RENOVATIONS: Where the plumbing becomes electric

The bathroom may be one of the smallest rooms in the household but it packs a lot of punch.

In fact, bathrooms rank with kitchens when it comes to their value within the household and their return on investment.

More than that, the bathroom has grown increasingly important to time-stressed homeowners looking for a sanctuary in which to relax and unwind after a hectic day at work -- all of which is why beautifying the space and keeping it relevant and desirable is more important now than ever.

"Bathrooms have increased importance due to what we're doing in that space versus what we used to do in that space," says Diana Schrage, senior interior designer at the Kohler design centre. "Just like the kitchen used to be an area where people went in and cooked, now that kitchen has become a socializing space. We're seeing the same expansion in the bathroom yet for different reasons."

Schrage says the average person spends up to seven years in their bathroom during their lifetime; therefore the space needs to work efficiently and be non-stressful.

One of the ways to make over your bathroom in a trendy yet efficient manner is to introduce bathroom furniture into the space.

Integrated tub basins are fashionable products that combine aesthetically pleasing sinks, fixtures, countertops and storage all in one piece. The integrated sinks can come in such high-end materials as cast iron or glass, creating a sleek contemporary look. And another plus -- they're easy to find and install.

"It meets a couple of criteria," says Schrage. "People want something high-end but they don't want to spend forever searching and Googling and driving all over matching a lot of complicated pieces. It's a simple one-stop solution."

De-stressing the space can also be achieved with colour -- sprucing up the room with splashes of trendy shades will not only make the space appealing but welcoming as well. It's also an area where homeowners can add a splash of fun to redecorating.

"The bathroom is a place where you can sometimes have a lot of fun," says Debbie Travis, design guru. "If you're intimidated by putting an amazingly bright colour in your living room, you can always try it in the bathroom. You can be brave in there."

And when it comes to finding the hottest colours, Travis suggests turning on your television for inspiration.

"We're following fashion," says Travis. "If you watched the Academy Awards, whatever they wore, we're going to be doing that in our home. For instance, remember the lovely cobalt blue dress Kate Winslet wore to the Golden Globes, we're seeing a lot of that blue in home accessories and shower curtains."

In addition to Hollywood's influence, homeowners are safe to keep in line with such cooler shades of the palette as greys and purples.

"Grey has replaced brown," says Travis. "We've seen a lot of blue and brown in the last few years and now we're seeing a lot of greys."

Fixtures are no exception when it comes to picking fashionable pieces. They're becoming more decorative and mimicking the jewelry trends seen in the fashion sector. Silver and brushed nickel used to be the go-to trend for sink fixtures but 2009 is seeing a gold comeback.

"We used to never mix gold and silver but now look at the way people wear jewelry," says Travis. "Now we're starting to see that in taps."

Colour is not only being used to makeover the space, it's being introduced as a way to heal stressed-out homeowners emotionally, spiritually and mentally. Chromotherapy can be installed in your bathtub or shower wherein an overhead lighted panel reflects a specific colour or scene to help relax and heal homeowners while they bathe. Scenes including a sunrise, sunset or lightning storm can also be depicted from above or simply a change of colours to inspire and relax.

Beyond that, the act of bathing is getting even more high-tech with the use of digital thermostatic valve systems. Homeowners can preset such desired features as length of shower, water temperature, degree of water massage, what music they'd like to hear while showering and what chromotherapy they'd like to experience in the media box. Then all they have to do is press a button, hop in and enjoy.

"Technology in the bathroom is one of the most dramatic changes," says Schrage.

"We're getting smarter houses and having more things done for us with pre-sets and now the bathroom is no exception."

(prepared by Rachel Naud/Vancouver Sun)