Ah, The Spa - Marketplace Magazine, Judy Waggoner

   Historians tell we've had bathtubs for over four millennia, but as recently as 1902, only 14 percent of American homes had a bathtub. Bathrooms in general have changed dramtically over the years, especially in upscale homes over 3,000 square feet in size.

   "The bathroom has become the second most important room in the house," says architectural designer Cindi Mac Swain, owner of Vanney Mac Swain Swain Home Planning Associates, Darboy. Kitchens still lead the list in significance, she adds.

   Mac Swain prepares architectural plans for new home construction and existing home remodeling and additions. She started her company in 1987 and likes to focus on "green" or sustainable atchitecture.

   In the last two decades, Mac Swain has noticed a trend toward more detail and personality in new home construction. Homeowners are not settling for cookie cutter plans but want their residence to be unique. Smaller homes are filled with multi-functional rooms, but space in larger homes can be dedicated to specific usage.

   Bathrooms are getting bigger and incorporating elements from other rooms. For example, dressing rooms and closet space are connected to or part of larger bathrooms, so that the early rising spouse doesn't need to reenter the bedroom and disturb a still sleeping mate.

   'About 50 percent of the homes we build incorporate closets into the bathroom space,"says Kim Johnson, managing partner of Wisco Enterprises, LLP Kaukauna. Bathrooms used to be only functional space, but now they are built for style and comfort, Johnson observes.

   Small refrigerators, coffee makers and TVs are showing up in the master bath suite, thus eliminating trips to the kitchen for that early morning cup of coffee or glass of orange juice and facilitating a jump on the day's news while shaving or dressing.

Heated towel bars and especially electric radiant heat under bathroom flooring is a "must," whether it covers the entire floor or just a "bathmat" area in front of the tub. Most homeowners lower a thermostat for nighttime hours, and stepping on a cold bathroom tile or marble floor can be a shock.

"I've got it in my bathroom, and it's very comfortable when you get up in the morning," Johnson says.