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Bettesworth Construction
Aging in Place

Bathrooms With Personality: 7 2026 Trends Worth Building Around

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The bathroom trend that matters most in 2026 is personalization with discipline. Homeowners are asking for rooms that look less copied from a catalog and more tuned to the way they actually start and end the day: warmer color, better storage, fewer curbs, softer lighting, textured tile, and fixtures that save water without looking basic. The right remodel uses style where it can change later and spends money where failure is expensive: waterproofing, drains, framing, ventilation, lighting, and durable surfaces.

Quick answer: the seven 2026 bathroom trends worth planning around are warmer individualized palettes, wet rooms and curbless showers, wellness features, custom storage, attractive aging-in-place details, textured natural-looking materials, and layered lighting with efficient or smart fixtures. National cost guides put many bathroom remodels around $12,146 on average, with common ranges from $2,500 to $30,000, while the 2026 U.S. Houzz & Home Study found primary bathroom median spend at $15,000 and high-end projects at the 90th percentile reaching $50,000. Those numbers do not replace a local bid, but they are useful guardrails before you fall in love with a layout.

At Bettesworth Construction, we look at bathroom trends through a builder’s filter: can it drain, can it dry, can it be cleaned, can it be repaired, and will the homeowner still like it after the first year? Below are the seven trends we would take seriously in 2026, along with the cost, layout, permit, and maintenance realities behind them.

What 2026 Bathroom Trends Really Mean For A Remodel

The NKBA 2026 Bath Trends Report is useful because it does not point to one narrow style. Transitional and timeless design leads at 70% of respondents, followed by organic and natural at 65%, then contemporary, modern, and minimalist at 57%. That tells us the market is not asking every bathroom to become a spa showroom. It is asking for cleaner planning, warmer materials, and more personal choices inside a durable framework.

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NKBA also reports that 72% of designers expect bathroom footprints to increase as bathrooms take on more wellness, accessibility, storage, and purpose-built use. That does not mean every homeowner needs an addition. It does mean layout is becoming more important than decoration. A 75 sq. ft. hall bath can feel better than a 110 sq. ft. primary bath if the door swing, vanity drawers, shower entry, lighting, and storage are resolved before construction starts.

The market context matters. The Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies projects remodeling and repair spending growth slowing through 2026, from about 2.1% midyear to 1.6% by year-end. That supports a quality-over-flash approach. A bathroom should not chase every feature on a social feed. It should choose two or three strong style moves and make the hidden work excellent.

1. Warm, Individual Color Palettes Replace Cold White

The all-white bathroom is not gone, but the flat, cold version of it is losing ground. NKBA reports that 96% of respondents still see neutrals as the most popular bath colors, but the neutrals are warmer: off-white at 58%, light brown or tan at 54%, and white at 40%. Green is also maturing. Sage is expected to be popular with 64% of respondents, while olive follows at 43%.

On our job sites, the best way to use this trend is to separate permanent color from flexible color. The permanent layer is the expensive layer: floor tile, shower tile, tub, toilet, stone or quartz tops. Keep that layer warm, calm, and durable. The flexible layer is where personality belongs: vanity color, wall paint, wallpaper above wainscot height, mirrors, sconces, cabinet pulls, towels, and art.

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A practical example is a 12 in. by 24 in. warm gray-beige porcelain floor, an off-white shower wall tile, a quartz top, and a sage or deep blue vanity. If you want more character, use a handmade-look tile on one shower wall or behind the vanity, but avoid covering 300 sq. ft. of wet wall with a pattern you may tire of. At $5 to $15 per sq. ft. for basic installed tile and $15 to $30 per sq. ft. for higher-end marble or custom tile, changing your mind later is not a paint project.

Builder’s Take

Pick one permanent choice and one flexible choice. Neutral durable tile plus a colored vanity is usually safer than bold tile plus a neutral vanity. If resale matters, the expensive surfaces should feel calm from 10 ft. away and interesting up close.

2. Curbless Showers And Wet Rooms Become More Practical

Wet rooms and curbless showers are not just luxury photos anymore. The 2025 U.S. Houzz Bathroom Trends Study found wet rooms in 16% of renovated bathrooms, up 3 percentage points year over year. Homeowners cited better use of space at 50%, aesthetics at 29%, and accessibility at 26%. NKBA also found that more than half of respondents say a larger shower is more important than having a bathtub.

There are two different ideas here. A curbless shower has a flush or nearly flush entry. A wet room treats a larger area, sometimes the whole bathroom or a tub-and-shower zone, as a waterproofed space. Both can be excellent. Both can fail quickly if the structure and drainage are not right.

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For a curbless shower, decide early whether the floor can be recessed. The finished shower floor still needs slope to the drain, commonly 1/4 in. per ft. to 1/2 in. per ft. in shower work. If the joists, subfloor, or drain location do not allow a recessed pan, the contractor may need to raise more of the bathroom floor, use a ramped entry, change the drain location, or treat the full room as a wet room. That decision affects framing, tile transitions, door clearances, and budget.

Cost is the other reality check. Walk-in shower averages cluster around $9,000 to $11,000 installed in 2026, with typical ranges around $4,500 to $15,000 and custom tile or glass showers reaching $25,000 or more. A curbless version commonly adds roughly 20% to 30% compared with a similar curbed shower because floor recessing, slope, waterproofing, drain placement, and flood testing are more involved. Wet rooms can run roughly $11,000 to $40,000 depending on room size, tile coverage, glass, waterproofing extent, and whether the tub sits inside the wet zone.

Builder’s Take

Do not design a curbless shower from the tile outward. Start with joist direction, drain route, subfloor height, doorway transition, glass location, and waterproofing plan. A beautiful shower that lets water escape under the vanity is not a luxury feature.

3. Spa Features Get Built Around Daily Routines

The better 2026 spa bathroom is not packed with gadgets. It is tuned to the homeowner’s routine. Houzz bathroom relaxation data shows the biggest contributors are cleanliness at 74%, spacious showers at 65%, organized storage at 59%, natural light at 43%, dimmable lighting at 39%, and comfortable tubs at 28%. That ranking is honest. A bathroom feels relaxing when it is cleanable, uncluttered, well lit, and comfortable to move through.

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Good wellness upgrades include a larger shower, a bench, a handheld showerhead, quiet ventilation, dimmable lighting, warm floors, a towel warmer, and a soaking tub if it will actually be used. A bench should usually land around 17 to 19 in. high and at least 15 to 16 in. deep. Shower niches, shelves, windowsills, and benches need slope toward the drain. A niche that holds water after every shower is a maintenance problem, even if the tile looks perfect on day one.

Steam is the upgrade that needs the most respect. It is not just a nicer showerhead. A steam shower needs a correctly sized generator, access for service, a vapor-rated waterproofing approach, sealed penetrations, a compatible door or transom strategy, and electrical work. Angi’s 2026 walk-in shower data lists steam shower features from about $1,500 to $11,700, and the wide range is real because the enclosure and mechanical requirements vary so much.

For most homeowners, the better value is not the most expensive feature. It is the combination of a spacious shower, a comfortable handshower, a bench or foot ledge, easy-clean glass, a quiet fan on a timer, and lighting that can be bright in the morning and low at night.

Builder’s Take

Build wellness into the shell before adding luxury. If the fan is loud, storage is poor, tile is slippery, or the shower pan holds water, the room will not feel relaxing no matter how nice the fixtures are.

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4. Custom Storage Turns The Vanity Into A Work Zone

Storage is becoming more personal because bathroom routines are more specific. NKBA calls out custom storage solutions with configurable modules, built-in storage for hair tools, makeup, medications, electrical integration, drawer organizers, and charging stations inside vanity cabinetry. That is not fluff. It is the difference between a calm counter and a bathroom that looks cluttered two days after cleaning.

Start with how the room is used. One person getting ready quickly needs different storage than two people sharing a primary bath. A 30 to 48 in. single vanity can work well in a hall bath. A double vanity generally needs at least 60 in., and 72 in. is more comfortable if two adults use it at the same time. Vanity height often lands around 34 to 36 in. now, which feels better for many adults than older 30 to 32 in. cabinets.

Use drawers wherever possible. Deep doors under a sink are usually where products disappear. Better storage includes U-shaped sink drawers, a 15 to 18 in. linen tower where space allows, a recessed medicine cabinet between studs, shallow pullouts for skin care, and divided drawers for grooming tools. If outlets are placed inside cabinets or drawers, use listed products and coordinate with the electrician. Do not solve hair tools with an extension cord inside a drawer.

Costs vary sharply. HomeAdvisor lists vanity costs from $100 to $10,000 and cabinetry from $300 to $42,000 depending on size and customization. Quartz bathroom countertops commonly land around $3,000 to $6,000 installed for a primary bathroom, with an average around $4,500 in current cost guides. That is why the storage plan should be settled before cabinetry is ordered. Moving from a stock vanity to a semi-custom or custom vanity is worth it only if the layout and drawer schedule solve real daily problems.

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Builder’s Take

Plan storage as part of the layout, not as an accessory. Recessed medicine cabinets, drawer organizers, tall linen storage, shower niches, and code-compliant outlets should be located on the drawings before rough-in.

5. Aging-In-Place Details Stop Looking Clinical

Accessibility is no longer a separate category from style. Houzz found that 68% of renovating homeowners considered special needs in bathroom projects, up 4 percentage points year over year. Popular aging-in-place features included grab bars at 61%, nonslip flooring at 55%, low-curb showers at 52%, extra lighting at 31%, and curbless showers at 28%.

The reason this trend has staying power is simple: the same features that help an older homeowner also help a guest with a knee injury, a child, or anyone stepping into the shower half-awake. The trick is to build them in so they look intentional. Designer grab bars now come in finishes that match faucets. Blocking behind the walls costs very little when the walls are open. A handheld showerhead on a slide bar can look clean and work better than a fixed head. Lever handles are easier to use than knobs and do not read as medical.

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Useful dimensions depend on the household and local code, but several planning targets hold up well. A 36 in. door is a strong goal where framing allows. A shower entry of 32 in. clear or more is easier to live with than a narrow door. Comfort-height toilets commonly sit around 17 to 19 in. at the seat. Grab bar blocking should be placed where bars will actually be useful, not just where blocking is convenient.

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Costs are manageable if planned early. Angi lists grab bars around $100 to $500 installed, and accessibility features in walk-in showers can add roughly $75 to $1,900. The larger costs come when accessibility requires a curbless shower, floor reframing, door widening, or layout changes. Those can still be worthwhile, but they should be priced as construction scope, not accessories.

Builder’s Take

The best aging-in-place work is invisible until someone needs it. Add blocking, use nonslip tile, keep thresholds low, specify a handheld shower, improve lighting, and make the room safer without making it look institutional.

6. Texture And Natural-Looking Materials Carry The Design

Texture is carrying more of the bathroom design in 2026 because homeowners want warmth without fussy maintenance. NKBA reports that 89% of respondents say homeowners are looking for smaller or no grout lines on the floor, 91% agree durability and practicality are the top considerations for flooring, and 80% believe large-format flooring will be most popular over the next three years. Wood-faced vanities are also gaining ground, with 62% popularity compared with 53% for painted vanities.

Porcelain tile is often the workhorse here. It can look like limestone, concrete, zellige, terrazzo, or wood, while handling bathroom moisture better than many natural materials. Ceramic tile can be a good value on walls. Natural stone can be beautiful, but it must be specified honestly. Marble can etch, some stones need sealing, and replacement lots may not match if a tile cracks later.

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Use different tile logic in different places. Large-format tile can reduce grout on the main floor and shower walls, but shower floors often need smaller mosaics so the surface can follow the slope to the drain and provide more grout-joint traction. Polished stone on a bathroom floor may photograph well and still be the wrong choice for wet feet. Ask for the manufacturer’s wet-area suitability, slip-resistance information, and cleaning instructions before ordering.

Installed tile costs are a major budget driver. Basic installed tile often runs $5 to $15 per sq. ft.; higher-end marble or custom tile can run $15 to $30 per sq. ft.; Homewyse’s May 2026 tile-floor calculator starts at $16.38 to $20.21 per sq. ft. for national-average conditions. Materials alone vary widely: ceramic about $1 to $8 per sq. ft., porcelain $4 to $14, natural stone $7 to $25, glass $12 to $35, and wood-look porcelain $5 to $15 before full project variables.

Builder’s Take

Tile, grout, cement board, and stone sealer are not the waterproofing system. The waterproofing layer must be continuous and tied into drains, corners, benches, niches, and penetrations. The Ceramic Tile Education Foundation and TCNA both emphasize matching membranes, backers, mortars, and wet-area conditions correctly.

7. Layered Lighting And Efficient Fixtures Do More Work

Lighting is one of the clearest 2026 trends because it changes both function and mood. NKBA reports that lighting quality is a top bath-design consideration for 91% of respondents, task lighting should always be included in the primary bath according to 92%, nighttime-specific lighting is included by 80%, and natural lighting is a top priority for 88%.

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A good bathroom lighting plan has at least four layers. Ambient lighting handles general brightness. Task lighting belongs at face height near the mirror, not only overhead where it casts shadows. Shower lighting needs fixtures listed for the location. Night lighting should be low, indirect, and separately switched or sensor controlled. For most bathrooms, 2700K to 3000K color temperature and 90-plus CRI are a good target because skin tones and tile colors look more natural.

Efficient fixtures are part of the same trend because they let homeowners personalize style without wasting water. The EPA WaterSense program says a whole or partial bathroom remodel using WaterSense fixtures can save nearly 10,000 gallons of water annually. WaterSense showerheads use no more than 2.0 gallons per minute compared with the 2.5 gpm standard, and the EPA estimates an average family can save 2,700 gallons per year by installing WaterSense labeled showerheads. On a single 15-minute shower, that is 30 gallons at 2.0 gpm versus 37.5 gallons at 2.5 gpm.

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Smart fixtures can be useful when they solve a real problem: a humidity-sensing fan, a leak sensor near a toilet or vanity, a smart toilet with a night light, or programmable shower controls in a primary suite. Keep service access in mind. Any device with electronics, batteries, filters, cartridges, or controls should be reachable without removing tile.

Builder’s Take

Put lighting and power on the electrical plan early. Bathrooms commonly need GFCI-protected receptacles, properly rated fixtures near tubs and showers, compatible dimmers, and fans ducted outdoors. Local code and inspection requirements control the final details.

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2026 Bathroom Remodel Costs: What To Budget

Bathroom remodel pricing varies by market, house age, finish level, and how much plumbing or electrical moves. Use national numbers as a planning range, then get a written local quote with allowances, exclusions, schedule, permit responsibilities, and product specifications. Labor commonly accounts for 40% to 65% of a bathroom remodel budget, and that share rises when the project includes custom tile, old-house repairs, structural work, or tight sequencing.

Upgrade or project type 2026 planning range What drives the cost
Overall bathroom remodel Average around $12,146; common range $2,500 to $30,000; roughly $70 to $250 per sq. ft. Room size, demolition, finish level, plumbing changes, electrical work, permits, and local labor.
Primary bathroom remodel Houzz median $15,000; 90th percentile $50,000; large major primary baths around $30,000 median in study excerpts. Custom showers, larger footprints, double vanities, tile coverage, glass, and premium fixtures.
Small bathroom remodel Basic refresh about $2,000 to $6,500; midrange small bath about $6,000 to $15,000 when layout stays mostly the same. Keeping the toilet, tub, and vanity in place controls cost.
Walk-in shower Often $4,500 to $15,000; averages cluster around $9,000 to $11,000; custom tile and glass can reach $25,000 or more. Prefab versus custom, pan type, tile, waterproofing, glass, plumbing, and accessibility details.
Curbless shower premium Roughly 20% to 30% more than a comparable curbed shower. Floor recessing, slope, drain placement, waterproofing, flood testing, and transitions.
Wet room Roughly $11,000 to $40,000. Waterproofing extent, drainage, tile square footage, glass, tub placement, and ventilation.
Tile floor or wet-zone tile Basic installed tile often $5 to $15 per sq. ft.; high-end marble or custom tile $15 to $30 per sq. ft.; Homewyse starts at $16.38 to $20.21 per sq. ft. for national-average tile-floor conditions. Tile material, pattern, prep, waterproofing, underlayment, layout complexity, and waste.
Quartz bathroom countertops Commonly $3,000 to $6,000 installed for a primary bath; average around $4,500 in current cost guides. Slab selection, edge profile, sink cutouts, backsplash, and fabrication complexity.
Permits and demolition Permits often $100 to $1,000 for bathroom work; demolition commonly $1,000 to $2,300 in national guides. Local building department, disposal, hazardous material concerns, tile tear-out, and hidden damage.

Return on investment should be used as context, not as the only decision-maker. Cost vs. Value 2025 lists a national midrange bath remodel at $26,138 with $20,915 in resale value, or 80% cost recouped. Universal-design bath remodels show a lower percentage because the job cost is higher, not because safer bathrooms are a bad idea. Daily use, safety, and durability often matter more than a resale spreadsheet.

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When To DIY And When To Hire A Pro

DIY belongs on the surface layer of a bathroom, not inside the failure points. A capable homeowner can often handle painting, hardware, towel bars, mirrors, simple shelving, toilet seats, some faucets where shutoffs and drains are in good shape, and a showerhead swap. Those updates can make a dated bathroom feel current for hundreds of dollars instead of thousands.

Hire a pro when the work touches waterproofing, plumbing relocation, electrical circuits, exhaust fans, tile shower pans, curbless transitions, wet rooms, structural framing, natural stone installation, steam showers, radiant heat, or permits. Bathrooms are small rooms with a lot of trades packed into tight space. A poor sequence can bury problems behind expensive finishes.

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Timeline also matters. A surface refresh can take 2 to 5 working days. A partial remodel often takes 1 to 3 weeks once materials are on site. A full gut bathroom commonly takes 3 to 6 weeks, and a wet room or complex primary bath can take 4 to 8 weeks. Custom vanities can need 6 to 10 weeks of lead time, and frameless glass is usually templated after tile is complete, then fabricated over another 1 to 3 weeks. Ordering early is not optional if you want the project to stay on schedule.

Permit, Waterproofing, And Safety Notes

Permit rules vary by city and county, but homeowners should assume a permit may be needed when moving plumbing, altering electrical, adding or relocating an exhaust fan, changing framing, moving walls, changing windows, or building a tiled shower or wet room. Simple paint and hardware usually do not trigger a permit. Fixture swaps may or may not, depending on local rules and the scope.

Waterproofing deserves its own line in the contract. A tiled shower should have a named waterproofing system, manufacturer instructions, compatible drain, corner and seam treatment, niche and bench details, and a documented flood test before tile installation. The shower floor must slope correctly to the drain. Any horizontal surface in a wet area, including benches, shelves, curbs, windowsills, and niches, should pitch toward the drain.

Ventilation is another common miss. A window is not a substitute for a quiet, properly ducted fan in daily use. Many full baths use fans in the 80 to 110 CFM range, adjusted for room size and duct length, with a timer or humidity control. The duct should terminate outdoors, not in an attic or crawlspace.

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Electrical planning should include GFCI protection where required, a suitable bathroom receptacle circuit, wet- or damp-rated fixtures where the location demands it, and enough switching to separate fan, task lighting, shower lighting, and night lighting. If a fixture or device has a manufacturer requirement for GFCI protection, follow it. If local code is stricter than a national guide, local code wins.

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Tile safety is partly structure. Ceramic and porcelain tile assemblies generally need a stiff floor system, and natural stone typically requires an even stiffer substrate. If the floor flexes, grout cracks and tile failures follow. Before selecting large-format tile or stone, confirm joist span, subfloor thickness, underlayment, movement joints, and manufacturer requirements.

How To Personalize Without Hurting Resale

Personal style does not have to hurt resale. The problem is usually putting a highly specific taste into the most expensive layer of the room. Our rule is straightforward: if changing it later requires demolition, keep it quiet and well made. If it can be painted, unscrewed, rewired from an accessible box, or replaced without tearing out tile, make it personal.

A smart 2026 bathroom might use warm neutral porcelain, a durable quartz top, a properly waterproofed shower, and high-quality lighting as the permanent base. Then it can add personality through a walnut vanity, a colored cabinet finish, a ribbed or arched mirror, brass or matte black hardware, wallpaper above tile height, or sculptural sconces. That gives the homeowner a room that feels specific without trapping the next buyer in a costly demolition decision.

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Think twice before removing the only bathtub in a home, especially in neighborhoods where families are common. A walk-in shower can be the better daily feature, but keeping one tub somewhere in the house preserves flexibility. If there is already another tub, converting a dated primary tub to a larger shower often makes sense.

Finally, keep records. Save fixture model numbers, tile lot numbers, grout color, waterproofing product data, fan specs, lighting color temperature, and warranty information. A personal bathroom is easier to own and easier to sell when the next person can understand what was installed behind the finishes.

Final Takeaway

The best 2026 bathroom trends put personal style first, but they do not ignore construction reality. Warm color, wet rooms, wellness features, custom storage, aging-in-place details, natural texture, and layered lighting all work when the drainage, waterproofing, ventilation, electrical, and maintenance plan are solid.

If you are planning a remodel, start with the layout and the hidden systems. Then choose the finishes. That order is what turns a trend into a bathroom that looks personal, works every morning, and holds up long after the first photos are taken.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a bathroom remodel cost in 2026?

National 2026 guides put many bathroom remodels around $12,146 on average, with common ranges from $2,500 to $30,000 or about $70 to $250 per sq. ft. Houzz reports primary bathroom median spend at $15,000, with high-end projects at the 90th percentile reaching $50,000.

Which 2026 bathroom trends are worth the money?

The best-value trends are durable tile, better lighting, organized storage, WaterSense fixtures, safer shower entries, and a larger or better-planned shower. These improve daily use and are less likely to feel dated than highly specific tile patterns or luxury gadgets.

Do I need a permit to remodel a bathroom?

You may need a permit if the remodel moves plumbing, changes electrical work, alters framing, adds or relocates ventilation, moves walls, or builds a new shower or wet room. Cosmetic work such as paint, hardware, and mirrors usually does not, but local rules control.

How much more does a curbless shower cost than a regular shower?

A curbless shower commonly costs about 20% to 30% more than a comparable curbed shower. The added cost comes from floor recessing or transitions, drain placement, slope, waterproofing, and flood testing.

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Are wet rooms practical in small bathrooms?

Yes, wet rooms can work well in small bathrooms when drainage, splash control, ventilation, and full waterproofing are planned from the start. They are not a shortcut. A small wet room often needs more careful detailing than a standard tub-shower layout.

How can I add personal style without making the bathroom feel dated?

Keep expensive permanent surfaces calm and durable, then add personality through vanities, paint, wallpaper above wet zones, mirrors, lighting, hardware, towels, and art. If changing it later requires demolition, keep it more timeless.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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