A new trend seems to be emerging in bathroom design. Many designs I'm coming across now are featuring fireplaces (yes I know I'm really on the fireplace bandwagon at the moment!).
Bathrooms have long been a place of relaxation and indulgence. You have a fireplace in your living room for warmth and to create a relaxing, cozy atmosphere, so why not your bathroom too? Of course in history bathroom fireplaces were to provide warmth. These days our houses are generally well and efficiently heated, so a fireplace in a bathroom really is considered a luxury.
I still can't decide which type of fireplace is best suited for a bathroom location. Wall mounted fireplaces are great, as they are in your direct line of vision as you lay back in the bath unwinding and watching the flickering light. On the other hand, I'm not sure if having a fireplace at head height, whilst being submerged in hot water would result in you feeling as though you're being lowered into a volcano!
The more traditional style, floor fireplaces are just as beautiful, though work best when set opposite the bath so you can view them at more of a distance.
Needless to say, in this day and age, gas or electric fireplaces are really the only way to go in bathrooms. Lugging a pile of wood into the bathroom before fiddling about with kindling, fire starters and matches, is probably taking away from the relaxing mind set you are trying to obtain.
(As a quick side note - I am so in love with the beautiful tile chosen for the wall surrounding the fire in the first photo. It works so beautifully in the bathroom).
An indulgence it may be, but I think they are definitely worth the investment for anyone that likes to spend some time soaking the day away in the tub!
