Planning the zones
Most successful primary bathrooms resolve into three zones: a vanity zone, a wet zone with the shower and any tub, and a private water closet. Separating them by even a partial wall or a glass panel means two people can get ready simultaneously without collision.
In Hollywood homes with water or city views — along the Intracoastal or in beach-area buildings — orienting the tub or the vanity toward the window is worth planning around early, because it affects plumbing runs, mirror placement and lighting.
Vanity and storage strategy
- Double vanities generally need 72 inches or more to avoid feeling cramped; below that, one large sink with wide counter space is often better
- Drawer banks under each sink, with a plumbing-notched top drawer, beat door cabinets for daily items
- Recessed medicine cabinets reclaim wall depth and keep countertops clear
- A dedicated makeup or seated area needs knee clearance and its own light source at face height
- Tall linen storage, when the floor plan allows, keeps towels out of the bedroom closet
Shower and tub decisions
Large custom showers
Once a shower exceeds roughly 60 by 42 inches, a second showerhead or a hand shower on a slide bar becomes worthwhile, along with a bench and a wider niche. Larger enclosures often need a header or notched glass, which affects fabrication time.
Freestanding tubs
A freestanding tub is a visual anchor and needs clearance on all sides for cleaning — generally at least four to six inches behind and more at the sides. The filler can be floor-mounted, deck-mounted on a plinth or wall-mounted, and that decision has to be made before rough plumbing.
Wet rooms
Placing the tub inside the glassed shower area saves floor space and simplifies the room's geometry, but it requires waterproofing the whole enclosure and thoughtful ventilation.
Lighting, power and comfort
Primary bathrooms benefit most from layered lighting: vertical task light at the mirror so faces are lit without shadows, general ceiling light, and a dimmable low-level layer for night use. Dimmers and separate switching are inexpensive during rough electrical and impossible to add cheaply later.
Other items to decide during rough-in: outlets inside a drawer or medicine cabinet for grooming devices, GFCI protection, the exhaust fan location and capacity, and whether you want a heated towel bar or heated floor — both of which require dedicated planning while walls and floors are open.