At one time, a shower consisted of a bent water pipe with a spray nozzle mounted over the head of a bathtub. It was strictly utilitarian and appealed to those people who were in a hurry or who wanted to save water. Those days are over.

Showers have grown to include many luxury features. No longer just a tub accessory surrounded by a plastic curtain, they've become spacious cubicles with multiple showerheads and hand held body sprays; some even include hydro massage units.

While basic tub & shower combinations are fine for guest rooms, most homeowners expect a lot more in their master baths.

Separate walk-in showers are the rule. They're being built with glass partitions, etched or glazed frameless shower doors, some even with no partitions at all.

Built-in seats, shelves, and grab bars are a must; and door trim and handles match faucets and showerheads.

Clearly, the focal point of the bathroom of the future will be the shower. In many cases, bathrooms will be built with no tubs at all.

For a while, the trend was toward ever-larger facilities but building costs have forced a moderation of these designs. However, they're still large enough for two people. They may be acrylic enclosures or custom-built ceramic tile units; and at the high-end natural materials such as granite, marble, and slate are popular.

Mechanical valves are being replaced by single-control, programmable push-button modules that select temperature, configuration of showerheads, duration of shower, and pulsation intervals of body sprays.

These modules limit maximum water temperature to prevent scalding, and even control room lighting and other electronic devices.

Even builders seeking less elaborate designs are including multiple spray heads that create a "rain forest" effect, but separate controls are mandatory because some people don't care to step into a waterfall. But it is clear that home buyers today want a high-end look regardless of their price point.

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