Bathroom designs are putting the "ahhhhh" into a spa-like experience at home. Designers are coming clean about master bathroom trends in the National Kitchen & Bath Association's (NKBA) 2017 Survey, featuring data compiled from 562 respondents in the home industry.

"We are spending more time wanting to unwind and seek places of comfort in our homes," says Adam Gibson, an NKBA-certified Kitchen and Bath Designer for 22 years and owner of a design firm bearing his name near Indianapolis. "As a result, a home's master bath has become a place where people want to feel pampered."

Gibson says master bathrooms are occupying a larger percentage of a home's total square footage. Often master bathrooms have direct access to bedroom walk-in closets, while linen closets are being built directly into bathrooms for storage.

"Before people face the day, they want to be able to get ready and dressed in a beautiful space that is well-lit," he says. "While the master suite occupies more space, the overall design of a master bath is more sleek and minimalistic."

Counterpoint

"Light, bright and white," remains the monochromatic mantra for bathrooms. The first step to a super-clean master bath design is to make sure it remains squeaky clean. Marble countertops are a popular choice, but Gibson says engineered-stone or quartz surfaces are waterproof and stain-, heat- and scratch-resistant, and can be manufactured to mimic stone. Because a quartz countertop lacks surface holes, it does not require sealing, nor does it support the growth of bacteria.

Ceramic or porcelain tile is the flooring of choice for master baths because of its durability, water resistance and cleanability. If a homeowner wants to take the chill off the bathroom floor, an electric heated floor system under tile is a creature comfort into which more homeowners are investing, says Gibson.

"Heating mats are designed to operate like an electric blanket under the flooring and are constructed of coils of heat resistance wires, which are joined to a supporting material," he says. "Controlled by a thermostat, bathroom floors can achieve a comfortable temperature in less than an hour."

Mainstreaming

Installing water-saving features is hitting the mainstream in bathroom design.

Using a high-efficiency toilet and water-saving fixtures saves dollars and makes sense for conservation. The design of a high-efficiency 1.28 gallon-per-flush (or less) toilet forces water through the front of the bowl and can potentially save a family of five more than 20,000 gallons of water per year, when using a water conservation calculator.

Chrome is cool when it comes to fixtures in the bathroom, Gibson says. Fixtures not only include faucets, but also lighting. "Mirrors with integrated lights on either side are great," he says. "You want to avoid a single fixture on top of the mirror, which creates harsh shadows on the face."

The most illuminating tact, however, is to have a bathroom infused with as much natural light as possible -- either through windows or a skylight.

Sinking Feeling

Form follows function with today's bounty of stylish basin choices for the bathroom, but bigger appears to be better with the trend toward trough sinks.

"Vessel sinks that sit on top of the counter and pedestal sinks that integrate sink and stand into one piece are less popular," Gibson says.

While stand-alone sinks may be waning, stand-alone tubs are gaining steam. Half of NKBA members surveyed said they specified a freestanding tub in 2016, with up to 60 percent of designers expecting to specify one in the master bath in 2017.

Universal Design

Gibson says freestanding tubs are popular in bathrooms in which there is also a shower option, because a no-threshold shower works for people of all ages.

"More designers are thinking about 'universal design' as a concept so people can age in place," he says. "The key is to make master bathroom accommodations accessible without making it look too institutional."

Large, no-threshold showers are being designed to accommodate built-in shower seats with plenty of lighting. Shower doors are built wider and grab bars are cleverly disguised as towel bars, Gibson says.

Venting

After tending to the details in the bathroom, it should smell as good as it looks.

"Having a proper venting system is imperative to rid the bathroom of moisture and odors," Gibson says. "I suggest installing a 6-inch hard pipe vented directly outside, so the exhaust fan works efficiently."

But all of the planning around the venting system is secondary if it is never pressed into service. Gibson says many systems are often tied to a humidistat, which kicks on when the moisture in the air reaches a certain level. Candles placed in the master bathroom are common "scents," which also cast a relaxing, ambient light.

"More than ever, the master bath is an integral part of the homeowner's lifestyle," Gibson says. "This is a watershed movement in bath design."

Keeping It Clean

Visit the National Kitchen & Bath Association at NKBA.org. Click "Prosearch" to find a certified kitchen professional near you, or call 1-800-843-6522.

When it comes to selling or buying a home, the kitchen is where it's cooking.

"The kitchen is truly the heart of a home," says Blue Arnold, a National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) certified kitchen and bath designer, owner of Kitchens by Request, located outside Baltimore, and former NKBA board member. "The kitchen is where life happens. It's not just a place to make meals, it's where the family gathers."

If the kitchen is the heart of a home, it needs to tug on the heartstrings of potential buyers. But Arnold says sellers don't need to undertake a massive remodeling project and spend a lot of dough to upgrade the kitchen. "It's easy to spend $30,000 on a kitchen remodel, but that money may be hard to recoup in the sale of the home," he says. "Sellers need to realize that millennials are minimalists -- and this is the demographic likely buying your home."

Arnold and NKBA's 2017 Trends Survey share culinary cues and delectable designs in the kitchen, which can fuel a hot property.

Hot Spots

Before beginning any kitchen upgrade project, Arnold encourages homeowners to first be inspired.

"Visit local kitchen showrooms. Search online for ideas and take note of kitchens in home and garden television shows," Arnold says. "Everything from the latest door hardware to trending kitchen colors is on display."

Arnold says to be upfront with kitchen sales representatives about your budgetary constraints for the best advice and service when you go into showrooms. Homeowners can get a big bang for their buck by paying attention to small details.

Lean and Clean

Homeowners should view the sale of a home as an opportunity to clear away the clutter in the kitchen. "Before you can begin to spiff up the space, you need to pare it down," Arnold says. "Open up the bottom and top cabinets and that 'junk' drawer in the kitchen and get rid of things you never use."

Donating unexpired and unused items to local food banks and not-for-profits brings a fresh energy into the kitchen, Arnold says. It also leaves less stuff to box up on moving day.

Color and Light

A fresh coat of paint brings color and life into a kitchen, Arnold says, and it's also an easy way to freshen up walls and cabinets that have been grease-spattered or dinged through usage.

"If you are trying to sell your home, the best tactic is to do as many DIY (do-it-yourself) projects as you can," he says. "Painting a space instantly transforms it. If you're painting cabinet faces, you can also change out the hardware to complete the look."

Arnold prefers paint colors that are bisque, almond and shades of grey, which are emulated in NKBA's 2017 Design Trends and dominate kitchen color schemes. Arnold's personal favorite paint shade is "Whisper" by Benjamin Moore Paints.

A bright tip to set the mood in a space is to change outdated light fixtures and remove large, bulky window treatments to let the natural light shine in. Common sense dictates replacing burned-out bulbs and broken fixtures, but sometimes spraying an old brass light fixture with a direct-to-metal paint in lacquer white or copper color breathes new life and light into fixtures.

Counter Revolution

A new Stone Age is dawning in today's kitchens, according to NKBA 2017 trends. Countertops and backsplashes made with engineered, man-made or manufactured stone have a natural look without the maintenance of real stone.

Most commonly called quartz countertops, this engineered stone is a manufactured surface comprised of more than 90 percent quartz. The remaining ingredients include high-performance polymers, resins and pigments that are colorized to mimic natural stone or concrete surfaces.

Engineered stone is nonporous, waterproof and stain-, heat- and scratch-resistant. The surface of e-stone is smooth and can have a shiny or honed appearance. Because it lacks surface holes, engineered stone does not support the growth of bacteria and doesn't require sealing as natural stone does.

Arnold says if quartz countertops and backsplashes are cost-prohibitive, homeowners can often get builders-grade granite for less money and install mesh-backed tile backsplashes using thinset and grouting in a two-day process.

Step on It

If the kitchen underfoot is in a state of disrepair, today's luxury vinyl tile options will floor you. Colors and patterns with water-resistant qualities that simulate natural flooring materials and easy-to-install tiles make this a popular mainstream choice.

If the kitchen has high-quality flooring, make sure tiled floors and grouting are professionally cleaned and wood floors are refinished, if the budget allows.

Everything and the Kitchen Sink

The kitchen sink should be free of dishes and scoured clean. Make sure to fix or replace a leaky or outdated faucet.

If appliances date the kitchen to the harvest gold era, homeowners might consider replacing them with builder's grade or like-new appliances.

Ironically, the goal of updating the kitchen of a home on the market is to make it look as though no one cooks in it. A vase of flowers, bowl of fresh fruit and decorative hand towels are eye candy in an uncluttered kitchen, Arnold says.

"Pay attention to the small details in a kitchen," he says. "If you haven't taken care of the simpler things, a potential buyer may believe the homeowner isn't tending to the house's larger maintenance issues."

Niche in Kitchen

-- Kitchens By Request Inc., KitchensByRequest.com, 1115 Baldwin Mill Road, Jarrettsville, Maryland, 410-557-6957

-- National Kitchen & Bath Association, NKBA.org, click "ProSearch" to find a certified kitchen professional near you. 800-843-6522

Lap up a watery design this winter with an indoor swimming pool.

You don't need to live in a warm winter climate to sit poolside. People are designing pools to create a resort-like atmosphere inside their home, says Teri Wiltshire, spokesperson for Master Pools Guild Inc., in Richmond, Virginia. "People are drawn to water and want to bring that experience inside their homes," she says. "Homeowners who build indoor pools are focused on health and well-being year-round, and also use it for entertaining family and friends."

But homeowners who are diving into indoor swimming pool construction need to have a plan before going financially underwater on a stylish swimscape, says Mark Reed, president and chief executive officer of Memphis Pool in Tennessee.

"An indoor pool is a way to prolong a six-month swim season, when compared to the backyard variety," he says. "Homeowners can expect to pay up to 30 percent more for an indoor pool, as opposed to the same construction in the backyard."

But swimming laps in luxury isn't as easy as filling a hole in the ground. Reed says the average indoor-size pool is between 15,000 and 20,000 gallons and is typically built on-grade. In a stroke of ingenuity, indoor pools built in a solarium-style space can feature panels on the roof that can be opened and closed for an indoor-outdoor feel.

The poolroom can be a sunny segue from the inside of the house to scenic views outside. Usually attached to the back or side of a home, the poolroom can be the centerpiece of an in-home spa experience, often surrounded by a hot tub or gym equipment.

Before breaking ground on a watery respite, the site needs to be prepared and graded so water flows away from a home's foundation. Water also travels the path of least resistance, so it's important to make sure it doesn't seep into the house by having an equipment pan in the pump room, in the event the filtration system springs a leak.

"You need to have a plan for water drainage, because you don't want the water splashed from the pool to end up inside your home," Reed says. "There also has to be a plan for the ventilation and dehumidification of the house with an indoor pool, so the evaporated water doesn't condense on walls and ceilings."

More people are swimming in style with splashy features built around their indoor pools. "Homeowners are educated about options they want," Reed says. "Each pool we build is unique and built around the personality of the homeowner and design of the house."

The size and shape of an indoor pool depends on how it will be used. A classic geometric shape is perfect for a lap pool, while a naturalistic, curving shape can be more conducive for recreation with a waterslide and diving boards.

Reed says the inside and bottom of many indoor pools are tinted to give the illusion of blue hues. Finishes inside the pool using aggregate, such as colored pebbles, are as beautiful underwater as they are underfoot. Also, the indoor pool can be an illuminating project, with underwater light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that cast cool lights in color.

But just as important as how an indoor pool looks is how it smells. "We've all been to the hotel that greets you with the chlorine smell of their indoor pool," Reed says. "You don't want that smell permeating your home."

Reed says one of the most effective water sanitizers for a pool is an ultraviolet (UV) and ozone water treatment system. "This system reduces the need for chemicals, and there's little off-gassing of chloramines, which leads to that strong chlorine smell in the air."

Swimming and safety must go together like a foot and flipper in an indoor pool. "It's really important to go over water safety rules at your pool and have layers of safety precautions in place," Reed says. "Since you can't put a fence around an indoor pool, local building codes have guidelines, which often include having an alarm on the door to the poolroom."

Extra amenities surrounding an indoor pool, such as a sauna, workout equipment and lounge chairs, give families more opportunities to enjoy the poolroom. "Our team isn't just building a pool," Reed said. "We want to create a relaxing oasis that families can dive into."

Taking the Plunge

To find reputable pool contractors in your area, go to: MasterPoolsGuild.com

(For editorial questions, please contact Clint Hooker at chooker@amuniversal.com.)