Cabinet Ideas for Every Room

Bath "Zones" from head to toe

Traditionally, most homes were built with a single bath or in some cases, a bath-and-a-half. But today, more than a third of new homes are built with three or more bathrooms! The evolution in bath design is due in part to the growth of dual income couples. Two adults getting ready for work simultaneously is a major factor in driving the demand for more and more efficient bath space.

If you´re part of the population in need of a better organized and more beautiful bathroom, how will you cope? "Step out of the box of how you look at your current bathroom," says Certified Kitchen and Bath Designer Sharon Hopkins of DesignPro, a kitchen and bath designer based in Pleasant Hill, Calif. Forget tradition, and design your bathroom (or bathrooms) according to how you use it. That´s the basic principle behind Organomics™.

Start by identifying the activities you do in the different areas of your bath. Merillat has identified four specific "zones" for those activities: the Shower/Bath zone, Sink zone, Linens/Laundry/Dressing zone, and Toilet zone. You may have more or fewer zones, depending on your habits and lifestyle.

Getting Specific: The Sink Zone

Consider the Sink zone for a moment. It´s a busy place! If you find yourself bumping elbows with the rest of the family over the sink every morning or evening, you might need a double vanity. Depending on the height of your family members, you could design the vanity with different countertop heights. This may challenge traditional one-level vanity-top designs, but it´s definitely more convenient for everyday life. Then add the accessories that make sense for you and your family:

1. A Grooming Rack that keeps small appliances nearby (photo A)
   
2. A Tilt-Out Sink Tray that stores toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss at the sink´s edge (photo B)
   
3. A Stepstool tucked under the sink to help children reach the sink
4. Drawers with Cosmetic Tray Inserts that keep small items neatly arranged (photo C)

Follow the same process as you visualize the layout of each zone. Ask yourself how you use the area, and what would help eliminate clutter, give you quick storage, and reduce the need to search, bend, and reach for things. "Some clients remove bath tubs and install easy-access showers, while others use a tub daily and want to include that in their plan," says award-winning designer Hopkins. Be sure to think about privacy issues as well, particularly in the Toilet and Shower/Bath zones.

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