bathroom remodeling thoughts

[sichling]

So, as some of you know, we're planning on remodeling two bathrooms - one in our apartment on the second floor & the bathroom in the first floor apartment.

We have claw-foot tubs now, which I don't like because they aren't good for showers (a large usage) and they're hard to get into (for us short people).

I've been hunting for a decent tub that would fit & actually provide decent space, you know, inside the tub! The size would be 66"x36" or maybe 38", at most. Now, the best tub I've been able to find is the Kohler Tea-for-Two, where the bathing well is 45"x25"x19.5", and it does an alcove installation; of course, it is cast-iron and about $1200. There's the Hydro-Systems Sylvia (66"x38") with a bathing well of 47"x27"x20.5", but I don't see any indication that it can be an alcove installation. *grumph*

So, I ran across the following on EBay
Steam Shower Spa Sauna Tub that seems to be an Ariel SS-807A. It has a seat, which would be nice for bathing a child (and wsmith would like a shower with a seat). It's got spiffy shower stuff for a relaxing shower. It has the whirlpool jets for a fun bath. Remind me why this would be a silly idea....

Ok - so, there's
a) It would probably need to go in front of the window in the bathroom, which would mean covering up that window...
b) It would require an additional electrical socket
c) An improved hot water heater might be needed???
d) I think the bathroom is 66" - and this is 66.5" - maybe that can't be gotten from the walls, when they're torn out to put the plumbing inside.
e) The default manufacturer's warranty is only 1 year.

It looks like fun (ok - a bit extravagant) and might help with resale value when we get there (ignoring previous claims of never moving again). I wouldn't need to tile the walls for the shower, if I got this instead.

Clearly, I'm enamored enough with the idea to be up sillily late researching it.
What do you think of the idea?

Comments

[goldsquare.livejournal.com]

I saw these being demonstrated at a home show in Boston, not too long ago. They seemed, well, gimmicky to me, and not particularly functional.

I certainly wouldn't purchase one on eBay, when you'll want local service and installation. Nor would I, in particular, want the hassles of delivery to the curb - and now what do you do with it?

[sichling.livejournal.com]

Well, I'd certainly like to find one to look at. I'm not good at finding bathroom showcase places - I guess I don't have enough experience.

There are certainly features in it that I just don't care about - like the telephone pickup or even the music. But, the seat at the edge of the tub sounds great, the hand-held shower is nice, the massage bits are nice, and the bathtub being a whirlpool is nice.

As for the delivery to the curb, well, one can pay for better delivery - and it comes in boxes, so one can get it in the house.

We're talking to contractors about doing the whole job - I'm assuming that they could do the local installation.

The thing is, by the time I look at a tub that is as wide and long, and talk about tiling the walls around it, and get the tub filler for it, this starts to look like a comparably priced option.

[goldsquare.livejournal.com]

There is a home show coming at Bayside center, September 12-14. I saw some billboards yesterday. As for bath showrooms, I have been to Splash in Newton on Highland Ave (not recently) and Expo in Burlington. I know there are others.

Having a professional tile a tub surround is not inexpensive, but most of the cost goes into the sort of tile you pick. I've done tiling myself, it is rather fun... And there certainly are one piece tubs with surrounds, or after-market surrounds that are far cheaper. But not very attractive (to me).

But the notion of a tub that can "crash" is a bit weird for me. And when I got my hands on it at the show, it seemed a little tin-ish.

Take a look at the Kohler line - they have some very fancy fountain/recirculating tubs that are quite nice. Spendy, though.

[calygrey.livejournal.com]

What he said. Find reviews of the product before you decide - and, never be on the cutting edge of house technology. Take a look at the real thing to decide if you want to clean all those nooks and crannies.

Don't build for resale - build for yourself. You are living in the house now, not a future buyer, and it's extremely likely that when you do sell the house stuff will have to be redone by the buyer anyway.

(Gotta call you real soon now.)

[sichling.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm going to hunt reviews and such. This doesn't feel too cutting edge to me, but I could be wrong. Also, many of the electronic features aren't what specifically appeals. I don't know.

I wouldn't be building for resale - this would be for myself and Nick. It'd be nice to have a good 2-person shower, for when the baby is a bit older. The tub with seat for bathing Will or other kids would be great. I like some of the massage stuff - not, perhaps, enough to pay silly money for it, but non-standard tubs are already sadly expensive.

(yes - call - we're just hanging out this afternoon, babysitting mzkero's little boy and, well, obsessing about bathrooms. (that's just me - really))