and finishes like polished nickel and oil-rubbed bronze.
From $9.49; Belwith Keeler
7. BRILLIANCE LUXE GOLD FINISH
Brizo
Four additional faucet collections—including this Rook lav model—now come in this new finish as warm and rich as, well, gold.
$1,099 as shown (spout and handles sold separately); Brizo
8. TRELLIS OAK TILE COLLECTION
Daltile
Get the beauty of hardwood with the easy care and low cost of large-format porcelain tile. Options include the chevron pattern on these 18-by-36-inch rectangles, lattice-weave mosaics that evoke parquet, or simple planks. All can finish walls as well as floors.
$5.50 per square foot; Daltile
9. TOWN SQUARE S PEDESTAL SINK
American Standard
Nothing says period bath like a pedestal sink, and this well- priced model has updated lines and edging that mimic crown molding. It measures 30 by 22½ inches and stands ready to receive a single center-hole faucet.
Buy now on Amazon
10. OMBRÉ VIBRANT FAUCET FINISH
Kohler
Subtly shifting from cool titanium to warm rose gold (shown) or rose gold to polished nickel, this ombré finish can turn an ordinary fixture into something utterly unique. Available on a small selection of faucets.
From $976; Kohler
11. BACCARAC SOAKING TUB
Thompson Traders
Hand-hammered copper in a rose-gold finish has got to be close to the last word in luxury, and this insulated, double-walled tub conducts and holds heat nicely for those who want to linger. Like a fine automobile, it should be waxed two or three times a year.
$7,899; Thompson Traders
12. RIGBY 1-LIGHT BATH SCONCE
House of Antique Hardware
The mesh shade on this 8-inch-high nickel-finish steel sconce diffuses light and, together with the edge detail, softens the fixture’s industrial profile, allowing it to complement any style of bath.
$130 (bulb, about $14); House of Antique Hardware
13. PEAK HEX NERO ENCAUSTIC TILE
Merola Tile
Picture a powder room amped up by a trompe l’oeil floor that pays homage to traditional black and white hex tile while also offering a more modern geometric pattern and the installation ease of larger pieces. Roughly 9 by 10 inches, the porcelain tiles have a medium-sheen and encaustic-look glaze.
$11.12 per square foot; Merola Tile
Buy now at The Home Depot
14. VITALITY LIGHTED MIRROR
Robern
Not your father’s sink mirror: With a defogger and integrated LED lights that can dim all the way down, this stylishly sleek, superfunctional reflecting glass will ease you out the door with nary a hair out of place. Available in two color temperatures.
From $404; Robern
Buy now on Amazon
15. CARRIONE CABINET HARDWARE
Amerock
Soup up an off-the-shelf vanity with a touch of faux marble. This handcrafted mixed-materials collection includes these tactile zinc-based pulls in five finishes, and offers a chance to incorporate a stone look with zero hassle.
$13 to $40; Amerock
Buy now on Amazon
16. WILLOW COLLECTION KNOBS AND PULLS
Hickory Hardware
These pretty pulls only look handcrafted. They’re available in two weights (including this twig-like version), five sizes, and, like the two matching knobs, four finishes.
From $4.99; Hickory Hardware
Buy now on Amazon
17. ADVANCED CLEAN SPALET BIDET SEAT
American Standard
A fancy bidet can be pricey and a pain to put in. This plug-in toilet seat does an end run with two self-cleaning water nozzles that can be adjusted for spray strength and temperature—and the seat heats up too. Supplied fittings allow for a DIY install with just a screwdriver, plus access to an outlet and a supply line.
From $389; American Standard
Buy now at Amazon
18. WALLINGFORD BATH VANITY IN LAPIS NIGHT
Strasser Woodenworks
A deep, vivid blue, inspired by lapis lazuli, adds warmth and sophistication to this solid-wood, furniture-style vanity, allowing it to walk the line between traditional and trendy.
From $1,260 (without the sink top); Strasser Woodenworks
19. SIDEKICK SHOWER SYSTEM
Peerless
This multitasker’s handshower docks right on the main spray head and is useful for rinsing babies, sandy feet, and—using the replaceable, self-stick cleaning pad—the walls as well. There’s even a rubbery attachment to give the dog a shampoo-massage.
$70; Peerless
Buy now at Amazon
20. SHAWS ORIGINAL BELFAST BATHROOM BASIN
Rohl
The insanely popular farmhouse sink has been reimagined for vanity tops and laundry rooms as a petite 18-by-14-inch vessel, made in England from fireclay in a process that takes a month. Let the next bath remodel begin!
$525; Rohl
