When the COVID-19 shelter-in-place order was first put in place, I thought Id have a lot of free time. Like many of us, though, that didnt happen.

Were either working remotely or looking for new work, homeschooling children and keeping them and us entertained and exercised, playing with our pets, or checking in on elderly parents or neighbors.

Rather than focusing on fear and the opinions that flood social media, Id like to humbly propose that we step away from that and use this time to improve our surroundings and our routines.

That way, well all be perfectly prepared to launch back into our lives even stronger and, possibly, even more organized.

Courtesy of Fotolia

Here are some tasks that might need your attention right now.

Set a date and tackle the most frustrating space or container in your home. You will definitely feel better afterward.

Plan future appointments, adventures or classes.

Catch up on projects that have dropped through the cracks.

Organize your home office, file stacks of paperwork and delete emails from your inbox.

Sort and file the photos on your cell phone.

Toss out expired medications responsibly (look to see where and how to dispose of them in your town) and canned foods (check online first, as most canned foods are fine to eat past their use by date.

Deep clean your refrigerator or pantry. See which veggies can be repurposed into soup or stock.

Sort and either redistribute or discard outgrown clothes and toys, and wash the remaining ones. Do the same for pet toys, leashes and bedding.

Wipe cabinets, shelves and drawers, and vacuum the hidden spots under area rugs, between sofa cushions and under appliances.

Update your address book.

Will your furniture need a new coat of paint or your outdoor cushions need replacement before summer? Put it on your list.

The San Francisco Decorator Showcase, always a popular Bay Area event, recently announced that it has been indefinitely postponed.

We are hoping to reopen later this year in the same location with the same class of 2020 designers, says Denise Lamott, Showcase spokesperson and Muir Beach resident.

Included among the class of 2020 are four Marin design companies Barbra Bright Design and Leap Interior Design, both from San Rafael; Ross Nest Design Co., based in Ross; and FDG Design Group, headquartered in Sausalito.

Here they share their best ideas to improve our homes without leaving them.

Barbra Bright, of Barbra Bright Design (415-686-2928, barbrabrightdesign.com)

Its a great time to rearrange your artwork and photos. When art remains in one place for years, there is a tendency to stop seeing it. Moving art to different areas engages the mind to see it in a new light.

Chelsea Brown, of Leap Interior Design (415-830-7460, LeapInteriors.com)

Organize. Clear out visual clutter, or even the clutter you cant see, like that junk drawer youre always trying to get to. Either one can do wonders for the psyche and completely improve your perspective.

Fresh-cut flowers are an amazing way to bring some springtime into your house when youre spending so much time indoors. I love to put a large bouquet on my dining table where I can see it throughout the house, and then cut small stems from it for bedside tables and bathroom counters. Pick from your own garden if you have one, or support a local floral company, like Farmgirl Flowers. One of my favorites is the Just Right Burlap-Wrapped Bouquet, because its always seasonally appropriate and absolutely beautiful. And Farmgirl ships nationally, so you can spread the floral love to friends and family, too.

Refresh bedding and table linens and support local businesses that take online orders. Theres nothing like the feeling of a fresh, new set of soft sheets. I love Coyuchi bedding and its focus on sustainable fibers and dyes.

Introduce new pops of color with throws, accent pillows and placemats or napkin. I love Hudson Graces Dip-Dye napkins. The hues are vibrant and perfect for spring and summer table settings. Try a color youve never introduced before and experiment with new tablescapes for that moment we can finally gather again and toast to good health and friendship.

Jennifer Patton Wundrow, of Nest Design Co. (415-294-2554, nestdesignco.com)

Hire a designer. We are fully equipped to design remotely and have designed, built and furnished entire homes through virtual meetings, emails, etc. Supporting our small business helps to support many other local small businesses (artisans, sub-contractors, etc.), so we would encourage you to reach out.

Theres another good reason to consider this idea.

Many of our large construction projects are on hold due to the recent shelter-in-place ordinance, so we have time to really focus on the smaller projects and start planning for remodels.This is the time to thoughtfully think through how you live and how you want to live. We know now, more than ever, that your home should be your sanctuary. Let us help.

Purge, refine, design. Take everything off your shelves and start over with a clean slate. Think streamlined and minimal, and focus on a single color theme.

Move throws, pillows and accessories around. We all get stuck and used to seeing our homes one way. Shake things up and move everything around. For example, move your guest room bed pillows to your living room and your living room pillows to your family room.

Fatima Silva, of FDG Design Group (415-324-7030, fdgdesigngroup.com)

This is a perfect time to purge. Spring clean for a fresh new start, as well as to help sanitize ones home.

Reorganize living spaces to create better circulation based on your personal lifestyle. With busy work schedules one never has the time to rearrange and truly experience the benefits of a great layout.

PJ Bremier writes on home, garden, design and entertaining topics every Saturday and also on her blog at DesignSwirl.co. She may be contacted at P.O. Box 412, Kentfield 94914, or at pj@pjbremier.com.

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Its spring, time to clean and organize - Marin Independent Journal

Emily Todhunter took a restrained approach to the decoration of her Wiltshire bathroom. She explained more to Arabella Youens.

When it comes to conjuring schemes for her own home, interior designer Emily Todhunter confesses to being something of an un-decorator. I like to live with things that are already there to see what ideas come up. In the case of this room, I left it almost exactly as it was and am delighted with the result.

This is the master bathroom of her Georgian farmhouse in Wiltshire. The scale and aspect of the room, together with the original panelling, fireplace and generous sash windows, combine to create a space that lends itself to switching off.

A bathroom is about the only place you can do that, when you have children and dogs at home, she says.

Here, I sometimes enjoy simply sitting in one of the window seats, taking in the view.

Emily was briefly tempted to use the room to create two en suites to serve the adjoining bedrooms. Instead, she decided to make the most of the space and decorate it as she would any other room with paintings, a chest of drawers, an armchair and good lighting.

Sheer blinds in oatmeal made from her own Ultimate Floppy Linen range hang gently at the windows.

They are known as Emily blinds in our studio, because we use them in projects a lot. They are great for privacy, as well as looking pretty.

The walls are painted in Edward Bulmers delicate Rose Tinted White.

White towels and a French-style bathmat from The White Company complete the rooms fresh, soothing look. And I briefly considered having floorboards, but, in the end, you cant beat the comfort of carpet in a bathroom especially when the weather outside is foul, she says.

Todhunter Earle 0207349 9999, http://www.todhunterearle.com

Of all the decorating trends that have been in vogue over the last 50 years be it Scandi, Minimalism

Interior designer Philippa Thorp tells Arabella Youens about the transformation of her Grade II-listed house in Hampshire.

Symmetry is regarded as the secret to creating a calm, coherent space, but for many designers, its more about creating

Country Life's experts have delved into their little black books to bring you the finest architects, builders, interior decorators and

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Creating a graceful, beautiful and above all cosy bathroom in a period house in Wiltshire - Country Life

Emma. is a lavish and detailedperiod piece, with stunning costumes designed by Alexandra Byrne and gorgeous, colorful Georgian sets from production designer Kave Quinn and set decorator Stella Fox. When I saw Emma. I immediately wanted to watch it again, but with the power to pause so that I could study, in detail, the many eye-popping textiles and set pieces. Now, thanks to Universal dropping their first-quarter releases on premium on demand early, I can rent Emma. (here are some more SD Recommendations) and pause and zoom on gowns, screens, wallpaper, and curtains to my hearts content, and guess what? I DID. So here is a ranking of the best textiles and/or prints in Emma., from elegant to luxuriously extravagant.

Mr. Woodhouses dressing gown and striped chair

One of the wonderful details of the design of Emma. is the pattern mixing, which is most prevalent with the Woodhouses and their home, Hartfield. The combination of Mr. Woodhouses leaf-print dressing gown and the sprigged floral stripes of his chair is busy, yes, but the colors are complementary and the nature motifsomething prevalent with the Woodhousesis consistent, so that it comes across as a unified whole.

Rating: Elegant

Emmas pink spencer

Another example of the color coordination among the Woodhouses and Hartfield is Emmas pink spencerwhich is beautifully detailed on its ownand the interior Woodhouse spaces. For the film, much of Firle Place was repainted, including the saloon in which Emma and Mr. Woodhouse prepare to leave for Miss Taylors wedding, which is painted a complementary shade of pink, meanwhile, the Woodhouse carriage is a lovely contrasting blue. In both cases, Emmas pink spencer is set off to maximum effect.

Rating: Impeccable

Mr. Woodhouses many screens

Behold, Mr. Woodhouses collection of draft-defeating screens. Again, everything is a contrasting pattern, but the colors are coordinated, and everything works with the gold tone of the walls, bringing the whole look together. The Woodhouses live in a tornado of color and pattern, yet everything is pleasing and harmonious.

Rating: Splendid

Emmas yellow pelisse

I believe this garment is called a pelisse, and while the color is beautiful, it is all about that pleating in the back and the ruffled, vaguely Elizabethan collar of the underdress. The texture on this gown is positively touchable.

Rating: Flawless

Emmas spangled Christmas gown At the Westons Christmas dinner, where the rooms and clothing are all dark, natural tones suitable for a snowy, cozy evening, Emma shows up in winter white, standing out amongst her cohort, as she should. Emma is always dressed to stand out from the crowd, and Christmas dinner is no exception.

Rating: Superb

Emmas white ballgown

A white ballgown, trimmed in roses, is described in practically every ball scene in every Regency romance novel ever written, and as Emma is technically a Regency romance novel, it is fitting that Emma appears in a white ballgown, trimmed in roses. Again, the texture of this garment is exquisite, and its a deliberate contrast to Mrs. Eltons gaudy yellow gown. Unlike Mrs. Elton, Emma is not over-trimmed, and the rosettes on her gown fit the nature motif that Emma wears throughout the film.

Rating: Exquisite

Emmas black and yellow feathered cap

Emmas yellow pelisse is wonderful, but this feathered cap is a showstopper. In a film stuffed full of gorgeous bonnets and caps, this feathered number takes the cake. The color, the contrast, the little daisy-like detail over one ear, I WANT THIS CAP FOR MY VERY OWN. The costumes of Emma. are not at all wearableRegency fashion is so particular and fussybut I would find an occasion for this cap.

Rating: Recherch

Hartfield dining room wallpaper

When I saw this room on the big screen, I GASPED. Pink and green floral wallpaper sounds hideous, but the effect in the Hartfield dining roomreally the Firle Place billiards roomis nothing short of stunning. This room defines Georgian extravagance and the slightly ridiculous world of Emma Woodhouse. Matched with the green and pink drapes, this room is the most graphic, jaw-dropping space in the entire film.

Rating: Luxuriously Extravagant

Link:
Ranking the textiles and prints of Emma. - LaineyGossip

Bright, fresh and chic white-painted walls are a design classic. Whether you lean towards crisp minimalism or you want a neutral backdrop for colourful furnishings and statement art, deliberating over the perfect shade of white is that most middle-class of condundrums.

Faced with the prospect of a lockdown, DIY stores reported a surge in sales of paint. However, before you pick up that brush and slap any old white on the wall, consider that subtleties in tone can make a big difference. A bog-standard brilliant white typically has too much of a blue tone, which can make a space feel cold and sterile. Too yellowish and you risk creating a magnolia-hued throwback.

Here we ask interior designers for their go-to white paints.

Panelling and walls are painted in Decorators White by Benjamin Moore (24 for 0.94 litres). Alderney armchairs, from 540, sofa.com

Hollie Bowden

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The best white paint how to choose the right shade of pale - The Times

Originally planned for: May 20

NeoCon

Chicagos signature contract design fair is usually a June highlight, but after announcing an undated postponement, organizers shared that the next NeoCon wont take place until June of 2021. The exact dates are June 1416, 2021.

Originally planned for: June 810

Masterpiece London

Masterpiece London will not take place this summer as planned. The organization's statement read: "We are committed to supporting our exhibitors and visitors, and over the coming weeks will share details of a range of initiatives we will be launching in lieu of this years edition. We look forward to welcoming you to the next edition of Masterpiece London, which will take place from 24 30 June 2021. We wish you all well during this difficult time."

Originally planned for: June 25July 1

Light + Building

Innovations in lighting and building-services technology should have gotten the limelight March 8March 13 at Messe Frankfurt, but Light +Building has been pushed back to September 27October 2.

Originally planned for: March 813; now scheduled for: September 27October 2

Design Shanghai

One of Asias premier design events, the seventh installment of Design Shanghai, spanning the contemporary, classic and luxury, collectibles, kitchen and bathroom, workplace, and new materials and applications realms, has moved from March 1215 to May 2629 at Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center.

Originally planned for: March 1215; now scheduled for: May 2629

Shenzhen International Furniture Exhibition (SIFE)

Planned for March 1821 at Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center, this show, held annually in the southeast China metropolis, has been postponed, with rumors that it will now happen in June.

Originally planned for: March 1821; now scheduled for: TBA

Movelsul Brasil

The Brazilian event was on the cusp of kickoff, but now its unclear when that will happen, due to the COVID-19 disease in Brazil, Movelsul said in a statement.

Originally planned for: March 1619; now scheduled for: TBA

China International Furniture Fair (CIFF)

The 45th rendition of this massive Guangzhou show, originally primed for March 1821 at the Canton Fair Complex, has yet to announce replacement dates.

Originally planned for: March 1821

The Architectural Digest Design Show

This expansive showcase of furniture, accessories, lighting, and kitchen and bath products, peppered with seminars and culinary demonstrations,has been rescheduled from March 1922 to June 2528 at New Yorks Pier 94.

Originally planned for: March 1922; now scheduled for: June 2528

Texas Design Week

Texas Design Week Houston was supposed to kick off March 23. Now? Its going to happen in May.

Originally planned for: March 2330; now scheduled for: May

Miami Home Show

Another March design event to scrap its plans thanks to the growing outbreak in the U.S., the Floridian industry staple was supposed to take place starting March 27.

Originally planned for: March 27-29; now scheduled for: TBA

Art Dubai

Considering its large global presence, the 14th annual art fair has been rescheduled to March 1720, 2021. However, on March 2528, at the Madinat Jumeirah as planned, Global Art Forum and a more Dubai-specific program will unfold, highlighting local and regional gallery presentations.

Originally planned for: March 2528; now scheduled for: March 1720, 2021

DIFFA By Design

Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS announced that it planned to postpone its marquee fundraiser, known as DIFFA By Design. In a statement the organization said, Public health is at the center of DIFFAs mission. Our hearts go out to all of those who have been affected by the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. In light of widespread concerns, including those within the HIV/AIDS community who may be particularly vulnerable, we will always prioritize health and safety.

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All the Design Events That Have Been Canceled or Postponed Due to Coronavirus So Far - Architectural Digest

Beautifully appointed 2 story on a lovely lot. Wood floors on the main and upper levels. The 2 story entry foyer leads to the dining room and study/living room, both with custom shutters, crown and dental molding. The spectacular great room features a wood-burning fireplace, built-in bookcases, bay window, walk-behind wet bar and French doors to patio., The kitchen is the heart of the home with 42-inch cabinets, center island, stainless appliances and adjoining breakfast room with a bay window. The master suite boasts a walk-in closet and luxury bath with double vanities, shower, and soaking tub. Also on the UL are 3 additional bedrooms and a full bath. The lower level is perfect for gatherings with a rec room, game room, walk-behind wet bar, fireplace, full bath, exercise room, and sauna. Additional features include a patio, 3 car rear-entry garage, level lot, sprinkler and security system, and more. Impeccable throughout!

View Listing

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A St. Albans country manor and more: See the most expensive homes that just hit the St. Louis market - STLtoday.com

The direction is social distancing, which seems to be defined as staying out of crowds and at least six feet away from any individual persons. No one but me has been in my car in a couple weeks, so ...

A few evenings ago, well after the pandemic had been declared but before shoppers locally had begun hoarding toilet paper, I was finishing a project for the Resident Interior Decorator and found myself in need of a wood chisel. I had one, but they apparently became lonesome and ran away from home.

Thinking to share some financial love with a local business, I drove to the nearby hardware store, which doubles as a guns and ammo store. The firearms portion of the establishment was filled with customers.

Are you expecting a big event? I asked one young fellow as he finished paying and picked up his case of ammo. I hope not, he replied.

I mentioned the crowd of customers to the clerk who took my money for the chisel.

With all thats going on, theyre stocking up on ammunition, she said.

No trees have yet been accused of stealing toilet paper or transporting illicit coronavirus that has us humans so frightened. I drove to my favorite relaxation location any place where the nearest house is at least a quarter mile away, across a field or forest, preferably invisible.

Im sitting in the car, trusting that it did not go out on its own last night to party with strangers. In the surrounding wetlands minor small depressions filled with waterlogged roots and cattails Red-winged blackbirds announce their presence, a few tentative calls at a time. They are the scouts; the main tribe has not yet arrived.

At the top of a nearby bush, partially hidden in the web of budded branches, a solitary Red-wing looks over his domain. Bored with his solitude, he jumps to a more open vantage issues a call to any young lady interested in collecting amorous verses. Hearing none, he flits back to a lower branch and regains his post.

At the far end of the pasture, a bird races across the view, too far to identify. Likely an accipiter of some sort, maybe, but too light-colored to be a Red-winged hawk. A fellow photographer drove up, stopped to ask through his window whether I had seen the harrier, and drove off.

The distinctive rumble of a Yellow-winged Stearman biplane grows louder over the north ridge. It turns a few cartwheels over the pasture before returning whence it came. The air once again quiet, a Mourning Dove calls to a mate.

Cardinals are in the backyard, and I got a picture of about two dozen robins aerating my neighbors lawn, poking among the grass blades for worms.

But no bluebirds, or mockingbirds yet.

So far (it is Wednesday evening as I write these thoughts), there is no coronavirus reported in our county, but it is to our east and north. Right now, we seem OK just staying away from each other, but there is no telling how long that will last.

Meanwhile, I will wander in the woods as often as I can, self-dosing copious amounts of woods therapy. A study out of Stanford University, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, reported people who walked for 90 minutes in a natural area saw significant reduction in depression.

So if you see me out in the forest, wave. Ill know, even without talking or shaking hands, we are sharing some of the best medicine there is.

John Messeder is an award-winning environmental columnist and social anthropologist, and lives in Gettysburg, PA. He may be contacted at john@johnmesseder.com.

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No Corona in the woods (opinion) | Covid-19 - Gettysburg Times

(MENAFN - IANS)

Mumbai, March 20 (IANS) Bollywood's livewire star Ranveer Singh shared a major throwback image that disclosed that he had tried his hands at theatre before his Bollywood debut role in "Band Baaja Baaraat".

Before Bollywood, Ranveer had worked in an English play called "Carry On At The Keyhole". It was a comedy directed by Dinkar Jani.

Sharing a poster of the play on social media, the actor said: "This is a poster for a small play in which I had a small part and the story goes that I used to be a struggler and I used to sit at Prithvi theatre with two or three others like me. We used to just sit there every day, look for odd jobs. One of them got the information that an audition is happening in a college in Andheri for a small role in a small play and nobody wanted to go -- I said I'll go because I didn't have anything at that time!"

Ranveer added: "I thought to myself -- 'acting acting hoti hai, koi bada chhota kya hota hai' (acting is acting, nothing big or small about it). I went for the audition , I got the part and they were very impressed by my acting. When we put up the performance - I remember one was at St Andrews and even then I felt proud when I was performing at St Andrews stage because I used to perform on St Andrews stage as a student when I was in school."

"So, you know, we had a few performances, I had the role of an interior decorator who was posing to be a homosexual man in order to attract more business and it was an old English double-meaning comedy play that was headlined by Darshan Jariwala and directed by Dinkar Jani," Ranveer recalled.

Ranveer claimed whoever came to watch the play used to be be impressed by his performance.

"I really took it very seriously and I gave it everything. I used to wear some of my own clothes and most of the people who came to watch the play were just friends and family whom I had informed that I am doing this performance and to come and see it, he said, adding: "I remember meeting Yogesh Sanghvi (the producer of the play) at an awards show last year which is when we re-connected and it was a very emotional moment for him and for me - to meet after all those years - just to see his moist eyes , the pride in his eyes - 'tu kahan se kahan pahuch gaya mere dost' and I was also getting a bit emotional when I met him because he used to really like me, he used to be very kind to me."

Ranveer recalled there wasn't much money in theatre but whatever the producer made, he would give to him very generously.

"He was always very fair and kind to me. So it's a very, very fond memory of mine from my struggling days," he summed up.

--IANS

dc/vnc

MENAFN2003202002310000ID1099887763

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Ranveer Singh recalls his tryst with the stage - MENAFN.COM

Dear AD Pro,

My client is sentimental about her furniture and possessions. She wont get rid of anything! How do I exercise some KonMari decluttering (and maintain my vision!) while being respectful of her cherished items?

Reluctant Minimalist

The client is always right except, of course, when the client is wrong. Nearly every designer has come up against a truly terrible heirloom piece (or three) a homeowner is intent on saving.

Even so, as decorator Patrick Mele pointed out to AD earlier this year, Its rude to get rid of peoples things. Clients have led a life before they work with you, so to dictate what should be thrown away is not the best approach.

Manhattan interior designer Josh Greene of Josh Greene Design agrees: I have always said that sometimes you have to let the client win, even if you dont like the piece. Clients appreciate it when you accommodate them and it is an aspect of customer service. If the look is dead wrong, of course, then stick to your guns, says Greene. But if it can be reworked or used in a different room, you come out looking like a magician.

Chicago interior designer Summer Thornton typically takes a harder line: I help them understand that in order to achieve the things they have seen our firm design, it is simply not possible to reuse all existing pieces, she says. If those pieces were so great and worked well, after all, why are they calling me?

Others have had success getting creativeoften very creative. Manhattan interior designer Tina Ramchandani has grown to love, or at least appreciate, repurposing pieces of sentimental value. Many things can be revamped through reupholstering, restaining, or repositioning, she says. When that becomes a struggle, she tries to get the client to pick and choose. I explain that one stand-alone piece can anchor the room, and ultimately be much more impactful than forcing several pieces together that ultimately distract from the new look, she says.

Andrew Torrey, principal of Manhattan interior design firm B.A. Torrey, goes all in with difficult pieces, particularly art. I have the entire piece mounted on a linen board and encased in Plexiglas, he says. Twice Ive taken some gruesome artwork and given it a story, making it more important than it initially appears, and it has yielded incredible results.

Whatever you do, dont wait too long to have the conversation about how you really feel about those old corner breakfronts or the Swarovski crystal animal collection. By addressing the issue early on, Im usually able to include their most beloved possessions in an integrated way, says Boston interior designer Kathie Chrisicos, while also giving a client time to consider an alternative. Maybe theres another home, a basement or storage area, or a relative who might appreciate their cherished possessions?

AD PRO

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Your Client Wont Get Rid of Their Stuff. Now What? - Architectural Digest

Homeowners looking to renovate their residence often look to spruce up the bathroom as part of this work. An improved bathroom will be functional and beautiful, and can easily improve the home's value.

You might consider putting in a new bathtub so you can enjoy a peaceful soak whenever you need to relax. If so, you'll need to decide whether to get a built-in or freestanding tub. Both options have their advantages and disadvantages, and your choice should come down to your own taste and needs.

Built-in

Built-in tubs have water supplied by plumbing in a wall, so they need to be installed where a faucet can be easily located. The interior design site Homedit says they're unfinished on at least two sides and need to placed against a wall, in a corner, or in an enclosure.

Naturally, this limits the places where a bathtub can be placed. However, it can also lead to a more efficient use of space. Laurysen Kitchens, a Canadian company, says built-in tubs will be flush to a wall, opening up more space elsewhere in the room.

The efficiency of built-in tubs has generally made them a more common choice in bathrooms. The plumbing for the feature is also readily available, and the bulk of it is concealed within the wall.

Built-in tubs can easily serve multiple purposes. Homedit says they can be used for showering simply by installing a showerhead higher on the wall. It also tends to be easier to incorporate built-in shelving for storage.

One disadvantage to built-in bathtubs is their visual appeal. Laurysen Kitchens says there are usually limited options for built-in materials, and that the design options tend to pale in comparison to freestanding tubs.

You can still create an attractive surround to make more of a visual statement, but this can lead to other problems. Building, sealing, and mounting this feature will require more effort and cost. Audrey Bauer, writing for the home design site Apartment Therapy, says a bolder surround can also potentially take up more room, eliminating the benefit of efficiency.

Freestanding

Freestanding bathtubs are finished on all sides and can stand alone in the room. The flexibility of freestanding bathtubs is arguably their biggest advantage. The bathroom fixture line Moen says they can be located in the center of a room or anywhere else you'd like to place them.

Placing the tub anywhere you like also means it's easier to install. Built-in tubs usually require a contractor and decorator to create the tile, surrounds, and other features. Laurysen Kitchens says freestanding tubs just require a plumber to connect the water pipes.

The tub is designed to be a striking feature in the bathroom. Bauer says there are a variety of designs and materials available, and the bathtub may even be a focal point in the room. Freestanding tubs also tend to be a natural choice for creating a spa-like bathroom, as they provide plenty of room for a soak.

Many freestanding tubs are made of heavy materials, such as cast iron or marble. Moen says this quality, combined with the weight of the water when filled, means you may need to reinforce the floor to ensure that it can handle the weight.

While freestanding tubs have more flexibility in where they can be placed, they also typically take up more room. Homedit says the tub usually needs to be supplied by a plumbing fixture coming out of the floor instead of one that can be efficiently built into the wall.

Unless you're taking a bath every day, a freestanding tub may not be too practical for your daily bathing needs. It's more difficult to store soap, shampoo, and other items unless you use a bath shelf or nearby freestanding storage option like a shower caddie. Laurysen Kitchens says it's also more difficult to mount a shower to a freestanding tub, and that installing a shower curtain makes the setup look considerably less appealing.

Freestanding tubs also tend to be less friendly to those with mobility issues. It's much more difficult to get into and out of freestanding bathtubs than it is with built-in tubs.

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Built-in bathtubs vs. freestanding ones - News from southeastern Connecticut - theday.com