Bathing Spaces: Designs for Pampering Body and Soul [Hardcover]

Ali Hanan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 15, 2000

Bathing Spaces shows you how to transform your bathroom into a luxurious bathing space.

Traditional and modern-and in all shapes and sizes-you'll find inspiring spaces you can create in your own home that are not only functional, but are also rooms you will enjoy spending time in.

Chapters include: (1) Traditional Havens-Bathing traditions adapted in designs of unusual loveliness, (2) Design Secrets-Design schemes using texture, color, and lighting to create atmosphere, (3) relax and Rejuvenate-Decor and design techniques for creating peaceful havens, (4) In Harmony with Nature-Designs that incorporate natural materials and settings, (5) Exotic Soaks-Unusual designs for health and relaxation.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

For centuries, baths have been regarded as havens for rest and relaxation. From huge Roman ruins looming over hot springs to small wooden saunas dotting Finland's landscape to Japan's outdoor wooden soaking pools, baths, saunas, and spas have proven medicinal and spiritual value. Bathing Spaces celebrates the lasting traditions of the bath and beckons modern bathing areas to come out of their hidden spaces, since cutting-edge design is creating a "bathroom too chic to languish behind locked doors."

Encouraging you to draw the bath and let it spill into larger areas, Bathing Spaces displays bathrooms as "second living rooms" where you no longer hop in the shower but rather lounge, meditate, and even exercise. Offering new ideas for creating the perfect spacious retreat away from the bustling world, lighting, faucets, tubs, tiles, and layouts are all explored. Bathing Spaces does not confine all of its designs to four walls but dares to venture outside. Outdoor baths, rooftop showers, and large windows in front of the bath incorporate nature into the bathing experience. Straying from the elements of design, the ancient tradition of the scented bath is also explored as well as the daunting task of cleaning the bathroom. With lush full-color photos and running narrative from Ali Hanan, Bathing Spaces will inspire you to transform your bathing area into a room that will pamper you body as well as your soul. --Jenny Burritt

Review

Tells how to transform a bathroom into a beautiful area. This is packed with artistic photos and ideas. -- The Midwest Book Review

This state-of-the-art 'look book' is an endless source of inspiration. More than 100 beautiful rooms. -- Nancy Jane Hastings, Canadian House & Home, April 2001

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Rockport Publishers (October 15, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 8489439192
• ISBN-13: 978-8489439191
• ASIN: 1564967174
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,943,973 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #90 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > How-to & Home Improvements > Remodeling & Renovation > Bathrooms

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great ideas...less is more, January 8, 2003

By 

MotherLodeBeth "MotherLodeBeth" (Sierras of California) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Bathing Spaces: Designs for Pampering Body and Soul (Hardcover)

If you are looking for a book that discusses the best way to make use of a small space then this may be a book of interest. We have a small cottage that has been undergoing some major remodeling and changes, beginning with the bath, which was built in the 1800's and had an awesome old claw foot tub. We wanted space and a sense of cottage zen and this book helped. So many books on baths are over done or to cluttered. Less is more for us.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wide range of styles, create a bathing sanctuary, July 22, 2001

By 

Angel Lee "Liocorno Amethyst Moonstone" (Cleveland, OH United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Bathing Spaces: Designs for Pampering Body and Soul (Hardcover)

This is my favorite book in the Rockport spaces series. It is packed with ideas and tips and shows a wide range of styles including everything you need to help turn your bathing space into a luxurious and relaxing sanctuary.

The book offers great information on choosing a bathtub and shower, using the basic principles of Feng Shui and solutions for working in a small space. Safety, lightning, windows, cleaning advice and proper heating are also covered. It gives you design secrets and offers many interesting ideas like putting a sofa in you bath as well.

I love the sections on creating a home health spa and exotic soaks. The idea of adding salts to you bath to make your own floating tank was fantastic.

The pictures are large and informatively captioned. A few baths are included for their historical design significance and are not really practical for most homes. Also, I can't say that I would want an exact copy of any of these. However, I love many of their elements, materials and layouts and am sure I will be incorporating many of them into my home. This is a wonderful book that is sure to help to anyone trying to create their own slice of bathing heaven.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Contemporary looks, but not much else really useful here, March 17, 2006

By 

Kathleen M. O'Neill "Nashville songwriter & i... (Nashville, TN USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bathing Spaces: Designs for Pampering Body and Soul (Hardcover)

I had already reviewed a dozen or more books from the local library on bathroom designs, so I went into this one hopeful that it would have something fresh to offer.

The good news is, it doesn't have the dated looks of many of the older books that I reviewed from the library (primary-colored wallpaper, anyone?) and it does adhere to a mostly consistent minimalist, spa-like aesthetic.

The bad news is, though, there's nothing really adaptable about most of it -- minimalism by its nature means there isn't a whole lot there beyond the walls and the foundational pieces, and if the looks of this book's examples are to be believed, it appears to be necessary to buy very expensive high-end pieces (sinks, countertops, tubs, etc) to create the most tranquil spaces for bathing.

While sky's-the-limit spending would clearly make the job easier, I'm holding out for a book that shows me how to achieve that transcendent feeling on a more down-to-earth budget.