The best bathrooms are highly individualistic. These five luxurious spaces are translations of each owner’s unique vision of a personal sanctuary. Which one will inspire your next great escape?

Like the kitchen, the bathroom is a tricky one to design. In both rooms form and function must align, as mistakes are costly to amend. But that’s where the similarity ends. While the kitchen brings people together, the bathroom is a private refuge, and that makes its design much more personal. It is the ultimate sybaritic space that nurtures our body, mind and spirit.

Luxe & Luminous

Photography: Drew Hadley | DESIGN, VANITY DESIGN, CURTAINS, SCONCES, Cindy Brownstein, Cindy B Décor. VANITY CONSTRUCTION, Jazzy Design. TILES, Ceragres. TUB, FAUCET, Batimat. ARMOIRE, PENDANT, MIRROR, Ambienti Design. SIDE TABLE, Zone Maison.

Designer Cindy Brownstein unites the charm of the past, clean lines of the present, and the timeless elegance and luminosity of white in this soothing space. An exquisite ornate gilt mirror leans casually against the wall, balancing the mood between elegant and informal, while also enlarging and brightening the room. The old­world feel of the mirror, armoire and style of tub contrast effectively with the clean, contemporary lines of the wall­ mounted vanity. To soften the mood, a wall of white sheer curtains pre­ serves privacy and filters daylight. Gold is repeated throughout for a luxe touch. The end result is calm, understated luxury.

Photography: Drew Hadley

Bold Beauty

Photography: Drew Hadley | DESIGN, Patty Xenos. MOSAIC, Sicis. BATHTUB, SINK, Wetstyle.

Sleek design in basic black and white takes a backseat to the work-of-art mosaic that blooms from behind the bathtub in this modern space. The installation of the mosaic took three tries before the flower was deemed petal-perfect. Light bounces thanks to mirrors, glossy surfaces, and the reflective quality of the mosaic tiles, which all act to amp up the impact of the graphic flower.

Photography: Drew Hadley

Breathing Room

Photography: Mike Chajecki | DESIGN, Interiors by Odette. Grasscloth WALLPAPER, Phillip Jeffries. PAINT, White Dove OC-17 (trim), White Dove OC-17 at 50% strength (ceiling), Benjamin Moore. SCONCES, Universal Lighting. MIRRORS, Wayfair. COUNTERTOP, Hanstone. Custom vanity MILLWORK, G. Custom Inc. Duck foot SOAP DISH, CB2.

Since the principal bedroom in designer Odette De Lucia’s Oakville, Ont., home looks directly into the bathroom, she wanted it to provide a serene and soothing view. Taking her cue from a Parisian boutique hotel, De Lucia created a supremely functional space that’s as calming to look at as it is to spend time in.

Photography: Mike Chajecki

The main vanity wall has to perform a variety of functions, all while keeping things calm and collected. Against a backdrop of nubbly blue grasscloth wallpaper (actually, commercial-style vinyl, impervious to moisture), the open counter is organized into double sinks and a stepped-down vanity table – the perfect height for relaxed primping and pampering.

Photography: Mike Chajecki | BRASS FAUCETS, SINKS, Kohler. FLOORING, MSI Surfaces.

Keeping the lines of the room ultra-simple allows the beauty of materials to shine, like the shower’s Turkish dolomite bath tiles and mosaic marble floor (walking on its heated surface is like a hot-stone massage for the feet, says Odette). She found this blue-haired lady (below) on Etsy, a wonderful resource for original artwork.

Photography: Mike Chajecki | MAKEUP MIRROR, West Elm. VANITY CHAIR, through Interiors by Odette. TOWELS, LINENS, Muskoka Living. ORCHID, FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS, Fiori Oakville.

Another secret to the room’s serenity is the repetition of round shapes that serve as a soft counterpoint to its clean, straight lines. The rounded profile of the vanity chair rhymes with the radius corners of the wall mirrors and tube-shaped lighting. Even the sinks’ contemporary-style faucets have rounded corners.

Spa Chic

Photography: Drew Hadley | DESIGN, Symbiose Design. STORAGE, COUNTER, Armoires Cordeau. TUB, FAUCET, SHOWER, Plomberie Instal Précision. PENDANT, Luminaires Paul Grégoire.

This ensuite off a primary bedroom is a true refuge for pampering with all the accoutrements of the best spa resorts. The freestanding tub takes centre stage, with a tray-topped stool standing at the ready for luxe toiletries. Behind the tub, on the left, the toilet is cleverly hidden behind a marble partition trimmed in a strip of iridescent mosaic tiles. On the right is a generously proportioned spa-like walk-in shower. Facing twin vanieties in walnut (to match the adjacent dressing room) reinforce the horizontal lines of the clerestory windows and are wall-mounted to keep the mood light and airy. Gold hardware, mirrors and look-at-me chandelier layer in luxury.

Photography: Drew Hadley

Gold Medal

Photography: Drew Hadley | DESIGN, Mario Januario Design. TILES, COUNTER, FAUCET, Ciot.

Get your sunglasses on! Glamorous 3D diamond-tipped gold tiles wow in this dazzling guest bathroom. The other metal used is chrome, which allows the feature wall to take the prize as first-place finish – nothing should detract from its impact.

Photography: Drew Hadley