Many of our clients are looking closely at their guests’ preferences and in turn, are installing showers in lieu of tubs. Studies show that most hotel guests use tubs for showering and less than 2% actually use tubs for baths. This reflects that few, if any, baths are drawn these days. Showers provide an advantage over tubs by:
- Delivering a more upscale look
- Giving back some square feet into an already small space
- Providing more lighting by having a glass door instead of a shower curtain
- Offering more design options
- Getting rid of the awkward and moldy shower curtain
Indeed, we Americans tend to be in a hurry everywhere we go and quick showers accommodate our fast-paced schedules. We are also aging and showers are a safer option because they eliminate the dangerous, giant slippery step over the porcelain cofferdam. Many of us are also germaphobes and would rather not dive into a fungal abyss. Therefore, today, a shower makes a lot of sense when considering a renovation or a ground up, new-build.
Parc 55 Hotel Bathroom
However, we caution our clients that showers are not necessarily cost saving and have other repercussions, including:
- More tile area to cover
- Shower pan costing almost as much as a tub
- Significant cost of the glass shower door and its hardware
- Tricky waterproofing considerations
- Added labor for housekeeping
The guestroom mock-up will also show critical glass door swinging conflicts. Therefore, it is crucial to pay close attention to hardware details and placement. If you include a towel rod, for example, you must have towels on hand to prove exact heights and placement. Carefully review a-typical bathroom configurations and prove out those door swing conflicts. A lot is happening in a small bathroom space and there are many moving parts. Doors may hit doors, toilets and glass partitions. Think it through three-dimensionally.
Also remember that guestroom and bathroom mock-ups should include everything- even toilet paper. Don’t make the same mistake hundreds of times.
Take a look at a great bathroom renovation at Chicago’s Millennium Knickerbocker Hotel, where tubs were replaced with showers.
The guestroom mock-up will also show critical glass door swinging conflicts. Therefore, it is crucial to pay close attention to hardware details and placement. If you include a towel rod, for example, you must have towels on hand to prove exact heights and placement. Carefully review a-typical bathroom configurations and prove out those door swing conflicts. A lot is happening in a small bathroom space and there are many moving parts. Doors may hit doors, toilets and glass partitions. Think it through three-dimensionally.
Also remember that guestroom and bathroom mock-ups should include everything- even toilet paper. Don’t make the same mistake hundreds of times.
Take a look at a great bathroom renovation at Chicago’s Millennium Knickerbocker Hotel, where tubs were replaced with showers.
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