We had to do a double take when we spotted the art ideas in the bathrooms of the house tour we shot last week. (Yes, this is another tease like the one of their refrigerator in Monday's post — we swear the full tour is coming later this week!) We've rounded up art found in kitchens and art found in bathrooms, but we've just never seen paintings and collections in the shower.
In the upstairs kid's bathroom, a bright green wall features some shallow nooks that house a bevy of nautical and sea-themed, brightly-colored creatures. Also included is a tongue-in-cheek fish on the wall. Downstairs, utilizing a carefully planned out system of thick interior shower curtains to protect the art, the bathroom features some regal-looking portraits that you just wouldn't expect to see on the wall after pulling back a shower curtain. Obviously this kind of set up isn't possible in all showers and bathrooms, but if you've got the wall space to do it, you can see how cool it can turn out.
What do you think about art in the shower? Too cool or not the place for art? Let us know.
Images: Adrienne Breaux
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Hmm, intriguing idea but wouldn't mold and mildew pose serious cleanliness (not to mention health) concerns if tchotchke were strewn about the shower as in the photo above?
Kitchens could use more art. Shower stalls less so.
Also have mixed feelings - like the concept, not sure how it would play out in day-to-day practicality. Something to consider though! Thanks for the idea :)
its a claw foot tub and has a clear shower curtain on the back that is pulled over, otherwise it would be between the tub and the collection. I like it! but that might just be my envy at not even having space for shampoo bottles let alone a giant fish! make me a fish i can put shampoo bottles inside of and then we'd be talking!
I'm going to assume that the owners knew what they were doing and either it's not a problem or they are committed to cleaning it. They have great tub toy storage!
In my humble opinion there is no place that is not the place for art. You just have to analyze the situation and choose accordingly. Heck, one time I hung a piece of art in the closet. It was a small apartment with limited wall space and rather than storing the piece where it couldn't be enjoyed I hung it on a nail next to my coats.
Yeah I agree with sara.b. - the only reason this works is because there is a curtain between it and the water during showers. That is a really cool idea for children's tub time toy storage though.
The fish and the plastic toys are one thing, but oil paintings are another. I understand that the shower curtain comes between the shower and the paintings, but frankly, I don't think that is adequate to account for exposure to extreme humidity. My parents have to be very careful about dehumidifying the finished basement room that contains a portrait, or it would be in danger of mildew. A bathroom is several levels more humid. I wince to think of what the back of those canvases may look like.
Frankly, even if the painting cost $2 at the flea market, I obviously liked it enough to buy it so I'd be really disappointed if I put it right above the shower and it was ruined. I have art in my bathroom but it's away from the shower itself.
I love nos. 3 and 4. I'm guessing those are reproductions that have been given special treatment of some sort.
if its decorative and waterproof I'm all for it.
It's enough of a chore for me to clean out the shampoo ( razor, scrubs etc) area that I'll pass on having to wash any other knick knacks.
I'm clumsy when I'm groggy in the morning. I would be knocking that stuff over all the time!
I do hang art in the bathroom, but it's cheap art. $10 posters in $20 frames, so if the humidity destroys them, I can afford to replace them.
i have been doing things like this for years.
previously i've had shelves hanging above the shower with pretty pottery, a capiz shell chandelier hanging above the shower, and recently i've re-hung a gilded mirror at the opposite end of the shower.
i love having friends over to stay the night. they go to take a shower and come out perplexed.
its one thing to put in plastic fish, and seashells in the bathroom...
...but oil paintings? I had a vintage print of a ship in my hall bathroom and the backing paper grew mold/mildew between it and the wall - Yuck!
That lime green shower is done right.
NICE JOB!
After years of trying to decide what to do with a sm bath I went green. Not the color green (unless the color of the french door counts) But used a few antiques(my first love) claw foot tub and a darling old corner sink.Along with the wood from the fence that blew down( lots of fencing) Now my little bath,that I call "Sow's Ear Bathhouse" is a comforting retreat. And totally Green
No. Just no.
terrible!!!
I love the painting behind the tub it's gorgeous th fish ..not so much but I'm sure it looks awesome in their space! I think if you had a cool flea market painting a spray coating of some clear gloss spray paint and the wrap around shower curtain would be more then adequate ! Obviously you wouldn't use a real Picasso or anything !!!
I have no problem with art in the shower, but I've got to admit, my first thought is mosaic, not paintings. Something like here: http://www.sicis.com/ Just click on their first choice, Sicis The Art Mosaic Factory. THAT'S some beautiful art!
If one of those sharks accidentally fell into the shower whilst taking one, I would definitely freak.
Lovely paintings, too bad they will get destroyed by the humidity.
as a professional picture framer who frequently deals with antique and vintage frames and artwork, I can tell you that hanging paintings in the bathroom like that will ruin them. The frames will also get ruined, the wood and plaster will start to expand as they take in water, and start to crack. There's also a bunch of pieces of paper tacked to the wall that will mildew and curl up. That wooden piece so close to the tub will also be ruined in time by the humidity. Unless it's a desert climate, the artwork/frames/furniture are completely water-sealed regularly, and the door is never closed during showers...then maybe it could work. Looks cool, but it's unreasonable.
My first reaction was what the hell. I am pondering on the point of having objects IN the shower? Bad idea and it looks horrible, tacky.
I'd never want to clean that bathroom on a regular basis. Ugggh.