Do Bathtubs Belong in Bedrooms? These Dwellings Say “Yes”
Love it or hate it, bathtubs are making their way into the bedchamber.
Though it may seem incongruous to some, luxury hotels have spearheaded the trend of installing freestanding tubs in the bedroom. And while naysayers worry about privacy and tidiness, the seamless transition from pouf to pillow does feel like the ultimate opulence. Done right, as the following examples show, the design can strike a balance between ensuite and waterbed.
A Bedside Bathtub With Sweeping Views of the San Francisco Bay
In the master bedroom of a pinwheel-shaped house in Sausalito, California, a circular bathtub sits next to a full-height window with a view of Angel Island. It’s joined by a Vico Magistretti & Mario Tedeschi floor lamp from the 1960s. A lipstick sculpture by Kelly Reemtsen anchors the view north toward Tiburon. The homeowners encouraged architect Mark English to leave the seismic steel frame exposed, to give the white interiors a slightly industrial look.
Photo by Joe Fletcher
Created for a design showcase in São Paulo, Loft Ninho is a warm, oak-wrapped space with an en suite bedroom box. The bookshelf separating the bedroom and bathroom is the "Icon" system from "Sollos" by Brazilian designer Jader Almeida, and creates a natural delineation.
Photo by Denilson Machado
The sunroom is off the master bath. "The homeowner asked for a stand-alone tub," Simon says. "We've done them in the past, but never had a homeowner lead us to install one."
Photo by Clay Grier
A marble wet room features a freestanding tub by Victoria and Albert and dual showers, while another shower on the terrace offers the option of washing outdoors. A 12-foot wooden door swings back to reveal a dressing room.
Photo by David Rahr
The domed master bedroom—which has a king-size bed—on the second floor provides an immersive experience in the treetop canopy thanks to the five large windows that punctuate the hexagonal space.
David Cotsworth Photography
A tub zone lined in redwood connects to the master bedroom, which is furnished with a vintage Sergio Rodrigues lounge chair and Voyage Immobile seats from Roche Bobois.
Photo: Mark Mahaney
In Toronto, a painter accustomed to crashing in his studio created an airy artistic haven with both working and living quarters for a more balanced and polished picture. The bedroom mixes a bed and lamps from IKEA with a deep, luxurious bathtub (an inexpensive model from Neptune). The artworks include original prints by New York artist Franco Mondini-Ruiz.
Photo: Matthew Williams
Prolific Dutch designer Danny Venlet rebuilds his roost in Brussels. A spare layout marks the master suite on the third floor. The rectangular KOS bathtub, integrated into an elevated plywood platform, pairs with Gert Van Der Vloet’s Cut Low lounge in Corian. The couple used elements of a photo they took of one of Venlet’s designs to create the graphic wall covering.
Photo by Nick Ballon
In a life-changing move, homeowners Hannah Smith and Jeremy Witt reside in a caravan in the rural landscape of Suffolk, England, to oversee the restoration of a crumbling barn complex. Simple plywood, cut out to allow views of the landscape, creates subdivisions within the home for private bedroom and bathroom spaces. Rather than formal rooms, they have the effect of large-scale furniture. The master bedroom features an ensuite tub.
Steve Lancefield