TAKE IT OUTSIDE

AS WE SEEK TO MERGE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR SPACES MORE AND MORE, THE POPULARITY OF SHOWERING IN THE SUN AND BATHING UNDER THE STARS IS ON THE UP

- LINDA CLAYTON

1 PRIME POSITION

Connecting an outdoor bathroom to indoor utilities, such as the existing hot water supply, will help keep installation costs down. This simply executed outdoor bathroom in Puglia, Italy, is plumbed directly through the exterior wall of the property, so the hot water has less far to travel. 'Using seamless traditional finishes, such as pink-tinted cocciopesto plaster on the bath and limewashed sandstone walls, achieves an outdoor bathing space that connects quietly with the home and its surroundings,' says interior designer Andrew Trotter. 

2 SUNKEN TREASURE 

A sunken bath channels a spa-style hot tub feel, without the need for harsh chemicals. Deck installation can also make it easier to hide necessary pipework and drainage below. Agape's freestanding outdoor bath has the overflow integrated within its drain for a neat look. It can be supplied without an external structure to suit this built-in installation style. We love the luxury look of a sunken tub. Include a pull-out spray to make it easier to rinse the bath clean after use,' says Louise Ashdown, head of design, West One Bathrooms.

3 TAKE COVER

Concerned that showering outdoors will prove little more than a pipe dream for most of the year? New York-based West Chin Architects devised the perfect solution for this outdoor shower at a Long Island beach house, which has a retractable skylight that can be closed when blue skies turn grey. Walls clad in stacked river pebbles and travertine flooring enhance the connection to nature, whether the roof is open or shut, while two of freestanding shower columns in stainless steel lend a smart industrial touch.

4 LOCATION, LOCATION