My sister and I used to spend a few weeks with our grandparents on the eastern shore of Maryland every summer. While I loved going to the beach I hated my Gramps's rule that returning beach-goers must bathe outdoors in a dark, make-shift, outdoor shower whose regular inhabitants—giant spiders—didn't seem too pleased to see me either.
Even with that bias in place, I have to say I am totally swooning at the idea of an outdoor bathroom after seeing these inspiring images!
Granted, many of these come from vacation villas and not year round homes, but if I lived in the right climate and my neighbors were a safe distance away, I think I'd be tempted to take to the open air for my daily ablutions.
What do you think? Is open air bathing something you like to do? Would you consider adding an outdoor shower or bathtub to your home?
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Comments (18)
LOVE LOVE LOVE these! I really want to copy number 3
My friend in Hawaii has an outdoor bathroom. It was a little strange at first to shower with no covering, but after a while I really loved it! Fortunately, their property is out in the middle of nowhere, so it was safe from view.
Sigh. I do not dream of living in a mansion, or of vacation homes all over the world, but one thing I have always pined over is an outdoor bathroom. Is it so much to ask? (Maybe if you live in Washington, DC...) Great post!
I really like the 5th one -- perhaps with a rainfall type shower though.
I'm all for outdoor bathtubs/showers, but not so much for "commodes".
What's up with the air-con unit in #2? (no pun intended) Perhaps there's a sliding door out of photo view?
All in all, those are some spectacular showers.
I love outdoor showers. A friend's family has one in a driftwood enclosure with a river rock floor, situated at the back of their house on a cliff overlooking the ocean...it's my dream.
Count me in on YES for outdoor showers. I once fashioned a makeshift one out of an old garden arbor against the stone foundation of our old farmhouse, in the back. In no time a wild grapevine covered it, keeping me hidden from view of cars going down the road. I ran a hose from the kitchen spigot, the trick being to get the right blend of hot and cold water before dashing out to bath under the nozzle. Soap and shampoo tucked neatly into rock crevices and a vinyl covered grid thing sat on the ground. It was heavenly. Not so fond of the outdoor loo, though...all else, yes! Taryn.F ~ The description of your friend's family's outdoor shower sounds fantastic!
I love out door showers and would love an out door tub in the middle of no where. But I would hate to have to clean a tub before you used it.
I'm with Mid-C Frank. I would be okay with showering or bathing outside, but the other bathroom activities? Not so much.
No thanks. I can grok a shower to wash off the salt water and sand of the beach before heading inside, but I'll totally pass on outdoor bathing or "other things". I think quick showers, using only the water you really need, indoors, is my ecological approach.
If I lived in California I would LOVE to have a small light-filled outdoor shower just off of the master bath. The other bathroom things-no thank you.
Outdoor showers remind me of getting up early in the am to run outside for a shower at camp. Nothing better than a brisk morning and hot, hot water.
The toilets were inside, though, and for that I am thankful. =)
These are fabulous. Not practical, but still fabulous.
We had an outdoor shower when I was a kid. I enjoyed it but so did the local frog population. Eeks!!! (I love frogs but not when they use the same bathroom the same time as you.) :)
The concept of outdoor bathrooms is more inviting than the reality. Tried out some gorgeous outdoor bathrooms in Bali, but had to share with crickets, a lot of ants, frogs, a mean-looking cat; then a gigantic cockroach joined me for a soak in the tub. That was the last straw.
Those are very cool, but the giant spiders won't necessarily stay away. :-)
My grandma's house in California had 2 seamless walls of glass above the bathtub, which looked out into a tiny walled courtyard / garden. I LOVED going into her bathroom.