Showers
Top Ideabooks
- Convert Your Tub Space to a Shower — the Planning Phase
- Steam Showers Bring a Beloved Spa Feature Home
- Polish Your Bathroom's Look With Wrapped Tile
- Convert Your Tub Space Into a Shower — Choosing Accessories
- Convert Your Tub Space Into a Shower — Waterproofing and Drainage
- Convert Your Tub Space Into a Shower — the Tiling and Grouting Phase
Shower Lights Bathe Bathrooms in Brightness
Lighting in colors as dazzling or soothing as you choose can bring a whole new dimension to your shower routine
I'm a bathroom builder, a Houzz Contributor, a blogger (http://www.no-curb.com), a linear drain salesman and "Coach" to about 24 North Shore Girls Soccer players.
A dream client for me is someone looking to build their dream bathroom - not someone looking for a cheap fix.
I live for snow days and love the work we do. My newest love is LED lighting and we are pushing the boundaries of what's possible in a high end shower!
If you are looking for inspiration come check out my Ideabooks on Houzz. I have a ton of them - http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/johnfrwhipple
I'm a bathroom builder, a Houzz Contributor, a blogger (http://www.no-curb.com),... More »
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Shower lighting generally gets little attention compared with lighting in the rest of the house. But don't make this mistake — even the simplest lights can add such enjoyment and sparkle to your daily routine. The right light can make or break a bathroom, and all too often the subject is given no more thought than an extra downlight and weatherproof trim.
Lighting should be worked out from the very start, since the right lighting systems need to be designed ahead so they can be installed, waterproofed and serviced whenever necessary. Take a look at a few of my favorite shower lighting photos and learn some of the key points you should consider for your shower's lighting.
Lighting should be worked out from the very start, since the right lighting systems need to be designed ahead so they can be installed, waterproofed and serviced whenever necessary. Take a look at a few of my favorite shower lighting photos and learn some of the key points you should consider for your shower's lighting.
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Here is a great example of an intense colored light and its effect on the water spray; steam and water come to life with the incorporation of colored lighting. Four LED pool lights installed on the ceiling of this steam shower create this look.
Tip: Red, green and blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs) can be installed to create any combination of colorful or white lights. It's important to make sure the lights are all installed in the same direction so that the pattern and reflection of red, green and blue is consistent.
Tip: Red, green and blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs) can be installed to create any combination of colorful or white lights. It's important to make sure the lights are all installed in the same direction so that the pattern and reflection of red, green and blue is consistent.
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There are so many shower fixtures available, and many feature built-in lights. The look is impressive. Consider fixtures that are controllable — many are a fixed color or show blue, green and red.
Tip: Take care in the framing and construction of these shower ceilings. Some of these lights can weigh more than 20 pounds.
Tip: Take care in the framing and construction of these shower ceilings. Some of these lights can weigh more than 20 pounds.
by Zeus Remodeling
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A backlit art piece like this one is a great way to add something special to a new shower. The lighting is remote controlled and can cycle through all the colors of the rainbow.
With the right installer, anything is possible!
With the right installer, anything is possible!
This shower is as much a work of art as a shower. The backlit slab on the back wall casts all sorts of great lighting around and serves as only one source of light for this shower. Something like this needs special planning with an electrician and a tile setter.
The underbench light would make a perfect nightlight for this bathroom.
Tip: Keep light features on separate switches so you can layer the lights as you like.
The underbench light would make a perfect nightlight for this bathroom.
Tip: Keep light features on separate switches so you can layer the lights as you like.
| Any shower light should be on a dimmer. I took this shot with the light set to half strength. Taking a long steam shower at the day's end will be more enjoyable in low light. This shower features a center rain head, so two shower lights were installed to give lots of light, even when they're dimmed. Tip: There are many different types of shower lighting, and the proper dimmer needs to be purchased for each. For example, low-voltage LED lighting often requires a special electronic dimmer. These can cost a pretty penny to install, so be sure to consult a professional before choosing this option. |
If you love sparkle, then consider choosing tile with a little shimmer. Many types of mosaic tile have iridescent properties, which really take light well. The small mosaic on the back wall here will glimmer and sparkle with the right lighting levels.
Tip: If you or your spouse suffers from migraine headaches, consider a colored lighting system. A soothing bath and a long steam with just the right color might make things a little better when those pounding migraines kick in.
Tip: If you or your spouse suffers from migraine headaches, consider a colored lighting system. A soothing bath and a long steam with just the right color might make things a little better when those pounding migraines kick in.
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| This shower drain has its own LED battery pack, which activates when the shower turns on. When water enters the drain, the LED light comes on. The designer incorporated the light so the clients would have more illumination and a way to orient themselves in the shower. This can be a handy feature if you find you have trouble seeing when things steam up in the shower. |
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by bw design group
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| I like how this shower uses the light to accent the back wall. The downlighting showcases the rough texture of the natural slate tile. Be careful with this type of setup on a regular tiled wall, since lighting can showcase tile lippage and make a great installation look sloppy. Tip: Try to keep lights as far from walls as possible to reduce highlighting on tile lippage. |
This custom MTI air tub (or "bubbler") has wonderful built-in lighting. If you have the option, choose four LED lights in a tub over two. The grid lighting on the back wall is made of individual fiber optic strands set into an installation of stacked slate ledge stone.
Tip: Source your LED lights from a reliable store. Place the LED color driver (the driver is what changes the color of the lights — many are remote controlled) somewhere out of the way. Many can generate a little noise and a little heat, so a proper electrical box is key to a safe installation.
Tip: Source your LED lights from a reliable store. Place the LED color driver (the driver is what changes the color of the lights — many are remote controlled) somewhere out of the way. Many can generate a little noise and a little heat, so a proper electrical box is key to a safe installation.
Ideabook updated on Jan. 16, 2013.
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I guess I never associated light with them because they're so cool to the touch. I think of the muted surfaces of stones or pebbles.
Such a beautiful photo and work. Thank you for putting this together.
The drain with the blue light (two pictures up) is made from ACO and you can learn more about there LED kits here; http://www.quartzbyaco.com/linear-quartz-drain
Here you can see a version of the ACO lights and the RED LED kit.
These LED lights come one when water hits the linear drain and stops about 30 seconds after the shower ends. The colours available are Red, Green. Blue and Rainbow.
When installing lighting systems in a shower remember that one day they might need servicing. I love using oversized rain heads mounted to the ceiling as both a shower fixture and back up access panel.
I was first turned on to LED lighting by Holger Hoos Design here in Vancouver. This one project really woke me up and showed me with the right planning even a tiny space can be turned into a "Dream Spa".
Project: Bauhaus 1 Bathroom
Below are pictures of Dornbrachts 'Big Rain' which serves this shower as the primary shower head and back up access panel if needed.
The other is of my Kitchen Stove Niche detail with the pot filler, side lit shelf and ACO linear drain.
Red Lights
Yale Town Quick Drain USA Channel Drain installation
The light driver is more than enough for this tub converted to steam spa space and the sound is outstanding.
More info on ThermaSol's Speaker and light system here; http://www.thermasol.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_ID=280&mItem=187
JW
;0)
The custom niches we build are priced about $1,500 all said and done.
Some of the shower fixtures are price in the $800-$7,000 price point. "You can't take it with you!" lol
A couple of LED pool lights can be ordered for under $500.00. A couple of pots for maybe $300.00
If planned from the start the complexity is not so bad. It's deciding at the end of the job that you want the lights where it gets difficult.
The LED light kits I use in my niche builds cost under $400.00 for the complete kit. The extra waterproofing and mitered tile cuts add the real cost in the build. But this could be done much simpliar if a lesser standard was followed.
JW
Recently I password protected most of my Photobucket account. Have him email me when you get closer to this stage. sales@no-curb.com
The ACO drain lighting is so easy. You don't even need to order it from the start. If you decide you like it you can order it later. It only works with the ACO linear drains.
JW
This shelf up top is back lit. The side is lighted with LED's and tucked around the corner is a hidden shelf.
I'm hoping the soap, razor, shampoo and conditioner can be all tucked away from view.
With the lights off the niche looks so great. I find the baby blue colour the best light to work by and like the orangey pink colour with the white shelf the best.
Tiling is nearly done on this one. Then we start the custom electric mirror and medicine cabinet.
JW
You can see the MR 16 bulbs hanging down as well. We installed a total of six MR16 down lights for the primary light source in the bathroom.
The coloured lighting will be for soothing a pounding migraine or "Heating Things Up" in the master shower.
Wink Wink. Nudge Nudge. Know what I mean... Say no more LOL
JW
Thanks for the ideabook and enlightening us. Even though I'm just a simple girl, I still like to see all of the fun new ideas on Houzz.
We are only a few days away from wrapping up another job downtown that has loads of LED lighting. I believe the lady of the house was concerned it might be a bit extreme but you need to remember that these lights are dimmable and can be layered.
Bauhaus 2 Bathroom
Bauhaus 1 Bathroom
Both of these LED lights are set to white. But can be changed to colour when the mood is right.
JW
When it comes to custom shower lighting it appears the sky is the limit.
As the designer of the Bauhaus bathrooms (http://www.houzz.com/pro/hhoos/holger-hoos-design), I have extensively worked with colour-changing LED lighting. In Bauhaus 2, we used 5 independent systems, our most complex deployment so far. Can you produce visual cacophony in a space like that? You bet! But you can also do that with a palette of paint.
What this kind of installation is designed to allow you to do is to paint a space with light. The results can be quite spectacular (I will post some pictures soon), and the various combinations of colours can match, enhance or change your mood surprisingly effectively. True, it's not cheap, but compared to high-end fixtures and finishes also not that expensive.
Also worth keeping in mind: With an appropriate controller, RGB LED lights are always dimmable, so subtle touches of colours can be achieved.
:)
JW
I like posted pictures and thanks for the new ideas, but it's too late for me.
Probably couldn't have afforded it anyway.
http://www.environmentallights.com/led-rope-and-strip-lights/led-strip-lights.html