Less Stress, More Bliss
While many plans and vacations are in limbo or rescheduled, more and more of us are moving forward with new plans—including upgrading our homes. That’s because more of us are spending more time at home than ever before. “People are appreciating their homes more during the pandemic,” says Brian Miller of Excel Remodeling in Lemoyne. “And the kitchen and master bath are the top two pieces of equity you can put into your home.”
So, move over, dream vacations. The surprise trend of 2020? Dream bathrooms where you can experience a spa-like getaway, a little oasis, in the comfort of your own home. Enjoy this tour of three Central PA dream bathrooms, including design tips that could help you too escape everyday stress and find bliss.
The Techie Serene Spa
Instead of traveling to the spa, these homeowners wanted to bring the spa home. So, with the help of Excel Remodeling, they created a spa-like experience under their own roof.
“That’s why we went with a more mono-chromatic and inviting ambiance—nothing too jarring—it’s all very soothing to the eye,” says Miller, a certified bath and kitchen designer. “People don’t spend a ton of time in the bathroom, but when they do, they want it to be a serene space.”
He’s been a designer at Excel for 16 years, but the Harrisburg-area remodeling company has been around much longer. A family-owned business, Excel celebrated its 50th anniversary last March.
Over the years, bathroom upgrades have gone high-tech. And this spa-like bathroom includes quite a few techie touches. A steam shower with duel rain showerheads offers options for aromatherapy (think fragrant lavender or eucalyptus-scented capsules) and chromatherapy (mood lighting, anyone?). Elegant, modern tile creates clean design lines that set the stage for relaxation. A long bench inside the steam shower provides the perfect space to put your feet up when the steam starts.
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“Rain showers continues to be strong, but the newer part is the ability to put in aromatherapy—it’s very clever,” Miller said.
And these homeowners have options—a freestanding, two-person bathtub is on the opposite end of this blissed-out bathroom. The tub is also tricked out with technology: It includes chromatherapy features for soothing colored lighting options.
The couple’s new double vanity includes full mirrors—and the lights above them give off a special 3D effect. But the real magic is tucked away inside the center console. That’s where the electrical outlets are hiding, with shelving and spaces for all the bathroom appliances we need today—electric toothbrushes, hairdryers and straighteners, and all the cords that connect them. “If you can do it, clients love it,” Miller says. “Everything is easily accessible, already plugged in, and nobody wants their bathroom counters to be cluttered.”
Bathroom remodels can present creative challenges. This project transformed a walk-in closet into the steam shower.
“You don’t see steam showers often, due to the space they require,” Miller says. “One of the biggest challenges was running the plumbing for the steam shower—we found a shaft through a closet in the foyer below. The previous shower
was on the opposite side of the bathroom originally.”
From start to finish, experiencing a home remodeling project with each client is rewarding, says Miller.
“The best part of my job is seeing their faces light up—it’s very satisfying, especially for a space like this that they’re going to use on a daily basis.”
Excel Remodeling
570 South Third Street Lemoyne, PA 17043 | excelremodeling.com
An Award-Winning Oasis
Taking a shower can make you feel brand-new, but how many homeowners can say their brand-new bathroom is award-winning? This remodeled bathroom, called “an oasis” by the homeowner, snagged designer Betsy Rosengrant-Stein a 2019 PEAK Achievement Award by the York Builders Association.
Originally, this bathroom was a small master bath—but luckily, there was a laundry room next door—so Rosengrant-Stein was able to combine the two rooms into one spacious master bath.
“The two windows were part of our challenge—that’s exactly why the shower is that size—it’s located between the two windows,” says Rosengrant-Stein, Owner and President of K.D. Rosengrant Building and Remodeling, of York.
“The nicest thing was being able to utilize the light by creating a three-sided enclosure for the shower by using clear glass,” Rosengrant-Stein says.
Inside the shower, there are three shower head options—the main one, plus rain and handheld shower heads. A specialty valve allows the homeowner to switch between the three functions. Underfoot, the shower has a hidden linear drain concealed by tile.
“The biggest constraint in bathrooms is space,” says Rosengrant-Stein. “The second biggest constraint can be budget. So sometimes we can’t make a shower bigger, but we say, ‘How can we make it more special?’”
Additional bathroom features include furniture-grade dual vanities, granite countertops, and even matching granite placed in the sill under the bathroom door.
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“The bathroom would have been lovely, but the stone veneer wall was the finishing touch—it brought the room and colors together,” says Rosengrant-Stein.
Bathrooms are big business for Rosengrant-Stein. She says they account for about half of her remodeling business’ gross revenue. She completed 26 bathroom projects in 2018 and another 23 in 2019.
“About five years ago we started to transition the business to focus on the fine details of interior work in bathrooms and kitchens,” says Rosengrant-Stein. “There’s probably a nicer way to say this, but the devil’s in the details. My team and I are always talking about the details—we take a lot of pride in them.”
Another source of pride is carrying on the family business that bears her father’s name.
“I think about him all the time—I want to make my dad proud because when he sold me the business, he sold me his name,” she says.
Today, she oversees the company’s interior work while her husband oversees outdoor projects. The couple, married for 25 years, met while serving in the U.S. Coast Guard. That makes K.D. Rosengrant Building and Remodeling both a woman-owned and veteran-owned company, with a long history of serving customers throughout York County.
“It’s incredibly important to protect my dad’s name and the name of the company over the past 60 years,” says Rosengrant-Stein. “You can’t mess around with that.”
K.D. Rosengrant Building & Remodeling
1337 Mt. Rose Avenue York, PA 17403 | kdrosengrant.com
Customized Comfort
Customization is the key to a dream bathroom, according to Tim Doutrich of Lancaster County’s Paradise Custom Kitchens. He’s part owner, vice president of operations, and a designer of 34 years in the family-based business.
“The bathroom needs to be tailored to the person—I’m very sensitive to very tall and very short people,” says Doutrich, who stands 6 feet, three inches.
Shower heads and vanity heights can be customized so that everyday use is comfortable. And customizations are vital for those with disabilities.
“Heated floors and heat lamps are important for people with disabilities who need warm bathrooms,” Doutrich advises.
The look of today’s custom bathroom is, well, clean.
“The trend is a more transitional, minimalist approach to the bathroom—a lot of clean lines, flat panel doors and white colors,” Doutrich says.
He describes the dream shower setup: tiled showers with half-walls, glass on top, with swinging shower doors that go both ways, trough drains (“Because who wants to stand on a center drain?,” he asks), and recessed niches in the half wall(“so that no one sees all your stuff”, he adds).
Glass clearly has come a long way. Doutrich uses treated glass in the showers he designs because it has a “rain-x” formula that stays relatively clean all the time.
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He’s also a big fan of removeable shower heads. Not only are they easier to clean, but he points to two additional uses that homeowners appreciate—using them to give the family dog a bath, and they are invaluable in the event that someone in the household is older or becomes injured.
About 75% of homeowners are forgoing bathtubs in the master bath, in order to make the shower area larger. But for those homeowners who enjoy baths, there are dream bathtubs designed with air-driven jets and heated tubs that actually keep the water hot to extend your tub time.
Color trends have gone classic in bathrooms, with many homeowners requesting a combination of black and white.
“We’re seeing a lot of dark vanities, because if everything else is white, it add contrast instead of a cold, sterile bathroom. And people can add color with towels or window treatments—they’re easy to change out,” says Doutrich.
Technology can customize bathrooms in a multitude of ways today: touchless faucets, tile floor registers, heated towel bars, and more. Doutrich has even installed TVs built into showers and bathroom coffee systems for a handy cup of morning joe.
Even after 34 years of bathroom design, Doutrich says no two bathrooms are alike.
“In every master bath, there’s usually something I learn,” Doutrich says. “There are always new products, new finishes, new tubs—the industry is always evolving.”
Paradise Custom Kitchens
3333 Lincoln Highway East Paradise, PA 17562 | paradisecustomkitchens.com
