Against the Grain

Bathing Beauties

Wood’s resilience might be tested by fire and water, but when properly finished and maintained, it’s a material that can be used to make almost anything – even a bathtub. For centuries, wood soaking tubs have been popular in Japan, which has a tradition of therapeutic bathing. When it comes to outfitting a modern bathroom, however, most people prefer a polished appearance over rustic wood. Regardless of the style, there is an interesting variety of high-end options.

A Canadian company with production facilities in Latvia, Aquatica offers several bathtub styles in six types of wood: walnut, padouk, sapele, oak, ash and maple. The True Ofuro is a Japanese-style tub in a choice of four sizes, from 43 to 61.5 inches long and up to 37.25 inches deep, holding up to 155 gallons of water. The longest tub style, Karolina 2, is almost 71 inches long and 27 inches deep, holding 68 gallons. The wood tubs are constructed of LegnoX, a proprietary resin impregnation process derived from the boat building industry.

Established in 1960, Vancouver-based Wasou Japanese Design produces traditional Hinoki (Japanese cypress) tubs. The untreated, handcrafted wood bathtubs can be ordered in a choice of shapes: box, rounded corner, deluxe rounded corner, barrel type, oval or Japanese modern. Custom designs also can be arranged, and local installation is provided. Price quotes are determined by wood grade selection, size, features and options such as headrest, backrest, seat, handles and recirculation system. The company also designs and installs Shoji screens and Tatami rooms.

NK Woodworking & Design is a Seattle-based business that is best known for its award-winning wood staircases, but the company also makes artistic, handcrafted wood bathtubs. The founder, Nathie Katzoff, was trained as a boat builder in Maine and uses many of the same techniques for architectural applications and custom furnishings. Each tub – a choice of five styles – takes at least 300 hours to build, using sapele and sustainable hardwoods that are finished with a specialized clear composite barrier. The largest of the tubs, the Lotus (which comes in three sizes), stretches an impressive 84 inches long.

With its North American showroom in Vancouver, Baumeister Eurotech is based in Germany. The company produces 10 sink designs and six freestanding wooden bath models, including a unique corner tub (the Vienna) and an asymmetrical oval (the Barcelona). Eleven woodgrain options include amaranth, zebrano, teak and smoked oak. Most of the tubs are between 71 and 75 inches long. The wood is sealed using a patented nano coating that inhibits dirt, mineral and bacteria buildup.

1. Karolina 2 by Aquatica aquaticabath.ca

2. Custom bath design by

Wasou Japanese Design wasoudesign.com

3. Lotus by NK

Woodworking & Design nkwoodworking.com

4. Paris by Baumeister Eurotech baumeistereurotech.com

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