Ano sought help from Atlantic Kitchen Center's Denise Young, a certified bathroom designer. The shower's Corian walls, Ano says, are a snap to clean, and she enjoys water views through her new clear glass, frameless shower door. Steam showers have also gained popularity, providing homeowners with a way to clear their pores, soothe their tired muscles and open their clogged sinuses at the same time. Shower stalls themselves have gone way beyond the standard square enclosed by either a curtain or frosted glass door. Nadeau says heavy, clear glass shower doors, without the usual metal framing, are preferred in the homes his company builds.
Manufacturers now create tubs and showers in every shape and size.
One oversized tub is pie-shaped and fits in a corner. Another resembles a three-leaf clover with a rounded, clear shower enclosure in one leaf. Modern soaking tubs are ergonomically designed for comfort and are extra deep, allowing bathers to submerge to their shoulders. One manufacturer's spa model even includes a television and CD player. When choosing a whirlpool tub, buyers can select one with a few high-pressure jets or one with many jets set to a lower pressure to propel either air or water into the tub.