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Remodeling Design Dilemma Bathrooms

Storage behind a Freestanding Tub (that sits in the corner)?

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

We are going to be having a freestanding tub that will be in a corner similar to the photo. I know I've seen photos (somewhere) where here was a shelf at curved around the faucets at the back and attached to the wall. Any suggestions or some kind of storage for towels, bath things, etc?

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Comments (4)

Nancy in Mich
5 years ago
Have you gone to any of the sites and done a search for freestanding bath storage, corner? I would try Wayfair, Houzz, Quality Bath, and Decorplanet.com.
ci_lantro
5 years ago
Any suggestions or some kind of storage for towels, bath things, etc?

Good. You've started down the path of discovering why these pricey bits of sculpture maybe aren't the best idea to ever come down the pike.

Where to put the soap.

How to clean 'back there'. Hired help? Increase liability on your homeowner's policy. No hired help? Get a lower deductible on your health insurance.

How to replace/ repair the faucet. Belly board across the top of the tub?

Specific to posted photo--that attached towel bar increases how far you have to step to get into the tub. is almost guaranteed to inflict wounds on nekkid bodies and makes it even more difficult to scrub out the tub when you're on your hands and knees and having to lean over it.

You live somewhere in the vicinity of the frozen tundra and discover that taking a bath in the winter is a mite chilly despite the fact that you spent $5K on quadruple glazed argon filled state of the art windows.

Uh, oh, now I need a bigger water heater.

You're environmentally conscious and have the latest and greatest front load washing machine that does an amazing job of cleaning your clothes with only 2.5 gallons of water and a water-mising dishwasher but, for some reason?, your water & gas bill keeps increasing.

Fast forward a few years when the tub starts screaming late 2000-teens at you (remember The Garden Tub), when you realize that the tub has a thick layer of dust and lint because you use the shower every day and you are willing to admit that the tub was maybe not the best decision you ever made...Now, how do I get it out of here, how may people is it going to require & what to do with it when it's outside?

Argument in favor of The Garden Tub is that those are/ were (may they RIP) mostly acrylic/ plastic beasts that you can/ could Sawsall to pieces in the house and easily tote them outside where you could continue to cut the big pieces into pieces small enough to sneak into garbage bags for curbside pickup, sparing you tipping charges....
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Comments (14)
I believe typical vanities are 21" deep. And be aware of distances between objects. The picture you have with the rustic vanity and free standing tub looks like a bear to clean at the floor and tub side that is against that wall as L-W-O and jrueter have mentioned. Lots of good feedback. If your window is centered on the wall, like you have drawn initially, you probably wont be able to center the tub with the deck style of tub with the shelving unit integrated, but you will get some great shelf space. Unless you put 12" at each end of the tub, then you could center, I guess. But the vanity would curve into the deck as it transitioned from vanity width to 12". If you put all the storage at the vanity end then it could flow straight from vanity to wall unit, but tub not centered. Or, you could put 16-18" unit at vanity end and a 6-8" shallow shelving at the other tub end. I agree with L-W-O about a 48" wide vanity. Or as I mentioned before what about an 18" deep vanity? I like all your posted inspiration pictures. You will get this worked out :)
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I love freestanding tubs. They are indeed, quite sculptural. I love baths and I like them to be in a pretty environment; it is not about what is practical. I have two in my primary home and two here at our beachhouse. The beachhouse ones are vintage clawfoot, painted aqua, and the ones at our main house are pedestal; one painted silver and one is white. I also love the gorgeous hardware that goes with them! My MBA here and in my main house have wooden floors. I have had one from about 5 yrs and one for 2 yrs. TBH I don't do the housecleaning. But I don't see it as a big issue. I did stay recently in an adorable AirBnB cottage where the tub was shoehorned it and it was obviously an issue keeping it clean under the tub; also the floor was painted in checkerboard but they couldn't get all the way under the tub. I have those pretty brass and nickel trays that fit across the tub for a sponge, soaps, etc. I also like to read a book in the tub; for that I pull up a vanity stool next to the tub. To me, tubs are for special occasions. For practicality, you use the shower. I have been known to lounge in the tub and then shower off in the shower! ETA - it may sound silly, but one should always try a tub before you buy it (I mean sit in it). The length and depth and angle can really vary your experience. BTW, too long is not good (and I am 5'9) .. at some point you feel you are floating.
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We don’t have crystal balls so we need pics or a floor plan.
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Comments (21)
(cameron, i found a lot of new photos for you to view. see what you think) tozmo, that one you posted is actually nice looking. I guess i'm thinking of the old school corner showers. some smaller corner showers can look nice. I like this one too: Corner tub and corner shower! But yes, playing around w/design and layout ideas could be an option for a corner shower. Cameron, I found some other photos of a 'wet room' to give you some other ideas. And they show some linear drains on the shower floor. What I was thinking of was a drop in tub w/a deck, and the shower right next to it. Could you possibly do something like this? Or, what about this type of set up? at least the cleaning issues and water draining behind and in the corners wouldn't be an issue w/this layout Also notice the fixed panel glass divider. Doing this is better for airing out the shower which will have a huge impact on mildew buildup. is it possible to do a thin window in the shower so she could look out while bathing? (pretend there's a tub here) Also, look into doing a ledge just above the tub. of course the ledge would also be sloped toward the floor. don't forget the hand held shower head. these are necessary for cleaning the tub (and the shower) maybe something like this niche. Look at these pics and notice how they have the niche or ledge, the wall mount tub faucet, the tub placement and shape, the drains, curbless showers, and the fixed panel glass. not many of these wet rooms have full glass enclosures. If you do go w/that, make sure you have a window you open or the best exhaust fan. Both of these pics have the linear drains, curbless shower, fixed glass panel. an article about building these types of tub/showers http://jlm-designs.net/what-is-a-wet-room-learn-more-about-this-new-design-trend/ could you do the shower in the back, large glass divider, and place the tub in front of it? I always loved these! sunken tubs. popular in the mid century style.
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PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
5 years ago
That tub does not fit in that space so if that is your inspiration get over it. If you want to clen around that tub it will require you to be quite acrobatic just because you see it in a picture does not make it a good idea. As for storage behind it there is no space . When a tub is called FREE standing it means there is a good amount of space all around it and no storage in the way
DS Kobi
Original Author
5 years ago
My bathroom does not have a vanity on both sides like the photo but we are going to have a freestanding tub. Yes nancyinmich, I've been to several sites and I know I saw photo somewhere but can't find it again. Thus also considering a corner deck with a wall mount type faucet.

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