I’ve had bathrooms on my mind lately, and coincidentally came across this photo that gave me some much-needed inspiration. I took this picture at the Kips Bay Decorator Showhouse in New York simply because it was so utterly unexpected. Stepping out onto the terrace of a Manhattan townhouse only to find a beautiful, sculptural free-standing bathtub in a zen-like setting took me completely by surprise. Daring design such as this by West Chin Architect clearly makes a statement. I’m quite certain that the experience of taking a hot bath outside on a starry night in the fresh air would be a similar experience to a summer outdoor shower. And if you are a regular reader of this blog you know how I feel about outdoor showers!
Now, let’s not quibble about the fact that this lovely, serene setting offers zero privacy. With summer fast-approaching, I’m personally concerned about the prospect of putting on a bathing suit at the beach, so you can imagine how I might feel about soaking in a tub in my birthday suit on my not-so-very-private rooftop garden! So, let’s suspend reality for a moment and imagine how delightful it truly would be (with the proper privacy screen, of course) to soak in that beautiful bathtub outside in the fresh air! If you’ve heard me say it once, then you’ve certainly heard me say it twice…good, functional design can (and should) be beautiful. Sometimes it takes an unexpected design such as this to remind us to be creative with our own spaces. Instead of viewing your bathtub as a utilitarian fixture in your bathroom, why not consider it as a piece of sculpture that is an integral part of the overall design? After all, while bathrooms certainly serve a purpose, they can absolutely be beautiful at the same time!
