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Original poster

To want a swanky freestanding bath?

47 replies

starshine1926 · 13/06/2019 16:12

I am gathering ideas for a house renovation and will be creating a new bathroom upstairs. My friend has a freestanding cast iron bath with ball and claw feet. The lower half of her bathroom is painted tongue and groove. It looks great and have seen this combination in many magazines. However, I fancy an Art Deco look with metro tiles etc. Anyone care to share their experiences of freestanding baths, of whatever shape? Do you get water splashed everywhere?

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8
maimainomai · 13/06/2019 16:16

We had one like these when I was a kid (because we were poor).

Nothing special. Bit more to clean IIRC. And not as easy to cover with a shower curtain (=making the whole bath wet is easily done when showering).

Are you planning on having a separate shower?

Quittingthyme · 13/06/2019 16:17

We have one, it can get quite wet and splashy, especially post bath time.

The shower question is key.

MereDintofPandiculation · 13/06/2019 16:18

Difficult to clean underneath, especially around the feet.

ClashCityRocker · 13/06/2019 16:21

I think they look amazing, but have never found one that is the right size/shape to be comfortable. All the ones I've used are too big/high, so I can't read comfortably in it and end up sliding back and forth and splashing water everywhere.

So I would recommend actually getting into the bath and trying it out before buying it, to make sure it 'fits' OK.

Poppysead1663 · 13/06/2019 16:24

I would advise you not to buy a cast iron one. We have one and the water cools really fast and my back gets cold when just touching the metal bit (that isn't covered in water). It is not much fun in winter!

ChocChocButtons · 13/06/2019 16:24

My old nanny family had one. I stayed over once and had a bath and it was so hard to get in and out it had kinda uncomfortable.

Crankybitch · 13/06/2019 16:24

Had one - was a right pain thinking where to put my glass of wine. You have to have a table beside it to put things on - soap, candles etc

woollyheart · 13/06/2019 16:30

I always wanted one but thought our bathroom might be too small. Our plumber disagreed so we went ahead and I love it!

We have a separate shower though. And I chose one that is better insulated so I don't get cold. And there is a shelf hidden behind it for drinks.

CecilyP · 13/06/2019 16:32

We had one like these when I was a kid (because we were poor).

Same here; well more because we lived in an old unmodernised home. There is a reason why boxed in baths became popular from the 1960's; water can no longer slosh over all sides, and no more water and fluff pooling underneath for extra cleaning. Bear in mind that the people who had baths like that when they first became essential for the middle-class household, also had domestic servants.

PickleSarnie · 13/06/2019 16:35

We have a freestanding bath. Love it. But now the kids are getting older we may need to replace with a built in bath so we can put a shower in (as opposed to them always having to use the ensuite)- the only option with ours would be a shudder shower curtain and just the thought of shower curtains makes my skin crawl

SquireOfGreenway · 13/06/2019 16:37

I was going to get one of these because I am just fitting out a new big(-ish) bathroom.

I changed my mind for a number of reasons - mainly that the hot and cold water feed-pipes to the taps have got to be either exposed or hidden in some kind of column.

I think free-standing baths belong to the good old Victorian days when you placed them in front of the fire and filled them with hot water from a big kettle over the fire. And if you were Queen Victoria you had one maid to stand on one side holding a towel and another maid standing on the other side with your night dress. And maybe another one with some perfumed caustic soap. And a glass of wine.

I'm now going to go for a large corner bath with a built-in seaty bit half way down and nice shelves to put soap / candles / plastic ducks. Mind you, it's only to impress visitors because I only have showers. And I don't get many visitors. Apart from that I'm sure it'll be a great idea.

maimainomai · 13/06/2019 16:40

cecily yes, same. (Well, it was a very unmodernised building. there was no central heating and it was cold as fuck in winter. [occasionally cold enough to see your breath])

Anyhow, I agree. There’s a reason why they’re not popular anymore.
I’m not against them but having a separate shower is key imo.

They are also generally rather large and therefore require a lot of water to fill properly. The advantage: several children can take a bath at the same time....

PettyContractor · 13/06/2019 16:45

I know that bathroom fitters cut these baths into pieces to remove them as they are too heavy to be carried out. I wonder how you would get one in, if they're too heavy to be carried. My bathroom fitter says he now refuses to do them.

Is your floor strong enough to take the weight?

whothedaddy · 13/06/2019 16:45

When we moved in to our Georgian terrace it was one of the first things DP got rid of. you can not have a proper shower with a freestanding bath. They take ages to fill, the shape means they aren't comfortable to lay in, they are a sod to try and clean under. I'd go with usability over looks

callmeadoctor · 13/06/2019 16:49

Oooh I love mine, my plumber said that it would look too big in my small bathroom, it actually makes the room look bigger because you can see around it and underneath. I have 2 niches built into the wall (to hold my glass of wine, had it made to measure!!!) Everybody admires it and it is really comfortable! It looks a bit like this one (this is not mine though!)

To want a swanky freestanding bath?
callmeadoctor · 13/06/2019 16:50

It is not a heavy iron one, just a normal new one (just looks the part)

gokartdillydilly · 13/06/2019 16:51

I hate mine. It looks gorgeous and people go 'ooh' when they see it. I did when I first saw it when we bought the house.

I haven't had a bath in it for 25 years, and now the kids are all grown up, they don't either. It's uncomfortable, too short, collects dust inside, outside and behind, and there's nowhere to put your wine glass. It is just a bloody great big pretty-looking ornament. Shame I can't trade it in and have a shower put in its place (funny old barn conversion).

Always try before you buy. My kids used to think I was mental getting in the baths in B&Q (and the beds in John Lewis!) But at 6ft 6 and 6ft 4 respectively, my sons now have the same specific comfort requirements!

HavelockVetinari · 13/06/2019 16:52

We've got a lovely cast iron one - our house is Edwardian, so the bathroom is black and white tiles and a big bath. We do however have a separate shower cubicle.

GreenTulips · 13/06/2019 16:54

Have a look a Victorian shower baths

They are square to the wall at one lens for the shower and screen but the rest is free standing - has the look without the hastle

Musmerian · 13/06/2019 16:55

I love mine. It’s an original Victorian cast iron one from a salvage yard and is a bit tatty with bits of enamel peeling off. It’s the perfect size and shape for me - a short arse - to read in and keeps the heat in perfectly. We have a separate shower. It’s a bit of a pain to clean but I’m not fussed.

SmellMySmellbow · 13/06/2019 17:00

If you need a shower over it you can get one like this. Also I woukd get an acrylic one rather than cast iron. I like the loom of slipper tubs, especially in small bathrooms. I'd have a freestanding slipper tub next to a shower cublicle.

To want a swanky freestanding bath?
runningtogetskinny · 13/06/2019 17:01

I had a cast iron bath in a previous house but found i had to put hot water in, then drain before filling otherwise the bottom of the bath always felt cold! I have a free standing bath now but made from thick acrylic and I love it! Pic is from DD Instagram, sorry don't have any other pics. Metro tiles and separate walk in shower similar to what you describe?

To want a swanky freestanding bath?
Hollowvictory · 13/06/2019 17:03

Yes got one claw foot and one modern both freestanding and have niches in the wall. Not a fan of metro tiles they look Like a toilet

GreenTulips · 13/06/2019 17:12

The other issue with metro tiles are that look grubby with the amount of grout - think about using a coloured grout

itsmesoitis · 13/06/2019 17:17

I grew up with a cast iron one and it was so so cold. Torture in an uncentrally heated house in Winter! We now have a modern version and could not love it more - it's deep, wide and comfy.

Glass of wine hangs and candles sit on the bath board.

We have a separate shower in the main bathroom and the en-suite though.

I would hate to have to depend on an shower-bath combo with curtain using a stand alone bath.

I find it easy to clean around too.