When we think of clawfoot bathtubs, we think of luxury: deep baths you could spend all day in, with candles (and maybe a glass of Champagne). Aesthetically, we tend to prefer freestanding baths over built-in versions: they feel classic and timeless in any washroom.
A glamorous guest bath in the NoMad hotel in LA; see more in An Iconic Hotel Debuts on the West Coast, Italian Grandeur Edition.
First, take note of terminology: “Traditionally, claw-foot baths had a Victorian-style ball-and-claw design, but today any tub on feet is often called a claw-foot,” writes our correspondent Barbara Peck in Remodeling 101: Romance in the Bath: Built-In vs. Freestanding Bathtubs.
Picture this: you’re just getting into a hot bath, sink in, lean back, and start to relax, only to realize you can’t reach the shampoo. A feature of built-in bathtubs that’s often taken for granted is the ledge around two or three sides of the tub for stashing soap, shampoo, cloths, and candles.
Built-in baths provide built-in storage; photography by Mylene Pionilla from Bathroom of the Week: A 1920s-Inspired Bathroom in a Renovated NY Farmhouse.
1. You like keeping soap within arm’s reach.
2. You’re envisioning long, hot baths.
Old clawfoot bathtubs are often associated with long, luxurious baths, but unless you’re OK with baths that are briefly luxurious, you may want to opt for a newer model.
Photograph by Amanda Kirkpatrick and styling by Anna Molvik from Architect Visit: A Renovated Farmhouse in Bedford with Scandinavian Influences.
“If you want to ensure long, hot baths, consider a built-in, where the insulation added to the wall behind it will keep the water warm even longer, or an acrylic model, which will hold the heat longer than cast iron.” (Or, just add more hot water as it cools.)
3. You have a petite bathroom.
If size is a consideration in your bath, keep in mind that older, freestanding baths tend to take up more space: they’re often bigger than built-in models, and are generally installed with some space between the bath and the wall. Plus, hardware will take up extra room (see: point no.
4. You like your hardware streamlined.
Fittings (and a solution to the storage problem) in Velvet Goldmine: Maximalist Glamour at Hôtel Providence in Paris.
“Any tub requires the same basic plumbing: a water source (faucets can be mounted on the wall or on a deck beside a built-in tub), a drain, and, in most tubs, an overflow to prevent flooding if you leave the water running,” notes Barbara in Remodeling 101: Built-In vs. Freestanding Bathtubs.
An eco-friendly floor-cleaning solution: read more in The Cuban Mop: The Near Perfect Cleaning Tool You’ve Never Heard of (and How to Use It). Even freestanding tubs that sit flush on the floor will leave a gap between the wall and the bath that may be tough to reach when cleaning.
Photograph by Justine Hand for Remodelista.
5. You have limited patience when it comes to cleaning.
6. You have sloping floors.
Photograph by and courtesy of Constance Gennari.
A bathroom in France by Clarisse Prudent, whose family is featured in a book on French living from the Socialite Family’s Constance Gennari.
7. Your bathroom is on the second floor.
Another consideration for owners of old homes: weight. If your heart is set on a vintage cast-iron bath, or if you have an older house, always consult with a plumber or engineer first: you may need to reinforce the floor (at additional cost).
Photograph by Matt Lincoln from A Historic House Reimagined for a Modern Family in Stroud, England (plus a smart work-around for the plumbing issue: mount the tub closer to the wall).
If you’re petite, have kids who will be using the bath, or are planning for the future in your home, you may want to opt for a built-in bath.
8. You’re short.
Freestanding baths are harder to get in and out of: there are no walls to hold onto, they can be deeper, and footed tubs are raised an additional several inches off of the floor.
Most of the time, built-in baths are surrounded by tiled walls on two or three sides, while freestanding baths aren’t always—leaving walls and floors more exposed to water damage.
9. You have kids who like to splash.
Photograph by Dustin Aksland from An Unfussy Brooklyn Townhouse Remodel from Architect Elizabeth Roberts.
If this is your only hangup about getting a freestanding bath, a simple workaround is to tile the floor and walls around the bath for a splash-proof zone (like in the bathroom above).
10. You’re more a showerer than a bather.
A modern freestanding tub in A Brooklyn Townhouse Reinvention from Elizabeth Roberts. A built-in bath will give you the flexibility of easy, mess-free showers, plus a bath, for when you’re in the mood.
Photograph by Dustin Aksland.