Call it the dirty weekend away effect but more Brits than ever are choosing to clean up in a freestanding bath. Inspired by posh spa hotels and luxurious country B&Bs, such as the ultra-hip Soho Farmhouse where there are rolltop baths in the bedrooms, bathroom suppliers are reporting an increase in sales of statement tubs. Estate agents are finding that a particularly attractive bath, or two, can help to sell a property. “People take their luxury bathrooms very seriously these days,” says Charlie Russell, of Strutt & Parker in Fulham. “We’re launching a new-build townhouse on Rainsborough Square in Fulham soon, and the bathtub had to be winched into the top-floor master before they could put the roof on. “Kitchens and bathrooms are typically the rooms that sell houses and flats. Keeping bathrooms in immaculate condition is particularly important — modern sanitaryware and contemporary features like wet rooms, his and hers sinks and freestanding baths are most coveted. In our latest Housing Futures survey, 2.8% of respondents included a rolltop bath on their property wish list.”
Rupert Coles, a partner at Private Property Search, a buying agency, is such a fan of freestanding baths that he recently bought two antique tubs at an auction, but is still waiting to earn enough money to buy a big enough house to put them in. “In the right house they can look ‘wow’ but you do need to be careful about floor loadings before investing.” Vintage rolltop baths, often set on elaborate cast-iron feet, can work brilliantly in the middle of a roomy space within a period house. Contemporary freestanding baths are proving popular too, particularly for those for whom space is at a premium. Ideal Standard, the bathroom company, is this month launching its first compact freestanding bath, the Compact Air for £785, and the ultra-thin rimmed Dea for £1,373, after observing a demand for sexy but practical tubs. “People are buying them to re-create that hotel-spa experience at home — it’s all about ‘me time’ and relaxation. We are finding that people want to put freestanding baths in an en suite and keep only a shower in the main bathroom, or put a bath in the bedroom. Unlike showers there is no issue with moisture or condensation. So we are now doing baths in more accessible sizes and prices,” says Leanne Martin, of Ideal Standard. Jonathan Carter, the marketing director of Victoria + Albert, a British bathroom brand, believes freestanding tubs can create the illusion of space by revealing wall and floor surfaces and opening up room boundaries. The company’s bestselling baths, Barcelona, Amalfi, Ios, Mozzano and Ionian, are popular with boutique hotels and homeowners wishing to create a luxurious pampering environment in their own bathrooms. “We’ve seen an increase in demand for our modern baths and those that feature sleek, engineered lines, such as our Ionian bath,” Carter says. “Our Amalfi bathtub takes design cues from the traditional slipper bath and brings it up to date as a rimless design. Freestanding baths that fall straight to the floor are very popular, too, because they conceal pipe work. They are easy to clean around and look uncluttered. “The average size of our bestselling models is 165cm in length — this is actually shorter than the average built-in bath and reflects the demand for beautifully designed freestanding baths that will fit into a standard-size bathroom.” If you covet a spectacular vintage tub, consider Catchpole & Rye’s collection of antique-inspired baths with metallic finishes, from shiny copper to weathered brass and brushed nickel. If super-bling is your thing, there’s the limited-edition Crystal Bateau, encrusted with more than 22,000 hand-applied crystals. Tony O’Donnell, the managing director of Catchpole & Rye, says the most recent designs from the English company — its cast-iron baths are still made at its foundry in Kent — focus on the trend for darker colours in the home. Take, for example, its Nickel Bateau with charcoal exterior, a chalky black matt finish. “We introduced a number of edgy and industrial finishes to our classically shaped metallic baths,” O’Donnell says. “With correct lighting, a dark and sumptuous bathroom can be a luxurious place to unwind and relax.” At £5,500 you might not want to buy two, but it is worth considering if re-creating the perks of a mini-break is what you are after. Joe Charlton, of Strutt & Parker in Canterbury, says he sold a house with two freestanding tubs in the bathroom. “The vendors found they hardly saw each other in the evenings — by the time they got in from work, cooked dinner and had a bath, it was time to go to bed. Two tubs allowed them to spend some quality time together.” This article originally appeared on The Times of London.