apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Kohler Co. makes a 4 x 3ft tub that is deep like a Japanese bath (check their web site by googling Kohler baths). However, it sounds like you need something almost 3 x 3, which is really small.
Good luck.

I'd go for a Japanese-style tub - you lose the abilty to stretch out, but they're deep enough so you can still get submerged, even a 6'-tall gringo like me. Japan does bathtime much better than we do!

There is a really cute (well it is) 4 foot tub at www.antiqueplumber.com/Detail.bok?no=3205. When I lived in California I had one of their 4.5' tubs in a 5' wide space and it worked really well. Don't know if they're looking for a clawfoot though...

Do you think working so hard to preserve the idea of a tub with something so unique (and personal) as a Japanese soaker tub is the best route to go, if resale is the big issue? Especially since I can't imagine a family with kids thinking a soaker tub and a "regular" bath tub are interchangeable, functionality-wise.

Maybe you'd be better off using the space for an enormous (relatively speaking) spa-inspired shower stall.

Or, is there an adjacent closet or room from which to borrow the space to make a more traditional/traditionally-sized tub work?

Just something to consider!

Kind of interesting topic, though I have no solutions to offer. (Sorry, Ryan.) I just moved into a place with a full-size bathtub and a separate shower stall. (It might sound luxurious but it's not...kind of a waste of space.) I was originally thinking of getting rid of the tub and just having a shower and double sinks, but was warned that this would have a dire effect on resale value. Does anyone know how much that really matters?

Thanks for the ideas! There were some helpful links i hadn't seen before. The tub i think would be perfect is the avocado made by Ravak, but it's made in Europe, and since i can't even get a response email from the company, I have doubts i could even have it shipped to the US.

Thanks again

Personally after reading this I realized in approximately 20 years in my apartment I've used my tub to actually sit and soak in less than once a year if that much. I routinely use it only for the shower. And recently when my back was aching found it difficult to get my leg over the tub edge to use the shower never mind sit and soak. I think a separate shower makes a lot more sense. If I ever have the opportunity or space that's the route I'd take.

I feel an AT "tub or shower" poll coming on!!

Ryan -- I have a bathroom that's around 5x5 in my studio. I have "regular" tub that's just shorter than normal. It' maybe 4 feet long but just as wide as a regular tub. I've seen them at Home Depot, among other places... Many of my neighbors have renovated and either put in fancy showers instead or borrowed from the main room and added some bathroom space that way.

A couple other things to consider when it comes to re-sale -- are there, maybe a lot of Japanese folks there in your town who might want just such a thing as this soaking tub once you're ready to sell?

And a difficult thing to calculate, except with your gut (abs as abacus? hmm...) might be if your bathroom IS going to have a spa-like shower (OR this soaking tub), if everything about the surfaces in the bathroom end up looking and feeling luxurious and chic and somehow vaguely spiritually restorative or something, it still might sell just fine, thank you!

The reason I'm saying this is that when I had a tiny bathroom with a huge tub in a building with subway-shaped tiles, I thought it would cool as all get-out to faux paint the top, normal part of the walls to look like mosaic tiles in a subway station, including giving it "name" (Yes... "Curtis Place"), which everyone thought looked real and cool, but some worried how I would ever sell the apartment with such a thing.

Well, my Buyer had loved the view from the window so much he didn't even register on the bathroom at all.

But, a few weeks before the closing, I cut away my name, had that piece of it re-plastered, and the night before the closing I re-painted it with HIS name, and he was thrilled out of his gourd, as I should him and his lawyer (while waiting for 2 hours for Doogie Howzer, Esq. to show up to the closing on the bank's behalf) the picture I had taken of it with my cell phone camera after I had finished it at 2am the night before.

The point is... just because your tastes might seem very, very specific to you, that does NOT mean that you will necessarily have a difficult time at re-sale time. The wisest thing MIGHT be, ultimately, to choose to go ahead and get what YOU really want!

Curtis, can you share your pic of the wall? What a wonderful, thoughtful detail.

Anne -

Not sure how to share those pictures here, but I went ahead and e-mailed them to you -- one of how it looked when it was my apartment, plus the photo I took with my cell phone after having changed the name.

Here in the midwest, all the new housing developments and many real estate ads tout "whirlpool tub with separate shower." I know a few people who have them and they might use the tub once a year. Instead, they use their cramped builder-grade shower. Imagine the shower they could have had by using the space and budget of the unused whirlpool tub?!

We are adding a second floor with 2 baths; the master will have just a shower, the other will have the typical tub/shower combo. We've also been told we should put 2 sinks in the master for resale value. Blah. We have only 1 bathroom and 1 sink now and rarely get in each other's way. We'd rather have the counter space, so 1 sink it is.

Bathtubs are loved by real estate brokers and romantisized by buyers, but they're rarely used. I'm betting the apartment market in Minn. is similar to St. Louis - most apt. dwellers don't have kids.

Jon B, that's funny, because my friend, who is an architect, told my husband (who does compete for sink time with me in the morning) that double sinks are bad for resale value. Honestly, I can't see people caring that much either way, but maybe I'm naive.

Fiona--
The two-sink thing (not being great for resale) surprises me.
Now... must...get...images...of Fiona's strapping husband... clad in a towel, wet from the shower, jockeying for sink position... out of my head... ;)

Anne -

You've convinced me to share the photos of the bathroom in my old apartment, and thanks for walking me through the process. OK, here's the little link to the photos of that. Will have to seriously upgrade the sad version of my own domain website, but here's this, so far.
colon, etc., then www.flickr.com/photos/artycurtis/

- Curtis

Has anyone seen a 42" long bathtub. One is shown in New Bathroom Idea Book, c 2004 by Andrew Wormer. I've googled it but cannot find the 42" tub.

try www.at-house.net

I am also looking for one, and saw the 42" square in the New Bathroom Idea Book. American Standard makes a 46 x 27, and MTI makes one called Atlantica that is 50".

Does anyone know where to find a 48'x27' bathtub?
Searched everywhere online only to come across clawfoot tubs of this size. Looking for a solid tub, or drop-in. That there's only one bathroom in ths house, need the shower-tub combo. Kerri

Have you thought of checking bathroom fixtures for motor homes and campers

I am remodeling our tiny bathroom and facing the same mini-tub delima. Thanks for the great comments and links. I think I'm convinced that the tub trend is over. Would be nice if you have the space, but really... who is going to relax in a 42" tub?? I would much rather have a giant "rain maker" shower head! I was concerned about buyers looking to bathe pets and babies, but may elect to do a custom (taller) curb, so you can still get 6-8" of splashing depth.

Have you guys looked at the Koler Symbio line? It's available as a soaker and as a whirlpool. It's side starts at 60" long by 42" at one end and 20" at the other. Fits like a corner tub but not so big. It is pricey though.

I looked and had not luck finding a small tub?shower combo. I did run across some motor home tug/shower units but they seem very cheap. The only thing most people need a tub for is to scrub up the kids. Thats why it hurts the re-sale of your home. People need a place to wash their kids, can't do that in a shower. Not only that but those deep Jap tubs are dangerous for kids and so are claws. The safest tubs are not real deep. I wish those shower units were also a tub. The tub would be small but good enough to wash kids in.

MTI's new jentle pet whirlpool is JUST right,don't plan on telling anyone it's a expensive doggie tub or their jeud'eau seated shower;crane's got 2

We are in a brand new subdivision house and I hate my new corner triangular bathtub. I can't stretch out the same way as in a regular tub and there is all this wasted space that means that the water gets cold before it is six inches deep. So I am lying with my knees up in the air in six inches of water yearning for
my old 5ft cheap tub. Is there any inexpensive way to fix this? Has any one else felt the same?

Hi ,
I need some advice . My bath roon is 4ft wide and 9 ft long . I plan to fit a bath tub .I plan to fit the bath tub lenght wise . 5 ft long bath tub seem too long so i was wondering is a 4.5 ft bath tub does good or is it too small ?
I dont eant the bathroon with out space if fit the 5ft long bath tub then a sink and then closet .

Please help me with the best possible suggestions

Thanks
Amit

I just bought a 1914 home and in the master bedroom is a bathroom. I have a tub in it that is so tiny and have never seen one this small, it is about 3 ft by 3 ft....not sure if it was used for babies or kids....I've googled...trying to find out more about this tub....but have not found anything...anyone have any ideas?

American Standard makes a 4' tub that looks like a standard tub but it of stamped steel and not cast iron. It is called the "Heron 4' recess" and you can find it on their website.

Lasco Bathware offers 2 54" tubs. They say they are available at Home Depot-- but, no Home Depot in the area (at least) seems to carry it. Does anyone know how to get this?

http://www.lascobathware.com/browse.pl?line=2&series=12

thanks for all the great info on small tubs.
Our only bathroom is 6x6. We'd like a small tub/shower combo, and i would love to surround the tub with glass. We're not interested in the acrylic prefab units. Does anyone have experience with small tub/shower combos?

When I was in Asissi, Italy in 2005, the hotel room had a very short tub/shower combination. The tub also had a bit of elevated seat at one end - low enough you still sat in the water but your legs wouldn't be cramped up. It was really practical and fun to use, but only filled to about waist high. There was a curtain for showering. Does anyone know about this line of products?

I found a Duo-Form RV tub at Dyer RV but it doesn't have an overflow--not up to building code. The Japanese soaker thing is a concern for me with my 3-year-old. There are some incredible Linea Aqua shower sauna units with little tubs but they are really expensive. Maax used to make a corner shower/tub unit but they stopped. There are also compact walk-in tubs for people with disabilities but they're expensive and probably too weird. What I REALLY need is a small tub with a sink at one end because it's not possible to fit both sink and 4' tub (minimum standard tub) into that space. {sigh}

Folks-- just because you have a small space does *not* mean you have to suffer. LineaAqua offers many smaller sized units such as whirlpools, soaking tubs and shower enclosures specifically for situations where space is an issue.

Bath tubs: We have smaller soaking tubs starting at 57 iinches.
http://www.lineaaqua.net/shop/Bathtubs-c-250.html

Shower Enclosures: we have many styles of completely enclosed shower enclosures starting from 32 x 32 and going up in size.
http://www.lineaaqua.net/shop/Shower-Enclosures-c-292.html

Steam showers with small soaking tubs: we have steam showers with small soaking tubs starting at 40 x 40.
http://www.lineaaqua.net/shop/Steam-Shower-c-269.html

Please feel free to visit our site and see the products specifically made for smaller baths.

Finding the right product is not easy.. as there are so many different bathroom configurations and layouts.

In europe -- things are *not* regulated.. so you can make a tub, shower or fixture any size.. in the states things are a little different. As there are standards and standard sizes.

I bought the Kohler 4' soaking tub. It's beautiful and has a small footprint, but I won't be able to use it. My contractor says that the downward curve around the edge of the tub, usually for drop-in installation, will be almost impossible to seal properly in my 3 wall alcove. It probably won't be within building code as well (I have a small apartment in NYC) and will probably cause water damage from water trickling down into the floor below. Has anyone else had this problem? I don't have an inch to spare to build out the walls as my bathroom is 50" by 77" and I can't extend into another room. I think my only option now is the American Standard which is not enough to soak in.

Check the American Standard Huron 4' Recess Bathtub at www.americanstandard-us.com

I just saw an old ad from the 1920s in a book called Classic Houses of the Twenties, a reprint of a Loizeaux floorplan book...they have an ad from the Wheeling Sanitary Manufacturing Co. of Wheeling West Virginia showing the "Combination Bath" which is a 44" long by 30" wide tub/shower...it has a lowered foot area where the drain is, looks like about half the floor area and is at one end...they show a kid with his feet in the lowered area and only water up to the top of this recess, but the overflow is up at the top of the whole unit, about a foot above the floor like a normal tub (the dropped foot/drain section would presumably be let down between two floor joists which could complicate plumbing for the trap if height in the floor is limited...easy for a basement below)...the ad has a funny testimonial from the owner of the Mira-Mar Hotel, 6222 Woodlawn Ave in Chicago who was installing many of these in space-saving bathrooms...maybe they could be had in salvage...they offered a china model in corner with left or right drain OR in recess (3 unfinished sides) and a cast-iron model in recess only, all the same dimensions

Have a look at http://www.bathsfromthepast.com/
You will find a huge collection of
Antique style Vintage Bath Room Accessories