In an age where we are constantly bombarded by commercials and emails indicating size matters, there is one area where there is more than a grain of truth: bathrooms and kitchens!

Mark Mathers, registered AIA architect and owner of an architectural firm noted: “In the past 20 years, I’ve witnessed a dramatic change from utilitarian Master Bathrooms that encompassed as little as 5’ x 7’ spaces to ones that typically cover several hundred square feet and, in some cases, are larger than the Master Bedroom! Master Bathrooms are typically designed to be an oasis from the daily grind with luxurious body washes, overhead rain-forest-style shower heads, steam generators, saunas and multiple body-jets designed to massage and pamper every aching inch of our bodies and psyches. What was once a purely utilitarian space has become a refuge and privacy center with four-star amenities normally found only in posh resorts. The same can be said for the evolution of today’s kitchen designs. It’s not at all unusual for our customers to carve out costs from the building envelope in order to achieve the level of luxury desired in the bath and kitchen areas. For instance: cheaper siding; vinyl-clad windows; or less expensive floor coverings. And the upgrades don’t stop with just the plumbing fixtures: flat wall-recessed gas-fired fireplaces; heated towel bars; radiant heating for floors; whisper-quiet ventilation; flat-screen hi-definition TV’s; exotic marble or tile; and lighting are just a few of the accessories consumers want incorporated into new or remodeled bathrooms and kitchens.”