People often ask me if bath tubs are an important feature in the master bath today- this is a relevant question, and its one that I get asked very frequently. I know most folks would like a simple yes or no answer, but the truth is- it depends. Bath tubs conjure something in the senses, so in the right place, they have a soothing affect just by being present. You know the photo of the tub with the towel over the edge- how it seems to be calling you to take a break? The same thing happens when we see a window seat complete with cushion and throw pillow- but are we going to sit there? Probably not- but the feel of the environment changes. The space becomes more inviting and relaxing- it offers opportunity to stir other emotions as well, and if that is important to you, even if you rarely take baths, then I would recommend looking at a design with a tub in it. The reality is that we see fewer bath tubs in the master bath, and is the result of having less time available in our lives. The space once reserved for the tub is often used for a luxury shower because we know we have time to enjoy that. I know this to be true because many of our clients have the means to install a tub, but they just know they don’t have time to wait for it to fill, or they know that by the time the bath is ready they will hear “Mom?” . If you already take regular baths, then the question is answered and all you have to do is find the right one.
Inviting Bath in Wellesley MA
After big-sized showers, amenities such as steam, body sprays and built in benches started emerging. Like most things, evolution has a way of making things better. For starters, body sprays have been replaced with a second hand-held shower. These are great for leg shaving and rinsing down the shower. You can also use this hand-held on an adjustable arm if you want to point the massage setting at your lower back… and with proper volume control you can have both heads operating simultaneously. Rain heads are making a big inroad… probably due to options that make them more control in pressure and less expensive than the early models. If you are going to have one of these heads, make sure you check out the pressure and volume for these units and that you have proper water supply as part of your renovation. We still install benches — both storage and foot rests — so that leg shaving is safer and easier. As for the jetted tub, with our more hectic lives today, a nice soaking tub without the ½ hour fill time and noisy motor is a more Zen like experience. So Happy Bathing!