To stand or to build, that is the question? In the past several years freestanding bathtubs have made an extraordinary comeback. There are many variations and designs, they range from extraordinary simple to incredibly ornate. The tubs themselves, as well as the plumbing fixtures that accompany them, can be stunning and are often designed to become statement architectural features. While there is no doubt that some of these freestanding tubs are works of art, I don't find them to be very practical.

First and foremost there is no where to set anything! Part of the allure and stunning aesthetic of a freestanding bathtub is exactly what the name says, it's freestanding and therefore intended to stand alone, This poses a challenge if part of taking a bath is the experience of taking a bath. For me this includes bubble bath, or bath salts with essential oils, a candle, my book and maybe a glass of champagne! With only a small lip to most freestanding tubs there is simply nowhere to place anything.

Don't get us wrong, a freestanding tub can be stunning when centered in a large window or even in the middle of a beautiful bathroom but seldomly are the tubs themselves located in close proximity to a towel rack. Nothing is worse than getting out of the warm bath and having to walk more than a step or two to get your towel or tracking water across your floors! Some people are okay with freestanding towel racks and don't mind having something else out on their bathroom floor. My personal preference is to have towels elevated and away from the floor, it makes cleaning the floors themselves easier and also helps to keep towels clean and fresh.

Don't get me wrong, I am by no means a fan of the 1980's enormous built-in tub with a deck the size of an aircraft carrier, but I do prefer a built in tub to a freestanding tub, especially if you plan on using your bath tub more than a few times a year. There are so many beautiful materials that now come in slabs that the built-in tubs bathtubs of today have the ability to be sleek, elegant, and practical. Pictured below is one of our favorite built-in tubs from the former Foster Residence located in Malibu, California.

In order to be practical freestanding tubs require accessories such as a thoughtful accent table or stool and well placed towel bars. If one realizes the additional requirements from the very beginning of the design process and accounts for said needs then we think a freestanding tub can be a jaw dropping element of a bathroom. However, if a design is created to look pretty and lacks practicality then to us it's more of a vision than design. As with any good design it's all in the details, so whatever your preference may be there's a thoughtful way to make it as beautiful as it will be functional.

Cheers,

Molly