Bathrooms

October 5, 2016

28 Spa-Like Bathrooms That Invite Relaxation

The best types of bathrooms reflect different ideas of relaxation; some homeowners can't get enough of indulgences like heated floors and steam showers, while others gravitate towards humble, zen-like spaces with giant rain heads and easy-care wet rooms. One common thread is an emphasis on the beauty of natural materials. Treat yourself to tranquility with these soothing, spa-like bathrooms from the House & Home archives, which invite a long, luxurious soak.

According to designer Colette van den Thillart, the "jewel of the room" is the polished nickel tub she placed smack dab in the center of this 200-square-foot space. Layered iron-framed mirrors and wall sconces over a wall-to-wall mirror makes a huge statement, and lush drapery and marble floors deliver more impact.

Photographer: Alex Lukey

Source: House & Home June 2016 issue

Products: Tub, Catchpole & Rye; tub filler by Waterworks, soap dishes, white towels, Ginger's; vanity fabrication, Den Bosch + Finchley; faucets, Kallista; iron mirrors by Nicky Haslam, Oka Direct; bottle (on table), tray (on vanity), Cynthia Findlay Antiques; sconces by Visual Comfort, Lighting New York; chair upholstery fabric by Pierre Frey, drapery fabric, Primavera; drapery trim, Lee Jofa; custom ceiling fixture, NH Design; flowers, Sweet Woodruff

Designer: Colette van den Thillart

A showstopping, hand-painted cherry blossom mural in silver and gold leafing makes a star turn in this luxurious bathroom by designer Theresa Casey. Paired with a dynamic, warm metal fixture, sculptural standalone tub and mosaic tile floor, this bathroom could double as a gallery.

Photographer: Donna Griffith

Source: House & Home February 2013 issue

Products: Wallpaper by Peter Costello

Designer: Theresa Casey

boho bathroom backsplash tile

The brilliant use of concrete tiles turned the bathing area in H&H senior design editor Sally Armstrong's shower into art. The ikat design isn't too trendy to stand the test of time, and the blue is bright but sophisticated. The shower walls (foreground) and tub enclosure are made from smooth white Corian, for a sleek look.

Photographer: Virginia Macdonald

Source: Ask A Designer Kitchens & Bathrooms Fall 2015 special issue

Products: Architect, Atelier Kastelic Buffey; wall tiles, Popham Design; loofah, soap dish, shower fixtures, Ginger's; black soap, Brika

Designer: Sally Armstrong

Designer James Davie is known for taking a chance with color, and his bathroom lives up to his reputation. The unusual purple veining of the Breccia Capraia marble in this principal ensuite plays off the dramatic freestanding blue tub and red tile. The dramatic grey millwork is just neutral enough to tie it all together.

Photographer: Angus Fergusson

Source: House & Home January 2015 issue

Products: Flooring, Marble Trend; fixtures, tiles, Waterworks; lighting, Remains Lighting; vanity, Bellini Custom Cabinetry; bathtub, Signature Hardware

Designer: James Davie

Bathroom

Designer Karen Cole's clever solution for designing this bathroom around five windows was to mount the mirrors on chrome poles with integrated lights. A freestanding black cabinet grounds this white space, and along with the tribal rug, adds personality.

Photographer: Alex Lukey

Source: Ask A Designer: Kitchens & Bathrooms Fall 2015 special issue

Designer: Karen Cole

Lynda Reeves explored a new breed of farmhouse chic for the 2012 Princess Margaret show home, and the principal ensuite bathroom reflects a mix of rustic and modern. Marble wall tiles define the glassed-in shower, while the eaves make the vaulted ceilings feel intimate. Classic shower and bath fixtures, and limestone flooring, conjure traditional Euro style.

Photographer: Michael Graydon

Source: House & Home 2012 issue

Products: Architectural design by Murakami design; tub, hammam towels, Ginger's; shutters, Canadian Superbilt Shutters; shower enclosure, Mirror Interiors; shower and tub fillers, Axor/Hansgrohe

Designer: Lynda Reeves

Designer Brian Gluckstein is known for his signature "library" bathrooms, and maybe the fascination started with his own well appointed soaker, partially encircled by shelves full of leather-bound books. A mirrored side table, credenza-like vanity and upholstered armchair make this bathroom feel like a living room.

Photographer: Michael Alberstat

Source: House & Home January 2003 issue

Products: Tub, Kohler

Designer: Brian Gluckstein

In 2006, H&H featured the modernist country home of Kelvin Browne. The impressive copper tub at the heart of his bathroom, however, was decidedly old-fashioned and seems to glow against the contrasting spareness of the contemporary concrete floor.

Photographer: Virginia Macdonald

Source: House & Home August 2006 issue

Products: Towel, Restoration Hardware

Designer: Kelvin Browne

Way before Jenna Lyons of J.Crew painted her NYC brownstone black, designer Connie Braemer created a dark retreat that reads as sophisticated, not gloomy. Matte black paint on panelled walls, paired with a black clawfoot tub, is an unexpectedly elegant antidote to predictable, white bathrooms.

Photographer: Virginia Macdonald

Source: House & Home October 2007 issue

Products: Towel stand, pumice stones, towels, Ginger's

Designer: Connie Braemar

This bathroom belonging to Mandy Milks blew up on social media, no doubt in part to the accessible charm of the tub which she painted black to look vintage. Using the Ace Hotel in New York as inspiration, Mandy chose inexpensive but unexpected black hex tiles and she was an early adopter of warm brass accents.

Photographer: Michael Graydon

Source: House & Home March 2013 issue

Products: Tile, Beyond Stone & Tile; fabric, Designer Fabrics; sewing, Tonic Living; stool, Love the Design; hook, Lee Valley; tub, Addison's

Designer: Mandy Milks

We love how designer Sloan Mauran turned Bisazza mosaic tile into an oversized damask pattern that envelopes the walls for major drama in this bathroom belonging to Victoria Webster. The opalescent sheen of the tile's finish and an oversized feather chandelier completes the luxe, lyrical look (see Victoria tour this space and the adjoining bedroom here).

Photographer: Michael Graydon

Source: House & Home January 2010 issue

Products: Wall tile, Bisazza; tub, towel, bathroom accessories, soaps, towels, Ginger's; light, Trianon; console, faucets, Boffi; chair, Sloan Mauran

Designer: Sloan Mauran

The owner of one of Toronto's most beloved decor shops, Absolutely, retailer Viki Mansell used marble slab walls to create a contemporary bathroom that works within a traditional home. A substantial bench provides open storage in the shower, and mirrors the heft of the floating vanity (we also love the unusual custom pulls, made from the lids of horn boxes).

Photographer: Michael Graydon

Source: Kitchens & Baths Fall 2013 special issue

Products: Architect, Jim Pearson Design; contractor, SMK Construction; showerhead, Roman Bath Centre; mirror, vanity set, Absolutely

Designer: Viki Mansell

This unabashedly feminine ensuite bathrom is glam but super functional. Designer Jennifer Worts created the personality her clients craved by wrapping the room in a metallic print wallpaper and panelling, and topping it with a crystal chandelier, which transforms the space into a sparkling spa.

Photographer: Angus Fergusson

Source: House & Home Kitchens & Baths 2010 special issue

Products: Light fixture, Elte; tub filler, Ginger's; Schumacher wallpaper, through Bilbrough & Co.; tiles, Marble Granite Depot; vanity, Jennifer Worts Design; sconces, knobs, Restoration Hardware; faucets, countertop accessories, Ginger's

Designer: Jennifer Worts

Colette van den Thillart's European sensibilities are very much in evidence, even in her Toronto home. An antique zinc tub, neoclassical sconces, rococo bench and deeply veined marble floor lend a romantic mood to this ensuite.

Photographer: Virginia Macdonald

Source: House & Home December 2012 issue

Products: Tub, Christopher Butterworth Antiques; wall color, Pavilion Gray (242) Farrow & Ball

Designer: Colette van den Thillart

This incredibly luxe bathroom in the country home of designer Jill Kantelberg illustrates the point that functional spaces can be lavished with beautiful items. Jill doesn't shy away from employing an 18th-century French side table with its original paint to hold towels, or layer in sumptuous touches such as a Persian carpet and antique wrought-iron chandelier from Europe.

Photographer: Ted Yarwood

Source: House & Home April 2007 issue

Products: Rug, Elte; towels, Restoration Hardware

Designer: Jill Kantelberg

The wallpaper and graphic floor selected by H&H's Kai Ethier drew raves from readers and the homeowners alike (see the video of the entire bathroom here). The freestanding tub and modern glass shower offer a clean feel, and heated flooring with a wireless thermostat ensures feet stay toasty.

Photographer: Valerie Wilcox

Source: House & Home June 2016 issue

Products: Vanity: Sinks, faucets, American Standard, americanstandard.ca; woven baskets (under vanity), Ginger's, gingers.com; canvas basket (under vanity), Pehr Designs, pehrdesigns.com; soaps (on vanity), navy candle (on shelf), Jacob & Sebastian, jacobandsebastian.com. Shower: Subway tile, The Home Depot, homedepot.ca; shower floor tile, Ciot, ciot.com; shower fixtures, American Standard, americanstandard.ca; wall hooks, EQ3, eq3.com; robe, towel, Linen Way, linenway.com. Bathtub: Tub, faucet, American Standard, americanstandard.ca; wallpaper, Hornbeam (BP 5007), Farrow & Ball, farrow-ball.com; wallpaper installation, Katie's Wallpaper Installation & Design, katieswallpaper.ca; roman blind, Tonic Living, tonicliving.com; floor tile, Ciot, ciot.com; plant pot, Anthropologie, anthropologie.com. Tech Savvy: In-floor heat, Nuheat, nuheat.com; toilet, American Standard, americanstandard.ca; washer, dryer, LG, lg.com

Designer: Kai Ethier

This bathroom proves how just a few tweaks can successfully update a traditional space. To give this classic all-white bathroom a more current feel, designer Robyn Young incorporated a Moroccan pendant, full-length patterned drapes on brass rods (a particularly on-trend addition) and a metallic stump stool.

Photographer: Virginia Macdonald

Source: House & Home August 2014 issue

Products: Vanity, Tamer Millwork; drapes, Y&Co; light, Universal Lighting; towels, Gingers; vase, Crate & Barrel; canister, Anthropologie

Designer: Robyn Young

This inviting bathroom designed by Sam Sacks is full of marble tile, but it feels warm and inviting as well. Sam starts by injecting subtle glamor with gold globe sconces and brass fixtures, and softens up the space with a paisley blind and handmade touches such as a stool and basket. Tour the rest of the bathroom here.

Photographer: Alex Lukey

Source: House & Home June 2016 issue

Products: Vanity fabrication, Michael Black; faucets, shower fixture by Kohler, Taps Bath; mirrors, RH Restoration Hardware; sconces, Cedar & Moss; marble dish on vanity, Boo Boo & Lefty; blind fabric, Les Indiennes; floor tile, The Tile store; wall tile, Stone Tile

Designer: Sam Sacks

Nautical themes are an obvious go-to look for a bathroom, but in a lakeside cottage, it acquires authenticity. Cory DeFrancisco of Muskoka Living Interiors designed his own Muskoka cottage bathroom with a porthole window that provides a view of the lake, enamel lights in fresh white, and shiplap panelling.

Photographer: Michael Graydon

Source: House & Home July 2013 issue

Products: Vanities, lighting, mirror, Muskoka Living Interiors; marble slab, marble floor tiles, Ciot

Designer: Muskoka Living Interiors

In the 2015 Princess Margaret Showhome's principal bathroom by Brian Gluckstein, a marble shaving station was installed right in the shower for extra convenience (sparking Brian to want one in his own bathroom).

Photographer: Angus Fergusson

Source: House & Home November 2015 issue

Products: Mosaic flooring, marble, Ciot; wall colour, Creamy White (OC-7), Benjamin Moore

Designer: Brian Gluckstein

Actor Yannick Bisson of Murdoch Mysteries fame loves the treehouse appeal of his Toronto bathroom, where a sculptural egg-shaped tub takes advantage of the spectacular outdoor views. The deck offers privacy so no blinds are necessary and the windowsill doubles as storage. The striking chandelier designed by Luceplan resembles a luminescent sea creature.

Photographer: Alex Lukey

Source: House & Home March 2014 issue

Products: Tub, Ginger's; Kohler tub filler, Taps; limestone floor tiles, Stone Tile; striped towel, Au Lit

Designer: Eric McClelland

Subway tile wainscotting lends a slightly old-school look to Michelle and Kenny Gemmhill's glassed-in shower, but there is way too much light and space for anyone to mistake it as period. An inlaid tile treatment in the enclosure and ornate floor tiles add interest.

Photographer: Tracey Ayton

Source: House & Home July 2015 issue

Products: Floor, wall tiles, Creekside Tile; tub, shower fauct, Emco; towels, Country Furniture

Designer: Michelle Gemhill

Designer Silvano D'Addazio's doesn't play it safe with color. The subway tiles in an unexpected fondant shade of lavender in her bathroom drew major love (see a video of this designer's entire home here). Framing the tile like panelling makes the space feel extra polished.

Photographer: Michael Graydon

Source: House & Home January 2014 issue

Products: Mirror design, Silvana D'Addazio Design; mirror fabrication; Bazay Blacksmithing; taps, sonces, Ginger's; tile, Versatile

Designer: Silvana D'Addazio

Designers Sarah Richardson and Tommy Smythe shoehorned a shower into the former powder room of this condo, but just because space was tight didn't mean they couldn't pack the room with statement moves. They continued the high-impact diamond floor pattern from the entry hall for continuity, and lavished the shower stall enclosure with marble tile.

Photographer: Stacey Brandford

Source: House & Home February 2013

Products: Mirror, Green's Antiques; fixtures, Taps Bath Centre; tiles, Saltillo

Designer: Sarah Richardson and Tommy Smythe

In this B.C. bathroom designed by Tanya Schoenroth, the vanity extends the length of the wall to offer a range of storage, and a marble niche over the tub keeps toiletries at hand in an artful way. Black metal pendants have an industrial feel, but it's the heated Moroccan floor tiles that are firmly the focus of this room.

Photographer: Janis Nicolay

Source: Kitchens & Baths 2016 special issue

Products: Floor tile, Popham Design; vanity fabrication, Swiss Touch Construction; pendants, Arteriors; faucets, Aquabrass; sinks, Victoria + Albert

Designer: Tanya Schoenroth

There's a zen purity to this bathroom by designer Ashley Botten. The floating white oak vanity keep surfaces uncluttered, while a glassed-in steam shower lined in porcelain tile offsets the warmth of the wood, and includes a shallow shelf for toiletries.

Photographer: Alex Lukey

Source: House & Home June 2016 issue

Products: Vanity design, mirror, Ashley Botten Design; vanity fabrication, Nick Day Design; countertop, York Marble; shower fixtures, Waterworks; towels, Ginger's; wall colour, Oxford White (CC-30), Benjamin Moore; tub, Wetstyle; faucets, bath fixtures, Waterworks; cabinet, towel bar design, Ashley Botten Design; cabinet fabrication, Nick Day Design; towel bar fabrication, Ridgely Studio Works; towel, Ginger's; floor and wall tile, Stone Tile; vases by Astier de Villatte, Advice from a Caterpillar; stool, Mjolk; bathmat, Agape

Designer: Ashley Botten

It's hard not to feel transported by the tropical vacay vibe of Monica and Michael Belcourt's home in the Dominican Republic. It effectively blurs the lines between indoor and outdoor spaces, and the huge sliding doors in the spa-like bathroom all but erase those boundaries. The tub sits on stones from the garden while the coral stone walls remain cool despite the island heat.

Photographer: Virginia Macdonald

Source: House & Home May 2012 issue

Products: Fixtures, Philippe Starck

Sumptuous and pretty, this Palm Beach principal bathroom by Les Ensembliers is layered and luxurious. A bamboo ladder and dragon ginger jar inject a Far East flair to a spa-like marble tub surround and vanity counter.

Photographer: André Rider

Source: House & Home June 2016 issue

Products: Ginger jar, Celadon; figurines, ladder, Asian Accents of Palm Beach; side table, Jennifer Garrigues; hand towels, Kassatly's; small jars (on counter), Island Home

Designer: Les Ensembliers