Thursday, June 25, 2009

Take Out the Tub?


Here's another swoon-worthy bathroom. Isn't it just lovely?

Notice something missing? Yes, the tub.

Is this a design trend, or do people just not take a tub bath the way they used to?

I wish I had documentation about the source of the above photo. Anyone out there know?
I'd love to see more of this room. Could the tub be located elsewhere?

What I really admire is the "jewel box" idea behind it. The designer has taken a relatively average sized bathroom and turned it into something luxurious.

I certainly don't think I'd miss the soaking in this bathroom.
I think the steam shower would be just fine.


Now, another bathroom, could be a powder room/half bath.
What great decorative storage the baskets provide.

Unfortunately, I don't know the source of this photo either.

I'm wondering if this is a bathroom that once had a tub.
It could have been removed and these shelves put in it's place.

I've seen a bathroom recently that did almost the exact same thing. Imagine the above bath with only the top shelf. It was used as an office, of all things.
The top shelf served as a great desktop.

Just think, if the bathroom had a separate shower, the "desk" area could serve as a vanity/make-up area.

Do any of you remember the Christopher Lowell project that converted a tub into a sofa? It was quite creative. He took a standard built-in tub and had plywood upholstered to fit over the top. The apron of the tub as skirted. Quite interesting.


Here's another use for the bathtub. How about converting a claw foot tub into a settee. I don't think so. It if works for you, contact www.reestore.com.
It's better than have it rest in a landfill.

Time to speak up.
Do you take a tub bath everyday?
Are you a fan of the shower?
Would you buy a house without a tub?
Would you miss your tub if it were gone?

38 comments:

  1. Blessings to you.
    Like your post today.
    I'd have to think about not having a tub. I like to soak in mine.
    Very good looking bathroom though.
    ~D~

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  2. I never use my tub and would LOVE to take it out but know its bad for resale...blah :-(

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  3. I never use my tub...except to bathe my children. They would really miss it...me notsomuch.

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  4. We actually don't have a tub in our master bathroom; we suspect it was taken out during a total overhaul of our 1960-era ranch house to enlarge the adjoining closet. This suits my husband & I perfectly since neither of us are bath-takers, but I suspect it will affect resale.

    Boring practicalities aside, I love the bathroom featured in that top photo. All white, lots of sunlight, huge shower - YES.

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  5. My mom and stepdad just built a new house and chose not to have a tub in the master bath. They turned that space into a vanity just like you mentioned. They did however, have the space plumbed for a tub so that if they ever sell it would be easy to just drop a tub in. I think this is key because some people really want a tub.

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  6. I am heading this direction with my son's bathroom-no tub, just a shower. In my middle daughter's bathroom, we are just putting in a clawfoot tub-no shower. We are actually using that basketweave tile in marble too. Great pictures!

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  7. Cute post!! love all three pics!!

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  8. Never use the tub, but I probably wouldn't have it taken out cause of resale - if I ever choose to resale - haha

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  9. Oh, I am a bath girl all the way. I have a large claw footed wonder and I'm in it every night. I have noticed that there is an evil trend out there to remove them in favour of a more opulent shower, in fact one of my clients requested just that. But for me.... I must have my tub!

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  10. I LOVE to take baths. Getting in a hot soak after a long day is the best stress reliever I know! Embarassingly, I will sometimes spend forever in there, reading a book and drinking a glass of wine. Ridiculous, I know. I would definitely miss my tub - but I do love that bathroom!

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  11. We removed the tub in our small 1930s bath and replaced it with a large shower. It works for us since neither are really bath people, and we plan to live here indefinitely, so resale wasn't a major concern. I've done it for clients with small master baths who want a more spacious look, but don't want to undergo major renovation. Combined with frameless glass doors, a large walk-in shower can make a mid-century bath look huge. However, in cases like that, I do think it is imporant for resale to have a tub in another bathroom.

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  12. i do.
    i really like the first bath !!

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  13. That first picture is very pretty. I wonder if the tub could be behind where the photographer is standing. Or maybe there isn't one. Also the toilet or water closet has to be somewhere.

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  14. We don't have a tub in our master bath and never use the tub in the children's bath. We just had plans drawn up for a master bedroom/bath addition and did not include a tub! We do have double sinks and a separate W.C. and I am very excited to get started.

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  15. We have no tub in our master bath either and it is not really a problem for us, but like everyone else I do wonder how/if it will affect resale.

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  16. Sorry..no tub no love from me. My week ends with a soak, candles, baroque, & a glass of vino.
    That 30 mins of quiet nothing is heaven.

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  17. We have a wonderful Waterworks tub in our bathroom that I have never been in. My grandchildren love the jets and pretend to swim in the tub. I myself love my shower!

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  18. would NOT be Okay without my tub.... :)

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  19. The "sofa tub" is called a cut away bathtub and was made famous by the movie "Breakfast at Tiffany's" when it was in Holly Golightly's (Audrey Hepburn)apt.

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  20. in 15 years i have used my tub once. but still i would love a gorgeous one just to look at it!!
    Joni

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  21. We have a whirlpool tub, it gets used maybe 3 times a year. I don't like to be hot, so lounging in a bubble bath is not for me.

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  22. I would totally buy a house without a tub, especially if I got a really great shower instead!

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  23. Gotta have the tub! The bigger the better!!! There isn't anything more relaxing than a wonderful, steaming hot bubble bath! Love it. Pure Heaven.

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  24. That's quite charming with good use of glass expanding the space.

    That bathtub/sofa I first remember seeing in Breakfast at Tiffany's only it was in hot pink. Sigh it was pretty.

    I must I prefer the Cottage Chic one that comes after, with the baskets, bright, Spring-like and fresh!

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  25. I love the bathroom without the tub!

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  26. i love that top photo! our master bathroom has a giant shower and no tub. this was never an issue until i had the baby and had to take baths.

    our downstairs bath has a bathtub and i'm SO happy we have one in the house.

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  27. I love a tub bath, and just the sight of a beautiful tub is relaxing!

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  28. I love taking baths in the winter, but could do without them if a had to. Showers are much more expedient!

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  29. I am a bath person - always and often, xv.

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  30. I, too, have been a bath person. In high school, I actually did my homework in my parents' large tub. Now at almost 60, I am about to remove the only bath from our home. I don't care about the resell issues. Some else can rip out my new shower and put in what they want. I think showers are safer for us as we age. I know that wasn't a sexy last sentence, but I am afraid that reality sometimes isn't.

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  31. Right now our master bathroom has what has to be world's smallest separate shower and garden tub. I like the tub, but I feel cramped in it, and the shower is just absurdly small. We're trying to decide whether to get rid of the tub and do a large shower like the one you've pictured or put in a much larger garden tub/shower combo.

    Mike never uses the tub and would be fine with it going away, but I think I'd miss it too much. We may have to do the tub/shower combo.

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  32. I don't have a tub in my Master bath. It was a little hesitant to buy the house..... because of this. We do have other tubs...but it is weird not having one. I have super huge walk-in closet instead.
    Have a fabulous FOURTH of July!
    xxxx me

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  33. I would miss my tub i the winter. I love to sink into a hot bath in the winter:)

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  34. I just realised I typed a typo before.

    Did you manage to find the source of the second bathroom with the storage baskets?

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  35. What a lovely bathroom sans the tub...:)

    And the settee is just adorable.

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  36. When space is an issue, I'm seeing it left out of the Master. I've found that most people use it to bathe children more often than adults, so if it comes down to only putting it one place, it ends up in a bathroom other than the Master. My clients who do insist on them in their Master tend to use them a lot and want them for that reason more so than 'just for looks.'

    I personally probably use mine once a year and wouldnt' miss it a bit if it were gone!

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