Frank Ponterio bath

1 Frank Ponterio combined style and practicality in this Northfield pool bathroom. The bamboo on the walls and the eucalyptus green of the shower curtain and towels give it a tropical cabana feel, while the woven-vinyl flooring accommodates dripping-wet kids dashing in for a pit stop.

 

Nate Berkus bath

2 In this classic bath by Nate Berkus for his own Gold Coast condo, unobtrusive subway tile on the walls and hexagonal marble tile on the floor get some punch from steel-frame console sinks and brass mirrors and sconces.

 

Melanie Soos bath

3 Architect Melanie Soos didn’t want flashy materials that might interfere with the gorgeous wetland views outside her large windows. Simple limestone on the floor with matching stone in the shower, along with exposed cinder-block walls and elegant white plumbing fixtures, ensure that she and her husband can, in her words, “bathe in nature” every time they walk through the door.

 

Photography: (1) Alan Shortall; (2) Nathan Kirkman; (3) Bob Milkovich

 
Paul Klug bath

4 Rich cappuccino onyx chosen by interior designer Paul Klug’s client was the driving force behind this sophisticated bathroom. “We wanted to create a space that was serene yet not boring,” says Klug. “The flow of the stone says ‘wow’ without being too busy.”

 

W. David Adams bath

5 This multifunctional space, designed by W. David Adams of Ann Sacks for the 2007 Lake Forest Showhouse & Gardens, is pure decadence—from the Murano glass chandelier over the tub to the Asian-inspired artwork to the sheer luxury of putting a dressing table, chair, and comfortable bench in a bathroom.

 

Gail Plechaty bath

6 The traditionally styled cabinetry painted gray and warm-toned rugs in this bathroom that Gail Plechaty of Real Simple Design created for the 2009 Lake Forest Showhouse & Gardens make it feel almost like a library. The white marble tub and mosaic floor evoke both glamour and a sense of history. The shower and toilet are tucked away behind glass doors on the left.

 

Photography: (4) Linda Oyama Bryan; (5) Alan Shortall; (6) Nathan Kirkman

 

Patrizio Fradiani bath

7 For a cool modern look, using variations of gray marble is a sure bet. In this design by architect Patrizio Fradiani for a Bucktown house, the natural light that comes through the large window and passes through the translucent shower glass lends warmth to the space.

 

Ann Clark and Peter Nicholas bath

8 Uninterrupted porcelain tile walls and custom cherry cabinetry that seems to float above the limestone floor make this bathroom in a Skokie house by husband-and-wife architects Ann Clark and Peter Nicholas feel large and airy. A wraparound ledge accommodates accessories.

 

April Perrella and Ilene Chase bath

9 Interior designers April Perrella and Ilene Chase of Selections 21 turned a small powder room into a sort of Moroccan jewel box, combining a honey-colored onyx mosaic stone on the wall behind the sink with Venetian plaster in a mix of burnt orange and red on the rest of the walls. Dimmed illumination from crystal sconces and a pendant create a soft glow; a large mirror reflects the light, making the space shimmer.

 

Photography: (7) Nathan Kirkman; (8) Linda Oyama Bryan; (9) Michael McCaffrey/Pathway Creative