Bath bliss Freestanding glamour versus built-in beauty
PRETTY AND PRACTICAL INSET BATH VERSUS FREESTANDING SHOW STOPPER? FINDING YOUR PERFECT BATHTUB MATCH IS THE FIRST STEP TO BATHING BLISS
VS FREESTANDING INSET BATHS
A LUXURIOUS TUB probably plays the starring role in your bathroom renovation fantasies, but the first step towards bringing those dreams to life is choosing between an inset and a freestanding tub. Consider practical issues – what you’ll use the bath for and the space it’s going into – as well as aesthetics, to figure out if a built-in beauty or a stand-alone stunner is the right bath for you.
SENSE OF PLACE
Both freestanding and inset baths can look fabulous with the right treatment. A freestanding bath is a style asset, but it needs room to breathe; a minimum of 10-15cm of space around it, says Marc Reed of Candana. For tapware, a floormounted spout will take up more space around a freestanding bath, although the payoff is a sense of luxury. If you have room, make your freestanding bath shine by placing it centre stage. “By positioning the tub beneath a window, you can create a natural day spa feeling,” says Daniela Santilli of Reece. Built-in baths tend to be more modest than a freestanding tub, but they can be just as gorgeous. “I love an inset bath to be under-mounted,” says Marc. “Have a stone surround that sits above the bath and gives a really practical working space. Also, a niche adds depth and shadow lines in the walls.”
can be heavier, “FREESTANDING BATHS SO IT’S IMPORTANT TO CHECK THAT YOUR FLOOR CAN HANDLE THE WEIGHT” ~ DANIELA SANTILLI, REECE
WELL USED
It’s easy to assume a freestanding bath will be the budget-breaking choice, but this is not necessarily the reality. “They can often be cheaper, as to build a bath into a hob means that the trades on site will have to build a frame for the bath and make sure it’s level, waterproofed and so on,” says Marc. “It can also be harder for a tiler to detail the area.”
Consider what you need from your bath. You may have visions of soaking by candlelight, but the needs of a young family are rather less glamorous. “The safest bath to choose for children is a low inset bath with wide ledges and a flat surface,” says Daniela. “The low height will help mums and dads to save their backs when bathing the kids, wide ledges offer somewhere to sit, and the flat base helps to keep active children upright and prevents the slipping that can come from the sloping sides of a curved bath.” Durability is also important, especially for young families. Newer composite materials are beautiful to the touch, but can have additional care requirements. “Steel products are more practical, durable and suitable for families,” say the team at Rogerseller.
THE PERFECT FIT
More often than not, bathroom space is at a premium, so the first question to consider is what size bath you have room for and what size you actually need. Marc warns against choosing a bigger one just because you can. “A large bath can actually be impractical,” he says. “The best size bath for a person of normal height is 1700mm in length. This means your feet can reach the end of the bath, giving you a more comfortable bathing experience.” However, if you want a bath that will fit two, or if you’re more than six-foot tall, an 1800mm model is justified. Inset versions generally take up less space and come in smaller sizes, making them a better fit for a petite room. But there are options available if you’ve still got your heart set on a freestanding tub; try Victoria + Albert’s ‘Ios’ or ‘Edge’ baths, both of which come in at under 1500mm without feeling cramped.
TREND ALERT
Manufacturers are always working on ways to make baths not only more beautiful, but also more useable, helped along by the new generation of materials. Square shapes – with a flatter bottom and sheer sides – are surprisingly comfortable, allowing you to sit without reclining too far. However, the only way to choose the best one for you is to get to a showroom and hop in a few tubs. When it comes to aesthetics, consumers are spoilt for choice – particularly in the realm of freestanding baths. Manufacturers are playing with materials beyond the standard steel and acrylic options, using resin and stone composites that allow them to mould baths in fashion-forward forms and organic shapes. In deciding between simplicity and avant-garde edginess, Marc has this advice, which is particularly relevant if you might be renovating to sell: “Simple organic shapes work best. Add elements of plant life, candles and artwork to lift a bathroom look but, for the larger part, stick to a working and simple design.”
“THE BEST WAY TO DETERMINE what size WILL WORK FOR YOU IS TO visit a showroom AND SIT IN A FEW UNTIL YOU FIND THE ONE THAT’S PERFECT” ~ DANIELA SANTILLI, REECE