Bathroom Tub Decisions
Decisions. We have to make decisions. Our time of deliberation and fantasizing about all the options is officially over. For some reason it feels so much harder to make final choices for your own home than when helping someone else.
When preparing designs for a client, I select various options, narrow it down and share. All the while knowing which one is my favorite. For our home, my mind won’t rest. I keep thinking, ‘well what about this?! Oh yes, that would look great too!’ At some point you really have to stop to pick your direction. For me that’s why moodboards help. Taking cues from the existing building is key as well. You don’t want to go super modern in a house that is transitional because they are just too different. Unless of course you plan to implement that style across the whole house over time.
So for our bathroom, I want to listen to the history of the house and make a decision. Do keep in mind that you don’t have to completely replicate the old, it’s just good to respectfully nod your hat to it. The bathroom previously had a small pedestal sink (not original), toilet and cast iron drop in tub. While I’m not sure if the tub is original, I would typically keep it but it has some major chipping and at some point it had a sliding glass door track attached that did some damage.
The dilemma now is what should we replace it with. It may seem like an easy no brainer but as I said before, my brain won’t stop. The one thing that is certain is whatever we get will be cast iron. The material screams old house. Acrylic tubs are shiny and new with a plastic feel. The goal is to use this tub for bathing and the occasional shower. I’ve discovered that cast iron tubs hold the heat better then their acrylic counterparts. So, here are the options at hand.
Option 1: Clawfoot Tub
Pro- This would be the closest historic nod that we could make. New Orleans homes are full of them and I’ve personally had the honor to lived with a few. Also, just look at those feet…
Con- The problem is they aren’t ideal as showers. It can work but not great. You have to have a shower curtain that surrounds all four sides, which equals two curtains that don’t completely close. Then the bottom of the curtains are squiched inside the tub and you feel like you’re in a plastic bubble that you can’t really turn around in.
Option 2: Pedestal Tub
Pro- Secretly my favorite. These also add historic value, with a little twist because they’re not as common here. To me they feel slightly more masculine in nature, while the clawfoot has those beautifully fancy feet. The vanity cabinet that we selected has shuttered doors and clean lines. The simple curves of the pedestal don’t compete but I believe would complement each other.
Con- Can this even be a shower? I suppose it would be similar to the clawfoot but the base is wider, so maybe that would help with keeping the curtain from touching you while you wash.
Option 3: Alcove Soaking Tub
Pro- The fixtures and the drain wouldn’t have to be moved from their current location. The soaking tub depth(no jets) would be great for baths or showers. It’s cheaper than the other two options. However, we would have to buy and re-tile all three walls around the tub. If we got either the clawfoot or pedestal, we wouldn’t have to tile. So, that’s a pro & a con, really.
Con- Not as exciting. You’d have to have a shower curtain. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good shower curtain but we just install a beautifully restored starburst glass window and I’d hate to have it covered all the time. Also the curtain will act as a vertical barrier that makes the room feel more compact. With the clawfoot, the eye follows the tile under the tub. This helps the room feel larger and more expansive. It’s the same concept as furniture with legs versus sitting flat on the floor. Want to make your room feel larger, raise that furniture up! Show ‘em some leg.
Inspirational Posts
Honestly, writing this post helped me figure out what makes my heart sing a little louder. Wild right? Months of thinking and now one writing session and the picture is clear. So what’s your favorite? Leave a comment below. I’d love to know. Also be sure to check out the other Challengers. Click the One Room Challenge image below. Oh and follow me on Instagram for all the pretty things!
