Outdoor Bathrooms Are the Latest Luxury Trend

PRLog (Press Release) - Jul 15, 2009 -
CHARLESTON, S.C. – Victoria & Albert bathtubs are proving popular for outdoor use, thanks to striking designs and the durability of the modern technology material ENGLISHCAST™.

The trend of outdoor rooms continues to grow, and outdoor “bathrooms” are joining the ranks of outdoor kitchens on homeowner wish lists. With the recent interest in “staycations,” and the trend to get away without leaving home, luxuries usually reserved for hotels and spas are being incorporated into residential homes.

Builder Reggio Branchini, who specializes in homes along the South Carolina coast, added an outdoor bathroom to a home on the Isle of Palms near Charleston, centering it around Victoria & Albert’s egg-shaped Napoli.  “I noticed a lot of homes and hotels in the Caribbean featured outdoor baths, and I’m always looking to step outside the box,” he says of the home. “I’m getting a lot of great response to it.”

Made of ENGLISHCAST™, Victoria & Albert bathtubs are well suited for outdoor use: a high stone content makes them strong and durable, and gives them a natural feel and finish. Tested in rigorous conditions, in an outdoor environment with temperatures exceeding 100 degrees under the harsh sunlight of the African coast, Victoria & Albert tubs showed little or no discoloration or deterioration.

According to a recent survey by the American Institute of Architects (AIA), outdoor living elements continue to be extremely popular, specifically outdoor “rooms,” said AIA chief economist Kermit Baker, PhD. “Lately, data shows a preference towards extending the home through blended indoor/outdoor space,” he noted.

The trend’s been rising steadily: in 2005, slightly under half of surveyed residential architects saw outdoor living as a growing trend growing. Yet this year’s survey reported over two-thirds of respondents saw this as increasing in popularity.

Blurring the line between indoor and outdoor continues with bathroom designs that incorporate views, as well.

“Many architects and remodelers are centering our freestanding tub designs in front of a window that overlooks a tranquil nature view,” says Karl Schuele, U.S. sales and marketing director for Victoria & Albert Bath. “Think of a getaway retreat spa — this is what homeowners are recreating. The bathroom has become a sanctuary and a haven.”

For more information, please call Mary Sue Lawrence at (800) 421-7189 or go to www.vandabaths.com.

About ENGLISHCAST™
Victoria & Albert baths are made from ENGLISHCAST™, a mix of naturally white volcanic limestone and resin. Insulating, stain-resistant and strong, this high-performance material makes it possible to cast a large and complex shape into one flowing, seamless piece. The stone content of ENGLISHCAST™ creates a durable, scratch-resistant bathing well that is easily renewed with a light polish.

About Victoria & Albert®
Victoria & Albert is a global leader in bath innovation and design, creating a versatile range of traditional and contemporary freestanding bathtubs. Known for its durability, every ENGLISHCAST™ bathtub comes with a 25-year manufacturer-backed warranty and is shipped within 48 hours of purchase.

Victoria & Albert products are sold at more than 400 kitchen and bath showrooms across the U.S. and Canada. Established in the U.K. in 1996, Victoria & Albert extended its brand to the U.S. in 2002.