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A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Chicago. Written by Monica Eng, Justin Kaufmann and Carrie Shepherd.

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One way some Chicagoans are escaping the hustle and bustle of the city is by carving out a natural escape in a room you might not expect — the bathroom.

What's happening: Many homeowners are enlarging their showers and installing therapeutic upgrades in the name of wellness.

By the numbers: When Chicago residents upgrade their bathrooms, they consider adjusting a number of features.

Most local renovators are looking to change or add everything from plumbing fixtures and lighting to toilets and shower stalls.

When removing a bathtub, 78% of U.S. homeowners enlarge the shower, according to a 2022 Houzz trend report.

And "larger walk-in showers" tops the list of desired bathroom features — with 60% of respondents interested — per a national survey by The American Institute of Architects.

Therapeutic bathroom add-ons were a major feature of industry trade shows this year, says Jamie Gold, wellness design consultant and author.

Among the new offerings: Kohler introduced a "sprig" showerhead attachment that releases a variety of scents.

Three in four homeowners incorporate premium bathroom features into their showers, per Houzz.

Among the bathroom updates: rainfall showerheads (52%), dual showers (19%), body sprayers (16%), thermostatic mixers (13%) and mood lighting (8%).

A photo showing a bathroom with a large see-through shower and a bathtub. A plant hangs near the tub and a window. 

A contemporary bathroom in Chicago by Blender Architecture. Photo: Darris Lee Harris Photography

This Chicago bathroom has taken tranquility to the next level with a walk-in shower, multiple sprayers and a bamboo wall (to the left).

What they're saying: "If the project is in a space in which we're not looking out onto nature … we're trying to bring nature into it," says Richard Blender, owner of Blender Architecture, about the bamboo wall he incorporated into the room.

Connecting a home with nature or outside space gives clients "another level of being able to relax [and] develop their own sense of calm," he says.

Go deeper: New home trend: Spa-like showers

Chicago bathroom incorporates bamboo wall, spa-like features

Therapeutic bathroom add-ons were a major feature of industry trade shows this year.

Real estate

One way some Chicagoans are escaping the hustle and bustle of the city is by carving out a natural escape in a room you might not expect — the bathroom.What&#x27;s happening: Many homeowners are enlarging their showers and installing therapeutic upgrades in the name of wellness.

News

Today will be a big day on Chicago roadways.

Why it matters: Driving during off times could save you hours in the car this holiday weekend.

By the numbers: Last year, reported traffic increased by 9% on the Friday before Labor Day, compared with 2021, according to Waze.

Over the entire holiday weekend, traffic increased by 8.3% compared with the year prior.

What they're saying: "The best times to travel by car over Labor Day weekend are early in the morning or in the evening," says Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX, a transportation data provider that works with AAA. 

"If you must travel during heavy traffic, navigation apps and local departments of transportation can help steer drivers around long delays."

Yes, but: That's easier said than done in Chicago, where construction delays on the Kennedy Expressway continue to stymie even the savviest navigation apps.

Good news, though: The Illinois Department of Transportation is opening lanes in anticipation of the heavy traffic weekend.

Details: The biggest peak times were last night, showing almost 20% projected increases in travel times north to Wisconsin or east to Michigan.

If you are driving west toward Iowa, the worst time will be today at noon. If you are driving south toward St. Louis, the busiest time will be today around 3:30pm, according to INRIX. 

Overall, the times with the least traffic this holiday weekend nationally, INRIX predicts, will be:

Sunday anytime (with minimal traffic expected overall).

Of note: After a slight drop in gas prices last week, they have crept back up and are almost identical to the prices last Labor Day in the Chicago area.

How to avoid Labor Day traffic in Chicago

Construction delays on the Kennedy Expressway continue to stymie even the savviest navigation apps.

The Jane Byrne interchange downtown. Photo: Justin Kaufmann/Axios

Traffic

Today will be a big day on Chicago roadways.Why it matters: Driving during off times could save you hours in the car this holiday weekend.

Carly Mallenbaum

Featured stories

Chicago bathroom incorporates bamboo wall, spa-like features

How to avoid Labor Day traffic in Chicago