In the world of home remodeling, anything can be enhanced and changed until it perfectly fits the home owner's specific taste. This concept does not exclude bathrooms. Bathroom designs have dramatically shifted since the 1960's trend of floor-to-ceiling colorful tile or the expansive and excessive bathing getaways of the 80s. Today, bathrooms are usually designed to be smooth and trendy with neutral colored paneling and accents in the backsplashes of counters. The not-so-surprising aspect of the modern bathroom is the reemergence of the bathtub.
The Design
With large, luxurious showers being extremely popular in the modern decade, the necessity of a bathtub is on the decline. However, with advances in technology and new design options, bathtubs have become a much-wanted luxury. New applications in a modern tub include a compact spa system to better save space, in-tub speakers, and special lighting for a soak. Additionally, covers can be purchased for a wall to wall, flat-topped tub which provide a place to sit and lay, while keeping the water in the tub warm.
Tubs can also easily be adapted to fit within the modern design scheme. This design is overall more compact and sleek, with a clean cut color scheme involving primarily grays and whites to enlarge the appearance of a bathroom. Bathtubs with a wall to wall design are more common than the traditional clawfoot models and are often fitted with cabinetry concealed in the paneling underneath the tub. Modernized bathrooms may also showcase smooth, rounded tubs that give off a very natural vibe. The overall appearance of a modern style bathroom, including a tub, is meant to be shiny and neat, with a relaxing atmosphere and spa-like projection.
The Background of the Bathtub
Historically speaking, bathtubs were meant to be a place to unwind and relax as well as to get clean. Bathing in tubs is a concept which spans back thousands of years to the Roman Empire when large community baths were used as a place of socializing while washing oneself. These public bathing areas were generally beautiful in design and had a serene atmosphere.
Since that time, baths have obviously become more private but feature that same connection to nature in their design and oftentimes placement. The most luxurious, and expensive, bathrooms often feature bathtubs in view of spacious windows which open up to private land, practically placing the bather right in the middle of nature itself. This idea is reflected in more compact bathing spaces as well, with the overall atmosphere being peaceful and the bathroom usually being decorated with leafy patterns or with beach themes. The natural atmosphere of a bath is unique and special and can lend to relaxation by simply being in the tub and taking time to appreciate its magic.
To learn more about the pleasing nature of a bathtub or to find a bathing oasis of your own, visit Pelham & White.