High-Tech Showers

Bigger is better when it comes to showers these days. Dual-income families want bigger showers — or at least ones that look bigger — with multiple shower heads so everyone can get ready for work at the same time.

Here’s what you need to know about outfitting a large shower:

• The illusion of greater space is created with clean lines. Glass shower doors are now frameless.
  
• A bench for relaxing in the shower is a popular option.
  
• Not only are multiple shower heads a growing trend, but so are multiple sprays for each head.
  
• Control valves are more sophisticated to meet the demands of multiple shower heads. A thermostat can be preset with one control, while the volume is set with another.
  
• Shower-head options include the European-style hand-held shower head, the oversize rain-shower head, a rain bar consisting of a strip of jets that can be installed vertically or horizontally as a long cross section, and multiple body-spray heads (either three or six are used and customized to spray at knee level, midbody, and shoulder height).
  
• The cost of a deluxe shower begins at $15,000.