Clean Living

Baths aren’t just utilitarian spaces anymore. Like the kitchen, these rooms, especially master baths, have become activity centers for multitasking homeowners. They’re places to read, relax, or watch television, as well as shower, shave, or put on makeup. Architects and builders are adding items both high-tech (surround sound for maximum sensory enhancement) and low-tech (extra-wide tub ledges so family members can sit and talk with one another without sacrificing bathroom time). And in baths from coast to coast, the emphasis on natural light is stronger than ever. After all, the minutes spent in the bath are often the only quiet time a homeowner will have all day. The baths on these pages ensure that that time passes as peacefully—and productively—as possible.