One of the trends that we have seen emerging over the past several months is this quest for healing and nurturing what is good in our lives. Naturally occurring materials, the use of earthy colors and sustainability are all in this year. Our clients are looking for a respite in their homes where they can sooth the soul and promote a sense of healing. It has been a rough year for most and many of us came through it bruised. Soaking in a hot bath that envelops you with warmth can be magical after a long day. Or perhaps a steam shower designed with natural stone is what you desire to clean out the toxins of the day? Below are a few ideas that can help get your/our creative juices flowing.

Natural Bathroom Designs

This nature inspired shower rains both indoors and outside and would work well in a New Jersey shore home or a Morris County home with a pool. The outdoor shower area needed to be created and landscaped for this to work properly. Here is an attempt to bring the outside in by using plenty of glass including the one that separates the outside shower space. A great use of rich woods, pebbles, rocks, water, earthy stones and plenty of textures all helps to blur the lines between nature and nurture. 

Wood Warms Up a Bathroom

Natural cherry wood wall tiles give this bathroom a healing tone. We are very selective about how we use wood and the species we choose. We love using properly treated wood for walls, benches, cabinetry and accents. But we avoid wood as flooring under most conditions. 


In addition to using a properly sealed cherry for wall panels, consider teak, cedar and bamboo. All are known to resist mildew and have been used in shipbuilding for years. When exposed to steam and high temperatures, teak and cedar specifically give off a restorative natural fragrance. 

When using wood in bathrooms, we make sure we planned for proper ventilation. We also advocate for a few layers of urethane sealant to help stave off any natural bowing that may occur if the wood is left untreated. There is a natural warmth that is felt from wood when compared to ceramic tiles or stone in a bathroom. Don’t get me wrong, we love using these materials when combined with the warmth of wood.

Natural Stone Shower Stalls

Polished natural stone tiles, cultured marble shower wall panels, travertine floor tiles and thin stone veneer panels are all great materials we like to use in shower stalls to obtain a natural and wholistic look and feel. Our friends at Daltile published these tips on caring for natural stone that are well worth the read and we loved the image below (credit Daltile) of a natural stone tile in Brazilian Grey. When assembled as tiles, it shows off a natural order from dis-orderly highlights in some of these tiles. It takes a true craftsman to do quality tilework. The bathroom remodeling services we choose for our tile work are masters in all forms of masonry, especially tilework. 


On the right we show off a combination of travertine floor tiles with a natural polished stone mosaic that makes you feel like your bathing in a Tuscan villa. The jacuzzi tub adds aeration to the tiny bubbles and the bathroom is equipped with a surround sound audio system, Bluetooth speakers. You will need to provide the meditative music and sounds from your Spotify library or app for guided meditation. Now picture yourself in the tub with the lights down low, listening to gentle sounds, steam rising from the tub. That is restoration you can truly feel.

Bathroom Remodeling Services in New Jersey

As kitchen and bathroom designers, we are blessed with some of the most accomplished professionals that wish to work with us. Together, you and I can create the vision and design plans but we still need the high quality bathroom remodeling contractors to do the actual installation. We work with some of the most talented professionals in New Jersey. They would much rather carry out our plan than do the actual design work. Tobias Design acts as your project manager coordinating timely material deliveries, directing contractors for stonework, plumbing, carpentry, glass installation and all the other tasks involved with your new bathroom design.

Contact us today with your ideas and inspiration. 609.466.1445