Dream Spaces: 14 Showers That Will Make You Swoon
These bathrooms combine style, comfort and luxury to create a spa-like space
The term ‘shower stall’ often conjures a utilitarian, single-person spot meant for one thing: getting clean. These fantastic showers are a different animal - in many of them, solid walls and opaque barriers have been largely banished to let in light and views, making an everyday wash an exhilarating experience. Take a look at 14 examples that challenge the bath tub’s title as the ultimate place for a relaxing soak.
At 6½ by 4½ feet, this shower by Brandon Architects has ample room for two people to enjoy the water view. With architectural details such as the arch, this shower is far from a box relegated to the corner of the bathroom - it’s the star of the design stage.
This wet room (a bath area with drainage and waterproof surfaces that mean no glass enclosure is needed), by David Coleman, has a double connection to the outside: the large window behind the bath and the skylight overhead.
Without the windows, this shower and wet room by John Donkin would be less remarkable. But with them the room gives those using it the experience of showering outdoors, minus the drafts.
This shower, by Granit Chartered Architects in London, is almost invisible in this elegant bathroom. The window provides light, ventilation and a sense of openness, but for privacy reasons can’t be seen through.
Insider interest
Having a dream shower doesn’t mean the room has to possess a stunning outdoor view. Many architects and designers are creating drama through materials, making a shower in a totally enclosed space a transportive experience.
The shower in this houseboat project, by G. Little Construction, has a mere porthole window to the outside, but it doesn’t feel constricted.
The patterns in the Black Cloud onyx make an engaging, topographic map-like landscape. Four body jets in addition to an overhead and hand shower make this imagined landscape a rainy one.
See how to choose the right style shower head for you
Having a dream shower doesn’t mean the room has to possess a stunning outdoor view. Many architects and designers are creating drama through materials, making a shower in a totally enclosed space a transportive experience.
The shower in this houseboat project, by G. Little Construction, has a mere porthole window to the outside, but it doesn’t feel constricted.
The patterns in the Black Cloud onyx make an engaging, topographic map-like landscape. Four body jets in addition to an overhead and hand shower make this imagined landscape a rainy one.
See how to choose the right style shower head for you
The striated patterns in the marble in this wet room, by Starion Custom Residences make it seem to exist in the clouds.
Sometimes it’s the material mix that makes a fantasy shower. Take this three-sided shower, by k Yoder Design. ‘The grey-blue matte glass tile mosaic and soft brown linear-striped porcelain tile are illuminated by a skylight. The shower includes a linear floor drain. The simple, clean geometric forms of the shower fittings include body spray jets and a handheld shower,’ say the designers.
There is just one dominant tile pattern on the wall and floor of this shower, by New York’s id 810 Design Group, but it shows the power of repetition.
This London bathroom, by Fossey Arora, shows that a small amount of tile also makes a big impact in a shower. The explosion of colour and pattern in this relatively small bathroom make it very dream-like.
Another houseboat project - this one is by Robert Nebolon Architects - relies on the pattern of a glass and metal shower door for drama.
A clerestory window does provide light, but the wow factor is the multi-paned shower enclosure.
Of course, beauty need not be dependent on square footage. This bathroom, by Nerland Building & Restoration, is not large, but the view of the stained glass window from the shower makes it feel expansive.
Another not-too-big bath - this one is by Fossey Arora - relies on form, detail and a bold splash of green tile in a mostly white environment to make this shower irresistible.
Big or small, dreams are enjoyable - and they can come true in any room of the house.
TELL US…
Which of these showers is your favourite? Tell us in the Comments below.
Check out stylish bath-shower combinations
Big or small, dreams are enjoyable - and they can come true in any room of the house.
TELL US…
Which of these showers is your favourite? Tell us in the Comments below.
Check out stylish bath-shower combinations
Before we lather up, let’s make two assumptions: 1 - there is proper privacy, and the windows aren’t open to the street or neighbour’s house and 2 - heating systems are in place or not needed. (Hot water has a way of warming up a space.)
This Berlin bathroom, by Badeloft, illustrates the concept perfectly: The shower is completely open to the views and the light provided by the bank of exterior windows (blinds rise from the bottom up to provide a privacy screen.) The view outside the window isn’t the only attractive thing to look at; the glass wall makes it possible to admire the wood grain of the pine ceiling and walls. The designers installed a rain shower head, something that is high on the wish lists of many homeowners.