Over the years, we’ve worked on dozens of amazing ensuite and bathroom renovations, and certain features keep rising to the top.
Whether you’re planning a full bathroom renovation or looking to elevate a few key details, we’re sharing five of our favourite premium bathroom features and why we keep recommending them.
1. Luxurious Steam Shower
A well-designed steam shower is one of the most premium upgrades you can add to a bathroom renovation, and the craftsmanship in the remarkable Sturgeon County ensuite shows exactly why.
Large format tile keeps the shower’s grout lines minimal and the design clean and timeless. A gold plumbing trim package adds warmth and character to the space, tying it together with a cohesive, luxurious finish.
Linear controls, oversized rain showerheads, a built-in bench, and matching quartz niches- every detail in this steam shower was designed to look amazing and work perfectly for our client’s lifestyle.
A transom window above the door handles ventilation seamlessly, a small but important consideration that’s easy to overlook in the planning stage.
2. Curbless Shower Design
A curbless shower is an upgrade that looks remarkable and effortless but requires expert planning and craftsmanship to execute well.
With no curb to step over, the transition from bathroom floor to shower is completely seamless, a clean detail that elevates the entire space. It also improves accessibility, making the shower more comfortable for everyone in the home. Getting it right means thinking carefully about tile format and drain placement.
Larger format tiles pair well with a linear drain, while smaller format tiles can slope to a standard four-inch drain without relief cuts. The shower base needs to be recessed into the floor or the surrounding floor needs to be raised, both of which add cost and complexity compared to a standard curbed shower.
For anyone who wants a luxurious bathroom that feels custom and refined, the extra planning is worth it.
3. Remarkable Bathtub Surround
The tub area is often an overlooked opportunity in a bathroom, and it’s one of the most rewarding when it’s treated as a remarkable design feature.
Rather than placing a freestanding tub against a flat wall, a custom-designed tub surround can become the focal point of the entire space.
In the Sturgeon County spa-inspired ensuite, we crafted a bump out in the back wall to add depth and dimension, framing the tub with large format tile and mitered edges.
We introduced texture and contrast in the space by adding recessed mosaic tile on either side, while accent lighting along the bump out creates a warm, layered glow that elevates the atmosphere of the entire bathroom.
Integrating the tub controls directly into the bump out keeps the design clean, and finishing the space with a premium trim package and a heated towel warmer adds a level of everyday luxury that our clients appreciate.
We brought all of these elements together around the beautiful floor-standing jetted tub with a gold trim package, creating a corner of the bathroom that’s tailored to the client’s lifestyle and remarkably refined.
4. Unique Bathroom Tile for a Pop of Personality
Custom tile work is one of the most powerful ways to elevate a bathroom.
The right tile selection, layout, and installation can completely transform a space, adding personality, texture, and expert craftsmanship that’s immediately noticeable. When tile is designed with each piece placed in a specific location to create a cohesive pattern, the impact is remarkable.
In this Riverdale home, we ran a beautiful custom tile across the floor, walls, and into the shower, with each piece carefully considered as part of the overall layout.
The freestanding soaker tub is framed by a stunning tile surround, and the built-in shower features a linear niche and a pony wall with additional storage tucked on the opposite side. We added walnut floating shelves to complement the vanity and give the space an organic balance between fashion and function.
Read more about this amazing bathroom project in our past blog.
5. Spa-Inspired Heated Floors and
Heated Towel Rack
Heated floors and heated towel racks are two of the most requested features in our luxury bathroom renovations, and once a client experiences them, they never go back.
Heated floors eliminate the cold shock of stepping onto tile first thing in the morning. This seems like a small detail, but it makes a significant difference, especially during Edmonton’s long, cold winters. Radiant heat warms the space from the ground up, making the whole bathroom more comfortable and cozy.
Heated towel racks add a layer of everyday luxury: warm, dry towels after every shower, and faster drying between uses that keeps moisture (and possible mold) from building up in the space.
Both features are relatively modest investments that add long-term value to the home.
We’ve incorporated heated floors and towel racks into several of our most remarkable bathroom renovations, including the Henderson Estates spa-like retreat, the Kingston Close ensuite, and the Twin Brooks bathroom. In every case, they’re one of the details our clients appreciate most once they’re living in the space.
Need a little professional advice as you plan your dream renovation?
We have much more to share! Send us an email at info@contactrenovations.ca – we’d love to help you make your dream Edmonton (& surrounding area) home a reality.
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