As a woman, the bathroom is one of my favourite rooms in the house.  It is a sanctuary where I get ready for the day to come and unwind after a long day of work.

I prefer to take a bath rather than a shower, and try to do so everyday.  So when I designed my house, I took a long time deciding what kind of a tub I wanted. This is important because there are an astounding amount of options out there.

My first decision was whether I wanted a whirlpool bath or not.   Obviously, the big advantage is the massage you receive when you turn on the jets.  However, you can’t use any oils, bubble baths or salts if you don’t want to make a huge mess.  The noise of the motor is also an issue, as well as the space you need to house it.

I have always been a big fan of the old fashion tub as well. However, if you like to have a platform around your bath to keep shampoos, bath oils, candles and towels, than this won’t work well for you.   With a freestanding old fashion tub, you are limited to a soup holder that crosses the tub.  I find it gets in the way.

A freestanding tub also requires exposed fixtures which are very expensive.  So, I decided to take and old fashion tub and drop it into a platform that I covered with marble tiles.  I saved money on the facets because they were mounted from the platform instead of leading from the bathroom floor.

These tubs also come in different sizes.  You can have a 5 or 6 foot long tub.  Since I am only 5’5”, I decided for the 5 footer.  Also, you use less water to fill it which saves money in the long run.

Now, I can come home, light a few candles and relax in my luxurious tub.  Sheer heaven.

O. Alexandra Viteznikova