Hello AT,
We just moved into a fairly modern apartment near Bondi Beach in Sydney Australia. (Jealous much?)
Australian apartments don't always come with built-in closets (they call 'em built-in-wardrobes here) so we need more storage space. What can I do with this tub alcove?...
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There's a shower in the bathroom and we're not interested in the bath at all. It's 28" X 60". There has to be a way to use the space. Has anyone done anything with their tub alcove? (Other than piling magazines in the tub, which is what we do now.) We rent, so nothing drastic.
Cheers! Melanie
Dear Melanie,
The thought of filling in that alcove and losing the tub is killing us! You are clearly spoiled down there in Australia ;-).
That said, we invite others to jump in and say what they might have done to use this space differently. If we didn't want the tub and were trying to create storage, we'd have a piece of plywood cut and painted that would perfectly fit on top of the tub and give you a nice, solid "bottom" to your new "closet".
Then we'd install a shelving unit painted white on top of that. The one that comes to mind immediately is the Lack/Expedit series from IKEA.
Anyone else??
My concern with covering the tub with plywood is the existing plumbing.
1) if the faucets decide to leak one day the wardrobe could get wet.
2) with the tub not in use, won't the trap dry out, and then won't sewer gases come up through drain? If they are then trapped by the plywood... well, nothing good could come of it, it would seem.
This could all be circumvented by not running the plywood/wardrobe all the way to the fixtures.
Since you are by necessity looking for something reversible, go for it!
As for not having a tub, I have considered tearing out our existing unit and converting it to a shower. Sanity prevailed, as the tub is cast iron (nice!) and it would be mucho bucks. And sometimes a good soak is very nice indeed.
But I don't have Bondi Beach to play on. Yes, I am jealous :-)
Jeff in land-locked Atlanta, GA
My concern is the dampness. Make sure it's properly ventilated and don't put your nice clothes in there (esp not silk).
Otherwise, the easiest solution would be to install a pole (one of those with springs in them so they wedge themselves between the walls without needing any mounting) across the middle of the tub and then put in a shower curtain infront of that.
You can climb into the alcove and seal it with mortar. The AT community will have a readers' poll regarding the timing of your release, which will be featured on Oprah.
In fact, I want to answer your question but am left on only infer what you are talking about. Do you mean to make your bathtub into "built in wardrobe" (thanks for the translation)? Do you mean that you have no need to bathe, because you live near something called Bondi Beach, of which I should be jealous?
why not hang rod(s) for storage, place deep platic tubs in tub for other storage and have curtin along front to hide - or sliders from IKEA stoarge units. (if size permits)
You can see if faucets leak - to prevent drain from drying out pour vegtable oil in drain once a year. (prevents evaporation)
Aussies are very attached to their showers. It's quite a shock when you travel to find there are places eg UK that have never heard of them, or make you climb into a tub to use it. (Although this has changed a bit recently.)
Our only use of the bath at my parents' place was to rinse the dust out of it occasionally, but I don't recall the drain smelling, although the shower fed into the same drain.
Given the high level of humidity in Sydney itself, not to mention a bathroom in general, this is a very bad idea. I know that vast empty space looks inviting, but you are better off:
- culling your collection of stuff, esp magazines - when will you read any of them again? If they aren't indexed how can you find an article?
- buying chests of drawers that you can take with you.
The ply board over the tub, once it is weighted with for example Elfa frames, drawers & clothes, can mark the bath edge and you may have trouble getting back your bond. Given how tight the Sydney rental market is at present, pissing off the landlord could have dire consequences.
FYI I grew up in Warners Avenue Bondi at the far western end, & went to primary (grade) school opposite the beach. On a quiet summer night you could hear the surf. Miss that a lot, now I live 'inland' near Coogee.
I'd have to agree with just using rods. Since you're renting, it's likely you won't be able to mount anything on the tile. Your best bet is to buy a shower curtain rod supported in between with ceiling mounted eyehooks and chain. On the rods, you can place IKEA LINNAN type pockets. Then, mount IKEA KVARTAL panel sliders and then add panels.
This is the cheapest option that isn't irreparable. It might seem a bit messy behind the curtain, but it's a hidden mess. Plus, you can use the basin to store things and check the faucets as you please.
we aussie's dont tend to use tubs (having just cleaned mine thi morning, agree with deb of oz: ijust use it for collecting dust apparently!). but as humidity's a problem in sydney, why not use it as storage space for items such as toilettries, laundry stuff, buckets -- non-cloth thinsg that won't be affected by humidity?
(e: from hobart, once from sydney, but inland...)