When it comes to room additions,
a bathroom is second in popularity
only to a bedroom.
A
bath addition can also be
a good investment. If the
houses in your neighborhood
have 2½ baths and yours
has 1½, you'll get
a high return on your money
if you add the extra bathroom,
says Sal Alfano, editorial
director for Remodeling magazine.
A
moderate bathroom addition
averages about $22,977, and
homeowners get about 86.4
percent of that back when
they sell the house, according
to a 2005 report by Remodeling.
An upscale project averages
$47,212 and will return 85.8
percent.
One
of the typical reasons to
add a bath is to accommodate
a larger shower with multiple
shower heads, a large soaker
tub or a jetted tub, says
Al Pattison, president of
the National
Kitchen & Bath Association.
Heated towel racks, which
require a little extra space,
are also popular in bathroom
additions.
When
his clients add a bathroom,
they tend to either knock
out the wall between two bathrooms
to create one large bath or
they add square footage to
the floor plan of the home
to enlarge an existing bathroom.
We're
seeing more televisions built
into the space as well, says
Pattison. One of his clients
is installing a TV that's
built into a bathroom mirror.
When the set is off, it's
a regular mirror; when the
set is on, the TV screen shows
through the glass.
Homeowners
want larger spaces that are
more ergonomically designed,
says Bob Garner, president-elect
of the National Kitchen &
Bath Association. And a luxury
bathroom "becomes an
area where they can escape
and get away from the day."
Lower
cost
Customize your vanity. Vanities
can come in different heights,
so select the height and style
that will suit your family
best. And if two of you get
ready for work at the same
time, consider a double sink.
Moderate
cost
Set the stage for relaxation.
Include a sound system and
a variety of indirect light
sources (plus a dimmer switch)
or skylights in your bathroom
addition plans.
Higher
cost
Consider aesthetics. Want
to have a nice long soak without
having to stare at the commode?
Design your new bathroom to
include a separate water closet
for the toilet. Another high-end
touch: etched glass or glass
brick to let in natural light
while maintaining privacy.
Picture courtesy of
Kraftmaid, RETNA LTD and Sharon Sherman, CKD/NKBA
