Right shower fixtures can turn bathroom into spa

“Necessity is not an established fact, but an interpretation.” — Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (1844 –1900), German philosopher, “The Will to Power” (1888)

If a new bathroom is in your future, you are in for a real treat. The sinks, cabinetry, baths and showers available will absolutely delight and amaze you. Since we all believe that being clean is a necessity, we might as well make getting clean special and fun.

A friend asked me several years ago to help her pick out all new parts for a renovated bathroom. She had lived with a dreary old master bathroom for the 10 years she had been in the house, and her husband was giving her a new bathroom for their anniversary.

The bathroom had an old iron tub with a hand-held shower, outdated cabinets, a huge wall mirror over the sink, “Hollywood” lights and — horror of horrors — carpet on the floors. Please don’t ever do this!

Since my friend lived on the East Coast, I couldn’t be there to help in person so I prowled around online to find things for her to view. We could look at products together in virtual stores and it worked. We managed to find new tile flooring, awesome cabinets, vessel sinks, a soaking tub and new shower enclosure.

The most fun we had was picking a shower. You may not have given that much thought before, but getting the right shower fixtures can “change your life” according to my friend. How many shower heads and what size and shape are the main considerations.

The most unusual and amazing ones I found for her were from Jaclo (www.jaclo.com). The company has been around since 1961 and manufactures decorative plumbing products and advanced shower solutions. You have to see some of the shower surprises to believe them.

The most unusual product I found is the Dream Light Rain Canopy. According to the promotional material, “Jaclo’s Dream Light Rain Canopy enables bathers to experience revitalizing color while fulfilling a daily ritual.” The canopy features LED lights that illuminate the falling water. Just imagine enjoying a rejuvenating shower and having a light show at the same time. My friend decided against the color, but did go with one of the other products called the Dream Rectangular Light — no color, just light.

If you are lucky enough to get a new bathroom, pay attention to those pieces that are important to you. In my friend’s case, she chose the shower to be a luxury item and had definite ideas about what she wanted.

If lights in the shower are just a little too much for you, there are many manufacturers of bathroom fixtures and inspirations. Do your homework —online or by visiting local bath or home improvement stores — and select those items to make your dream bathroom special.

Just a word of caution. Make sure it’s what you want before you spend the money. I had another friend here in Las Vegas who spent a small fortune on a new master shower and has had nothing but regrets. But guess what: It’s too late. It wasn’t necessarily the equipment she picked, but those who installed it.

Be very selective and get references and also ask to see work of trade folks you get to install your equipment, flooring, tile, etc. You can select the most awesome tile, fixtures and finishes, but if they are installed incorrectly, you won’t be a happy camper. So picking out the product is just a small part of your decision process.

In addition to making you happy by having a new super-cool bathroom, as we all know, bathrooms are huge selling features if you put your house on the market. My East Coast friend sold her house last year and the master bath was the highlight of the showings. Good decisions will pay off — in multiple ways.

So there are lots of things to take into consideration. Make a checklist and be sure you follow it through.

Carolyn Muse Grant is a founder and past president of the Architectural &Decorative Arts Society, as well as an interior design consultant/stylist specializing in home staging. Send questions to creativemuse@cox.net.