We love seeing skylights in small spaces. They're a great way to let in light and make a tiny room feel significantly larger. In the bathroom, they provide a sense of privacy (no one but the birds can peek inside), while in the kitchen, they create a sense of connection to the outdoors...
To prevent leaks, invest in waterproof flashing and a good contractor who can properly install the skylight. For more tips, see this article from AT.
• 1 Photo: Sylvia Martin for Southern Living
• 2 Christy and John's Logan Square Bungalow
• 3 Small Space Solutions from an Attic Apartment
• 4 Light-Filled Kitchen and Bath by Dan Brill Architects
• 5 Photo: Grey Crawford for Sunset Magazine
(Originally posted 3.20.09 - JL)
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That green bathroom with the huge skylight over the bath just made me drool. Beautiful.
Syylights in the city are also nice - usually they are the one view towards treetops, nature, and blue sky with no buildings in sight!
Love skylights as an electricity-saver, but I've been burned too many times on leaks. Even "reputable" roofers can frak up a skylight install. Several times. Sigh.
We have a skylight in our upstairs bathroom. It's wonderful! Every now and then we walk by in the evening and gasp, "oh wow! look at the moon!" Haha. I wish we could afford to put them in every room upstairs.
The green ones looks like you would have to have the skylight open to use the shower. Not sure how the neighbors would feel about that.
We have 2 skylights in our kitchen and one in the bathroom. Love taking showers by moonlight.
The green one is divine. YAY!, I don't think it's meant to be used as a shower--it's just a handheld for washing your hair, etc. sitting down. But it does look short on headroom either way.
My first apartment in NYC was a tiny fifth-floor walkup that had two skylights, one in the middle of the main room and one in the bathroom. The light was fantastic, even on cloudy days. I loved that space, mostly because of the light.
How nice to lay there, soaking in a bubbly, hot tub, to look up at the stars at night....
Skylights are great - a huge bang for your buck. I have two - and have not had any leak problems. They are super common here in Brooklyn row houses. All are reinforced dimpled glass - diffuse light, no view, all awesome.
I have one in the bathroom, and do what you suggest, junklover. Afterwards I have the best sleep...
Skylights at night just creep me out. I would always feel like someone was looking in. I had a friend who had skylights in most of the rooms in his house when I was little, as well as floor to ceiling windows. It always made me really uncomfortable. Not a fan.
There's a skylight over the shower in my home (an RV). It makes the windowless dressing room so bright and feels so luxurious. Here's a pic (I love to show off my RV shower!): http://travelswithmiranda.uskeba.ca/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/shower.jpg
@TravelingRae --
My folks have a skylight shower in their Motorcoach too - I love looking up at the trees and birds while showering in there!
(Kinda makes up for the lack of space and water pressure...)
Oh.. I have skylights in both my kitchen and bath. A small skylight over my tub and two very large skylights in the kitchen. I love them!
Oh my! The 4th and 5th are dreamy...