Today's luxury bathrooms include all the aesthetic elements present in the rest of the home. Their utilitarian purpose has been overshadowed in recent years by a growing range of upscale design options, from the sybaritic pleasures promised by mood-elevating chromatherapy baths to artistic touches like vessel sinks made from wood or stone, to showers that create a soothing rain-like experience or envelop you in therapeutic steam.

Add functional elements such as towel-warming drawers and electric radiant floor heating systems, and more whimsical improvements like futuristic toilets and entertainment systems incorporated directly into bathroom fixtures, and the luxury bathroom becomes a private retreat where "you can go to rejuvenate yourself in the morning and wash away [your cares] in the evening," says David O'Neil, president of Renaissance Tile & Bath, headquartered in Atlanta, Ga. "These are no longer spaces we just move through, but spaces we live in."

Three Key Elements
Creating a luxury bathroom involves three key elements, explains O'Neil: the visual, which includes luxury finishes on the walls, flooring and fixtures; the tactile, such as heated floors, towel warmers and steam units; and the emotional, including the use of lighting and sound to create the right atmosphere.
With the trend moving toward homes with "a bathroom for every bedroom," each bath can have its own identity, notes Gray Uhl, director of design for American Standard in Piscataway, N.J. Examples include "a retreat for the master bath, a family-oriented bath for the kids and a welcoming experience for the guest bath." Here are some options available to homeowners who want to take their baths to the next level of comfort.

Showers and Tubs
Form and function are given equal attention in today's luxury bathrooms, and nowhere is this more evident than in the design of showers and tubs. But it's important to begin by separating these into two distinct units. Then it's all about size and features.

Generally, tubs are for relaxation and soaking, while showers are designed for a quicker cleansing experience. Still, in a luxury bathroom, it's "all about the spa experience," says nationally known lifestyle designer Barclay Butera. "While you may not have time to soak [in a tub], walk-in showers can still create the spa feel and work [better] with your schedule."

Spa-like water delivery options include multiple body jets, which are small showerheads that can be adjusted so they spray the body from different angles; overhead showering panels such as Kohler's WaterTile Ambient Rain system, which uses no less than 54 spray nozzles to create a rain-like shower experience; and thermostatically controlled shower valves such as American Standard's Ceratherm thermostat, which enables homeowners to set the desired temperature of the water when showering by using a single handle.

Another option is Jacuzzi's Ristorre Shower Collection, which is available in four shower tower styles that can be installed using existing plumbing lines and drains. The showers feature rain showerheads and multifunction hand showers, all encased in curving waves of glass and chrome designed to make an artistic statement in the bathroom.

For a truly "hot" experience, homeowners can opt for a steam shower such as Novak and Company's iSteamShower, a computerized steam shower with a 3,000-watt steam generator, two showerheads and a control pad that enables users to not only control the steam and auto-water massaging functions but also lighting and music (users can listen to FM radio, CDs and even an iPod, which connects wirelessly to the shower). Not only can a steam bath help relieve stress but it also has therapeutic value, since it can increase circulation and help detoxify the body, according to the manufacturer.

Homeowners seeking a true luxury experience can incorporate chromatherapy (using color to improve one's mood) or aromatherapy (using scents) into a shower or tub. The iSteam-Shower, for instance, has a cup that can be filled with fragrances for aromatherapy. Similarly, the MindShower, a steam enclosure from WaSauna, has an integrated lavender aromatherapy system designed to improve the showering experience.

Obviously showers are becoming more sophisticated. But for washing away the stresses and strains of everyday life, nothing beats a long relaxing soak in a tub - a fact companies such as Toto, Jacuzzi, American Standard and Neptune counted on when developing their latest product lines.

Today's luxury tubs are available in a variety of sizes and materials, and feature an increasing array of upscale features. One of the newest enhancements marries the relaxation of a water massage with pulsed air. The Air Bath from Toto, for instance, gently distributes heated air through 16 jets to both stimulate and relax the bather. Similarly, whirlpool baths from American Standard now feature flat Comfort Jets, which are flush-mounted, treated with anti-microbial AlphaSan and circulate water gently to provide a relaxing hydromassage.

Jacuzzi, the originator of whirlpool tubs, offers a wide selection of tubs in its Luxury Collection, including soaking baths, whirlpools and Pure Air baths, which envelop and gently massage the body with thousands of warm air bubbles. Baths with built-in heaters and chromatherapy underwater lighting systems, as well as numerous other features, are also available.

Saint-Hyacinthe, Canada-based Neptune has taken a slightly different approach with its line of luxury tubs, which seek to foster an almost Zen-like bathroom experience. In fact, the company makes a Zen bathtub line, including the Zen 3260, which has 12 rotating back and foot jets and eight side jets enclosed in a minimalist design, and the Bora, a diamond-shaped corner bath with simple geometric lines.

For those who want to stay connected while soaking, the latest trend is incorporating entertainment options in the bath. WaSauna, for instance, offers a whirlpool bathtub with a built-in waterproof TV and a waterproof remote control, while Baden Bath makes whirlpool tubs with a fold-down flat-panel television screen, a DVD player, an AM/FM/CD stereo system and even a wine cooler.

Sinks and Vanities
Options for luxury bathroom sinks go far beyond the standard white porcelain. More and more, luxury baths are all about bringing natural materials, such as wood and stone, into the space in new and unique ways.

The Wood Sink collection from Eden Bath, for instance, consists of square or circular vessel sinks (which sit on the countertop) made of light or dark oak, as well as natural teak. The manufacturer notes that the handcrafted wood sinks require special care, but can be an artistic addition to any bathroom.
Stone Forest offers a collection of handcrafted stone sinks made from such materials as granite, marble, onyx, basalt and travertine, in a variety of colors, textures and styles. The company will also make special-order bathtubs from onyx, marble and other types of stone.

Also among the Stone Forest collection is a sink made of bamboo, called the Moso Bamboo Vessel sink. The company uses only a wood sealer and coat of wax in the crafting process.

For those who favor a clearer view, Kohler recently introduced glass sinks designed for strength, durability and easy cleaning. The Facet glass sink, for example, has a unique triangular base that provides visual impact. Also available from Kohler is the Antilla Wading Pool, a large glass rectangular sink that provides ample area for the homeowner's use.

For a dash of color, WaSauna offers a collection of vessel sinks that combine art and functionality. Designed by American and Italian artists, the sinks are made of tempered glass and are colored in deep reds, blues, greens and yellows, as well raindrop and mosaic patterns. Or, if you prefer, you can order a sink decorated with penguins, butterflies or even the "Mona Lisa."

As for the placement of sinks, two-vanity arrangements have superseded the twin-sink style, so a couple can share the master bath without bumping elbows, notes Ruth Mortensen, Allied Member, ASID of Susan Fredman & Associates, Ltd. of Chicago, Ill.

Dual vanities also help satisfy the storage space issue, since luxury bathrooms require lots of luxury accessories. "Smart, luxury designs for the bathroom find a place to keep all the goods and gadgets - everything from aromatherapy products to sound systems," notes Uhl.

Walls, Floors and More
Beyond these basics, there are many other options available to homeowners seeking to create the perfect luxury bathroom, especially when it comes to walls, countertops and flooring. With luxury baths nearly 50 percent larger than the typical bathroom, notes O'Neil, there are a lot more vertical and horizontal spaces to cover.

"Clients are using multiple surface materials and paying close attention to how those materials can soothe one's eye," explains Tom Hackett, manager of Imagine Your Home by Orren Pickell, located in Northfield, Ill. "In regards to the stone materials used, granite is still king but other stones such as onyx, limestone and slate are catching up."

And it's not just horizontal surfaces that can be upgraded to stone. "With advances in technology, almost anything is possible now," says Mark Fernandes, chairman of the Natural Stone Council in Hollis, N.H. His organization promotes what it calls Genuine Stone, including granite, limestone, marble, sandstone and slate, which can be incorporated throughout the luxury bathroom with ease.

Natural stone is now manufactured in thin sheets that can be placed on walls and ceilings, working within the existing structural system of the home. Stone tiles are available as small as one-inch square for mosaics and as large as two-by-three feet for floors and walls.

There are other options for luxury bathrooms as well, such as towel warming drawers, available from Jacuzzi, and technologically advanced toilets, like the Neorest from Toto, which features a seat warmer, an auto-flush function and a lid that automatically opens and closes.

A must in any luxury bathroom, to keep those floors warm on cool days and nights, is an electric radiant heat flooring system, available from such companies as Warmly Yours and Watts Radiant. NuHeat, a British Columbia, Canada-based manufacturer of radiant electric floor heating systems, recently introduced a new programmable thermostat for its radiant floor heating system. The thermostat, which mounts behind any double-gang faceplate, is Energy Star-rated and makes it easy to use power efficiently while maintaining the flooring at an optimal comfortable temperature.

Ultimately, when creating a luxury bath environment, the key word is "environment," says Roland Arnold, a design expert at Arizona Tile, an importer of tile and natural stone. "With today's advances in home technology, there are more luxury amenities available now than ever before. There is a desire to bring the spa home." The many options available today make it possible for homeowners to do just that.

Nancy Christie writes regularly for Smart HomeOwner. She's based in Austintown, Ohio.