Are Bathrooms Becoming the New Social Space at Home?
Image: Freshome
The dividing line between bedroom and bathroom has been disappearing for several years now. I remember the first time I checked into a boutique hotel where the entire bathroom was integrated into the bedroom—without even a minimal division as shown by the glass walls above. There were no walls (glass or otherwise) present in my room, and I thought at the time that it wouldn’t be too long before this trend would appear in homes.
Last week I had the distinct pleasure of joining my friends from Caesarstone at Design Construction Week 2014: the place where the kitchen and bath industry (KBIS) collaborate with international builders (IBS), and create an extravaganza of everything new and exciting for home and commercial spaces. Some of what I saw there may indicate an even more visible role for the bathroom in new homes.
Image: Quality Bath
Glowing Sinks
Not only do these sinks from the Luminist line at Toto glow with built in LED lighting, they are made sustainably. More importantly, perhaps for this discussion, they are distinct conversation pieces that seem to invite group activity and social interaction. I mean, what good is a glowing sink without someone to chat about it with?
Image: Gizmodo
Showerhead Speakers
Kohler’s Moxie speaker provides hours of sing-along time in your shower, and comes out of the showerhead itself for recharging. Bluetooth enabled, it could be used elsewhere in your home—but since it’s specifically made for the bathroom I suggest diming the lights, turning on the sinks, and partying the night away right there.
Image: Ander Interieur
Fireplaces
I saw multiple brands showcasing fireplaces in the kitchen and bathroom section of the big show. Clearly, it makes sense to include one in the new social space for those daytime gatherings in winter, when there may be too much natural light for the warm glow you seek.
The Ultimate Social Feature
Of course, anyone who is serious about maximizing the social component of the bathroom will want to include a large flat-screen television. Just put it above the fireplace, as shown here—but remember to dim the sinks and turn off the showerhead!
Are you ready for your bathroom to become the new hangout at your home?
