Thursday Thoughts # 101
from "The Year of Living Danishly" by Helen Russell
"You may not like everyone you meet, but you need to respect their differences"
Today's Thought:
I found an old newspaper article when clearing out a drawer: Install a bath or a shower?
here's a quote: "I would like to focus on the decisions to be made if you are in the throes of planning renovations or extensions, or are about to build your new home or even investment property. In today's modern housing market how do you decide on bath or shower? Always include one bath or is it not worth the bother? Are baths still relevant in all homes?"
So here's my question: do you prefer an invigorating shower or a relaxing soak? Which would you install if you had the option to build? Just a shower? Just a bath? Or both?
Are baths in fact really not worth the trouble of extra space, extra plumbing, extra cleaning?
For myself, I say yes, definitely. I may not take a bath very often, but having the option to enjoy one being denied to me has been harder than I thought.
I've lived here in this one bedroom apartment, (okay, it's a flat), for five and a half years. There is no bathtub. Climbing into the laundry tub is not an option. There's just no room in it for a good stretch.
So for five and a half years now, I've showered and just last Sunday, feeling a bit down, a lot achy and wishing I was anywhere but here, I would have sold my mother for a one hour soak in a hot bubble bath.
Good thing she's dead eh?
So yes, if it is at all possible, install a bath. Even if you have to place the shower over it, as was the case in many older homes until a separate shower cubicle became the normal thing.
**Happy Birthday to my baby boy, who is 36 years old today**
"You may not like everyone you meet, but you need to respect their differences"
Today's Thought:
I found an old newspaper article when clearing out a drawer: Install a bath or a shower?
here's a quote: "I would like to focus on the decisions to be made if you are in the throes of planning renovations or extensions, or are about to build your new home or even investment property. In today's modern housing market how do you decide on bath or shower? Always include one bath or is it not worth the bother? Are baths still relevant in all homes?"
So here's my question: do you prefer an invigorating shower or a relaxing soak? Which would you install if you had the option to build? Just a shower? Just a bath? Or both?
Are baths in fact really not worth the trouble of extra space, extra plumbing, extra cleaning?
For myself, I say yes, definitely. I may not take a bath very often, but having the option to enjoy one being denied to me has been harder than I thought.
I've lived here in this one bedroom apartment, (okay, it's a flat), for five and a half years. There is no bathtub. Climbing into the laundry tub is not an option. There's just no room in it for a good stretch.
So for five and a half years now, I've showered and just last Sunday, feeling a bit down, a lot achy and wishing I was anywhere but here, I would have sold my mother for a one hour soak in a hot bubble bath.
Good thing she's dead eh?
So yes, if it is at all possible, install a bath. Even if you have to place the shower over it, as was the case in many older homes until a separate shower cubicle became the normal thing.
**Happy Birthday to my baby boy, who is 36 years old today**
.png)
I have never liked baths - sitting in dirty water? Yuck. But I can spend hours in the shower and still get all pruney. We have 2 bathrooms, one has a small stand-up shower than the other has a tub with shower head. If I ever get a new place definitely I would have a huge shower put in, even at the expense of a tub - the hell with the resale value!
ReplyDeleteGrace; I don't get dirty and I certainly don't pee in the water, so for me a good soak now and again to ease aches and just relax until the water cools is heaven. I still enjoy a shower, but with water restrictions, the cost of water and the cost of the gas to heat it, staying under the spray for hours is out of the question; far too costly. I wouldn't mind having a larger shower, but remembering I have to also do the cleaning, just a bit larger than what I have would be fine.
DeleteMy place has 2.75 bathroom...one is complete shower and tub combo.
ReplyDeleteThe other bathroom is consider .75 it has toilet, shower, and sink. The .75 has some major issue. Can't afford to fix it at this time.
Coffee is on
Dora; my kids have a shower/bath combo, plus a toilet and sink which we call a basin. I used to have a bath, a separate shower, plus a toilet and sink in my previous home. Here I have a shower, toilet sink and the other side of the room is the laundry with the washing machine a laundry sink (tub) and the clothes dryer on the wall above the tub.
DeleteI think a bathtub is a necessity only when there are young children in the house. I used to enjoy a good soak in a hot bubble bath, too, but after suffering numerous infections from sitting in said hot water, I haven't have a bath in many years. Now, I'm perfectly happy with a shower.
ReplyDeleteSusan; I never got infections from sitting in hot water, but I didn't have a good soak all that often either. Showers are quicker and better for rinsing hair when shampooing. But I would often soak aching feet in salty water in the bath while I sat on the edge and read a few chapters. I'm happy with my current shower which is quite a good bit larger than those I've seen in other flats here; they seem to be so tiny just fitted across a corner of their bathrooms, which are also far smaller than mine. I also like a bath for soaking large things that may need a bit of bleach before going in the washing machine.
DeleteI truly regret not having a bathtub in my home. We have 2 1/2 baths and there is room in the half bath to install a tub. I keep thinking it might be worth the money.
ReplyDeleteGrany Annie; the tub is one thing that I really miss from my previous home, along with my own clothesline. If you enjoy a good soak, I'd say spend the money and get a tub. As long as you have someone to help you out of it if you need.
DeleteI have no need or desire for a bath, however my wife missed them like you, that every once and a while. We had a tub in the guest bath, but it was a little snug. We recently spent gobs of money (for me) to have a larger tub. My wife loves it, so it was money well spent. I tease hear at how much each bath costs, but as she take more the cost is dropping, I figure her next bath will cost about $700, by the end of the year they will be pretty cheap.
ReplyDeletejoeh; some people are happy to live their lives without a tub, I'm glad to hear you bought a larger tub for Mrs C.
DeleteI liked a good soak and scrub, and then finish off with a shower rinse off. Now, it is nearly impossible to get out of the tub on my own, but I think DH would still like a tub for achy muscles. Of course, we only have one bathroom and our fixtures are combined.
ReplyDeleteA bathtub was quite handy for doggy baths ...
S.J.Qualls; I never bothered with a shower rinse after a good soaking, we have water restrictions 90% of the time and I never thought it was necessary anyway.
DeleteI found the tub was handy for soaking aching feet, also for soaking the quilt off the bed occasionally when I'd wake to find I'd had a nose bleed in the night in hayfever season, most times having to soak the pillow too.
I normally shower, but we do have a Jacuzzi tub, which is GREAT!!
ReplyDeletefishducky; I'd love a jacuzzi! My oldest has a pool with a spa built in at one end, but she lives so far away :(
DeleteWhat I can't believe, you've lived there 5 1/2 years. I remember when you moved in. Seems like yesterday, so the saying goes.
ReplyDeleteI take an epsom salt bath every day. So healing and relaxing.
I never take showers as somehow that pounding water on my body annoys me.
BUT..... either is far better than what I grew up with. A pump in the back yard. I'm just thankful for plumbing.
Happy Birthday to the baby of the family.
Belva; fastest five and a half years in history. I still feel like the newcomer, yet there are neighbours nearby who have been here less than a year.
DeleteI tried epsom salts in a bath but got terribly itchy, so no more of that for me. I like my showers gentle most of the time, but sometimes I turn the water on fast and get a massage on my back that way. I grew up having a bath in a galvanised tin tub by the fire until I as five, then dad installed a bathroom with a chip heater by shutting off a section of the back porch. The tub was huge and the three of us kids all got bathed together at first, then we got older and bigger and preferred privacy or just wanted more space.
A very happy birthday to your boy.
ReplyDeleteI can no longer get into and out of a bath with either ease or safety. I miss them though.
Elephant's Child; I've thought about the getting in and out of tubs and have decided if I ever have the chance for a tub, I'll have grab rails installed and non slip tiles on the floor. Do you have grab rails? and is the SP available to help you in and out?
DeleteHappy Birthday to your son. I love a Epsom salt bath after a long hike. It helps those old bones. Hug B
ReplyDeleteButtons Thoughts; I don't do long hikes much, there was that time last year I walked along the beach for several kilometres, but it seemed more like a stroll because I love the beach so much.
DeleteEpsom salts make me itch, so I settle for hot water and foamy bubbles.
We ditched tubs thirty years ago when we renovated the old house. Mom asked for showers and showers it was. Now I cannot easily get into the tub and out for my shower, and think longingly of the beautiful new bathroom I left behind.
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday to the youngster!
Joanne; I remember the lovely walk in shower you had built in the old house, could you do that again where you are now? Or could you perhaps have grab rails installed to hold for support as you get in and out?
DeleteI'm finding it odd to think my baby is now 36, when I don't feel very old myself most days.
Hi. I came over from Elephant's Child. I'm Ivy.
ReplyDeleteWe own our trailer and come summer, we are removing our second bathtub and turning that space into a closet. The closet will hold holiday decorations (what little we have), and indoor tools.
We won't be installing a shower there.
As for our second bath, we may rip it out for a shower down the line but that's not as important right now as other projects.
Happy Birthday to your son :-)
The Happy Whisk; welcome to drifting. I'd love more closets where I am too, I have one wardrobe in the bedroom and that's it. No linen closet at all. Everything was stashed in the one wardrobe until I bought a couple of chests of drawers for the sheets and towels. I can't install more closets, there just isn't space and I'm renting, so the place isn't mine to do such things anyway. You'll enjoy having a closet for decorations etc.
DeleteWe ripped out a closet and several cupboards. I don't have much decorations. I don't have much of much, after getting rid of 95 percent of my own stuff. But, moreso, I'm excited to have a proper home for our in-door tools. That's the big seller for me.
DeleteI can understand if it's not your own place, makes it harder.
PS: And our two air conditioners will go in there. That just popped into my head when I walked in there. Looking forward to that!
DeleteHappy Weekend & Boogie Boogie :-)
.. I miss my bath Sooooooo much.....
ReplyDeleteI'd gotten to where I needed help to get in and out of the bath ..our shower was over the bath .. so 8 years ago we had it taken out and a shower stall installed.... it's great BUT I do miss the bath.....I had a board over my bath and I'd take in a book, a cup of tea and the phone and have a wonderful bubble bath .. BLISS .....
Showers are the way to go for older people ...
....Barb xxxx
Barbara; I never read a book while soaking, I tried and it got wet every time I turned the page, so after that I only read while sitting on the edge and soaking aching feet. I do miss having a good soak to ease the aches, especially after a long stint in the garden. I would never take the phone in there, interruptions are banned in the bathroom. My K has her shower over the bath, the edge of the tub is low enough to get in and out of easily, I remember from when I lived there, a shallow tub, but I'm small so could still soak. But she lives across town, two buses away, so that's a long way to go just to ask if I can soak in her tub. A walk in shower is a great thing to have, for ease of use, do you have grab rails for support?
Delete.. two busses away is a bit too far just for a soak, I agree. A few years ago one of my daughters invited us for lunch at her place ... as a surprise for me she had het bathroom decorated with flowers, bubble bath and candles so I could have a lovely soak in the tub.. it was wonderful! .. Yes we do have grab rails and all the safety essentials... shower stool.. alarms ... non slip mats... the aged care people checked it out and we passed the safety test for Mum to use it.. xxxxx.. Barb xxx
DeleteI love showers, but the occasional soak in a bath is very nice. My ensuite has a shower and the main bathroom, a shower over the bath. I giggled at my mental image of you trying to get into the laundry trough.
ReplyDeleteAndrew; I have been tempted by the laundry tub, but the dryer is right above it, just too low enough that I already bang my head on it when trying to use the tub. I'm pretty sure it wouldn't hold my weight either.
ReplyDeleteAlways have bath and shower in a house is my thinking, and not a shower over the bath either.
ReplyDeleteOur main bathroom has both, ensuite has shower.
Find that bath is good when the grandchildren stop over, easier in the bath when little.
Margaret-whiteangel; baths are great for water play too with small children, much less chance of them getting sunburned and of course you get to join in the fun.
DeleteI hate baths, and I especially hate showers that are over baths (even though that is what I have in my house).
ReplyDeleteWhat madman thought it was a good idea to create a situation where, when getting in and out of your shower/tub, there will be a moment when you're naked, standing on one leg, on a wet slippery surface, with the other foot suspended a few inches above the ground.
Showers all the way, preferably ones on flat ground.
no-one; that's why grab rails were invented and non-slip bath mats. I like baths, but agree a walk-in shower is a better option.
DeleteHappy Birthday Wishes to your son.
ReplyDeleteI like a choice - sometimes it is so good to have a relaxing bath, whereas other days a quick, refreshing shower is good.
All the best Jan
I think a walk-in shower with room enough for a bathing chair would be perfect. I don't have that, but if I were planning a house I would keep aging in mind.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you. I like baths and showers and wouldn't want to have a house that didn't at least allow me the option. As a Realtor I would say that a house in our area without at least one nice soaking tub would be a hard sell.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure about apartments here if the majority have bathtubs as more people seem to prefer showers.