The Great American Loo by Dena Amoruso
The genteel word people around the world oftentimes use to refer to the bathroom is "the place." (Referred to as the "loo" in England, taken from the French "lieu") The inherent lack of descriptiveness in the word demonstrates the age-old avoidance modern society, in its Victorian prudishness, has used in connection to a place where some of our more earthly bodily functions are handled. The truth is, the second half of the 20th century has now made the American bathroom step out from behind its concealing skirts and take to the stage, perhaps not the center of it, but certainly to a "place" in front of the footlights in the newer American home. Bathrooms not long ago existed almost as an afterthought. They were small and cramped, represented by a dark, narrow door in a hallway. They had their purpose, but were not there for comfort nor for lingering. This is in bleak contrast with the modern well-lit, spacious and decoratively designed bathrooms in newer homes that we now delight in seeing and buying. "People look for an escape as their lives get more complicated and stressful. They want a place where they can 'get away from it all' if only for a 30-minute stretch," says Mike Anderson, northern California sales manager fo Meritage Homes. "Bathroom extravagance is more commonplace than it was just a few decades ago, and new home builders are constantly trying to put more elegance and style into bathroom areas, especially the Master Bath." Contemporary baths these days fall within a broad, modern style that places emphasis on "functional simplicity", featuring flat surfaces and machine-age materials like glass block walls, ceramic tile, cultured marble, or granite bathtub surrounds, and brushed metal fixtures. Lighting is also important, not only for its practical functioning, but also for its mood-setting capability. "Bathrooms are getting more and more elaborate," says Mark Levens, Sales Manager at John Laing Homes. "Sunken tubs, large, separate showers, bidets, and a luxurious ambience is where the trend is going. More space is dedicated to bathrooms than ever before in new homes." According to the Kohler Company, a leading manufacturer of bathroom and kitchen fixtures, a collection of diverse color palettes has been popular throughout the decades. Interestingly enough, porcelain hues tended to reflect the age in which they were applied. The 40's, for example, employed a lot of "soil-hiding khaki" and olive greens, stemming from the forced practicality of the war years, when even American industry restricted the number of colors available for fabrics. Echoed in other industries, colorful decorating was somewhat suppressed, only to re-surface after the World War II, and not in abundance until the 50s. The postwar 50s, of course, began to reflect all that was good about American life, and the country's growing optimism for continuing prosperity resulted in pretty pastel tubs, sinks and commodes. The 60s were the decade of revolution, introducing rule-breaking styles, and bathrooms began bursting with bright colors (some of which we have still not revisited, by the way). By comparison, the 70s were drab, with a penchant for earth tones and high-tech metal and plastics in bright primary colors. The 80s saw muted tones of mauves and plums in bathroom décor, and the "cocooning" phenomenon began to take hold, when Master Baths became true retreats and homeowners looked at trying to find more ways to spend quality time at home. They found their bathroom areas not only comforting, but also pleasant to behold. Builders no longer placed the requisite door between bedroom and bath unless it was necessary, since bathrooms were now becoming more of a statement, and less of a "place." His and hers sinks, once a luxury, were offered even in smaller floor plans. Toilets were given their own room-within-a-room, for the busy dual use of the other bathroom facilities. And the luxurious Roman tubs, complete with jetted appurtenances, became commonplace in American production homes. Today, the soft colors of the late eighties have been replaced by straight-from-the-earth hues such as amethyst, terra cotta, and cobalt, showing a growing environmental awareness. Bathroom fixtures and appliances have followed all these trends for color and style. No nonsense, no tarnish, lifetime finishes have become all the rage, from pewter to brushed brass to antique silver. Glass block, considered heavy and expensive for bathroom "screening" purposes, can now be replaced with the acrylic variety; lightweight and practical. Sink levels are raised in many new home baths to relieve us of the uncomfortable stooping needed to keep splashing water contained within. Some countertops are lowered for vanity areas as well, enabling us to sit while we primp, in true luxurious Hollywood-like fashion. The evolution and revolution of the American bath may never truly be over. Hi-tech additions, such as built-in television screens, flickering gas fireplaces near opulent oval tubs, and decadent French doors leading to garden-like spas may be only the beginning. That is because Americans put no ceiling on what their need for comfort may someday be Perhaps the word "bathroom" may be someday be replaced with an alternate term, more closely reflecting the many purposes our bath areas now serve. What we can admit, however, is that the American bathroom is no doubt given more and more attention these days, to many a homebuyer's delight. Do we surmise, perhaps, that foreigners beholding our bathrooms for the first time may consider our consumerism terribly indulgent? Ah, such is life -- and the American Way. |
