Splurge or Save: 16 Gorgeous Bath Updates for Any Budget

An all-glass, custom shower enclosure adds wow-factor to any bathroom. In this contemporary space, architects Bill Pollock and Dylan Johns opted for a frameless design to maximize the sense of open space in the large room and to allow natural light to spread everywhere. "The shower was carefully detailed to be minimal in its presence with in the room, but to make powerful use of the materials and design," they say.

When designer Tara Seawright's clients bought an outdated waterside cottage, they turned to her for help modernizing the space, on a tight budget. "By painting the floors a bright white and using strategic pops of color — like a colorful shower curtain — against a neutral background we gave the home a more current look," says the designer.

In a luxurious pool house with a Japanese-inspired design, architect David Koel and interior designer Susie Hoffman created a spectacular spa-inspired shower with a variety of water works. "The high-volume water feature was intended to replicate the experience of being caught in a warm rain shower,"says Koel. "Materially, the balance of tile, translucent shoji screens, wood, and water seeks to complement the earthy materials used elsewhere in the project, while lending themselves to a quiet, personal, transformational spa experience."

Clever material choices like a wall of blue glass tile and a floating zebra wood vanity give this master bath a tropical feel. Rounding out the simple but sophisticated space is a walk-in shower with an oversized showerhead. "The rain showerhead, which we imported from Europe, helps to create a really luxurious shower experience," says designer Christine Thompson.