Bethesda and Potomac set the bar for bathroom design in Montgomery County.

What shows up in these neighborhoods usually trickles down to the rest of the area a year or two later. So if you want to know where bathroom design is headed, pay attention to what’s happening in the high-end markets.

Here’s what I’m installing a lot of lately.

Matte Black Everything

Matte black fixtures have completely taken over.

Faucets, shower heads, towel bars, cabinet hardware—all in matte black. Sometimes the whole bathroom is black and white. Sometimes it’s black accents against lighter colors.

The finish works with any style. Modern, traditional, transitional—black fits them all. And the good matte black finishes are more fingerprint-resistant than you’d think.

Costs about 20-30% more than chrome, but the look is worth it for most people.

I’m installing less brushed nickel and way less chrome than I did five years ago. Matte black and brushed gold are what people want now.

Floating Vanities

Wall-mounted vanities aren’t new, but they’re everywhere now.

They make bathrooms feel more spacious because you can see the floor underneath. Cleaning’s easier without a vanity base touching the floor. And you can install LED lighting underneath for a cool floating effect.

The catch is they require proper blocking in the wall. Can’t just mount them to drywall—they need solid support.

Most floating vanities run $1,500-6,000 depending on size and material.

Large Format Tiles

Tiles keep getting bigger.

Used to be 12×12 was standard. Then 12×24. Now I’m installing 24×48 and even 48×48 inch tiles regularly.

Bigger tiles mean fewer grout lines, which means easier cleaning and a more seamless look. They make small bathrooms feel bigger because there’s less visual clutter.

The installation’s trickier—big tiles need perfectly flat surfaces or they’ll crack. But done right, they look amazing.

Cost is $12-35 per square foot installed depending on the tile.

Smart Mirrors

Mirrors with integrated lighting, defogging, and sometimes Bluetooth speakers have gotten really popular.

The LED lighting is usually around the edges or backlit. Defogging means you can actually see yourself after a shower without wiping it down. Some have digital displays showing time and temperature.

These run $500-3,000 depending on size and features.

I installed one in a Potomac bathroom last month that also had a TV built in. Bit much for my taste, but the homeowner loves watching news while getting ready.

Freestanding Tubs (As Art Pieces)

If you’re keeping a tub, it’s increasingly a freestanding one.

Modern freestanding tubs come in matte finishes now—matte white, matte black, even colored finishes. They’re sculptural, they’re dramatic, they’re the focal point of the bathroom.

Most are made of acrylic or composite materials. Some are cast iron with special finishes.

They work best positioned by a window or against a feature wall. Floor-mounted tub fillers look cleaner than wall-mounted.

Tubs themselves range from $2,000-10,000. Installation adds another $2,000-5,000.

Curbless Showers (Finally Going Mainstream)

Zero-threshold showers used to be mostly an accessibility thing. Now they’re just good design.

No curb means no barrier—you walk straight in. Makes the bathroom feel more open. Easier to clean. And yeah, also more accessible if that matters to you.

They require proper floor pitch to a linear drain. The whole bathroom floor usually needs to be waterproofed. Not cheap, not simple, but the result is worth it.

Figure $6,000-15,000 for a quality curbless shower.

Mixing Metals

Used to be everything had to match. All chrome or all nickel or all bronze.

Now people are deliberately mixing finishes. Matte black faucets with brass cabinet hardware. Chrome shower fixtures with oil-rubbed bronze towel bars.

The key is doing it intentionally, not just randomly. Pick two or maybe three finishes and use them consistently throughout the bathroom.

Done right, it adds visual interest. Done wrong, it looks like you couldn’t make up your mind.

Neutral Earth Tones

The all-white bathroom is still around, but warmer neutrals have gotten way more popular.

Warm grays, beiges, taupes, soft browns. Natural stone looks. Materials that feel organic and calming instead of stark.

This shift probably came from everyone spending more time at home. People want spaces that feel peaceful and comfortable, not just clean and modern.

Statement Lighting

Bathrooms are getting lighting that’s actually interesting instead of just functional.

Pendant lights flanking the mirror instead of a boring bar light. Small chandeliers in larger bathrooms. Sculptural sconces that double as art.

Good lighting makes a huge difference in how a bathroom feels. Going beyond basic recessed cans adds personality.

Figure $300-2,000+ per fixture for something really nice.

Heated Floors (Not Optional Anymore)

In Bethesda and Potomac bathrooms, heated floors are basically standard now.

Electric radiant systems that warm the tile so you’re not stepping onto cold floors first thing in the morning. Programmable thermostats so they’re warm when you need them.

They add maybe $15-25 per square foot but they’re one of those upgrades people use and appreciate every single day.

What About Subway Tile?

White subway tile is still around, but it’s not the default anymore.

When people do use it, they’re doing it in different ways. Vertical stack pattern instead of brick offset. Larger format (4×12 instead of 3×6). Different colors or finishes.

Or they’re skipping it entirely for large-format tiles, natural stone, or other materials.

Smart Technology Integration

Digital shower controls where you program your preferred temperature and water pressure. Turn it on from your phone so it’s ready when you are.

Touchless faucets and toilets for hygiene and convenience.

Bluetooth speakers built into ceiling lights or mirrors.

Voice control for lighting and ventilation fans.

This stuff adds cost but it’s what people expect in high-end bathrooms now.

The Cost Reality

Modern bathroom in Bethesda/Potomac with current trends:

Entry modern: $25,000-45,000

• Curbless shower with quality tile
• Floating vanity with modern finishes
• Matte black fixtures
• Good lighting
• Heated floors

Mid-level modern: $45,000-80,000

• Everything above plus larger space
• Freestanding tub
• More elaborate tile work
• Higher-end fixtures and finishes
• Smart features

Luxury modern: $80,000-150,000+

• All the bells and whistles
• Premium materials throughout
• Custom everything
• Latest technology
• No compromises

What’s Actually Worth It

Heated floors: absolutely worth it if you’re already doing the bathroom.

Matte black fixtures: worth it if you like the look. The premium’s not that huge.

Curbless shower: worth it in new construction or gut remodels. Harder to retrofit affordably.

Smart features: depends on how much you’ll actually use them. Digital shower controls are great. Built-in TV in the mirror? Maybe not necessary.

Large format tiles: worth it for the cleaner look and easier maintenance.

Trends vs. Timeless

Some of this stuff will date your bathroom in 15 years. Matte black might look as dated then as brushed bronze looks now.

But good design principles don’t change. Quality materials, good proportions, solid functionality—those things always work.

If you’re worried about trends dating your bathroom, stick with more neutral choices and add trendy elements through hardware and accessories that are easier to change later.

The Bethesda/Potomac Effect

Like I said at the start, what happens in these markets filters down.

Matte black showed up in Potomac bathrooms maybe five years ago. Now it’s everywhere. Floating vanities, curbless showers, heated floors—same pattern.

So if you want to know what’ll be standard in Gaithersburg and Rockville bathrooms in a few years, look at what’s happening in the high-end markets now.

Want a modern bathroom in Bethesda, Potomac, or anywhere in Montgomery County? Call us at 240-449-5164.