Free-standing tubs that allow homeowners to soak in style.

The bathtub has become the showcase element of the bathroom, thanks to a proliferation of unique new textures, materials, shapes and sizes. From thousand-pound tubs hand-chiseled out of blocks of stunning silver travertine extracted from quarries across the globe, to tubs swathed in clusters of Swarovski crystals, there is no limit to the length people will go to soak in style.

Look for interesting tub shapes. Conceptualized by Italian designers Ludovica and Roberto Palomba for the Swiss bathroom specialist Laufen, the Palomba Collection skillfully depicts geometric and organic shapes in bathtub design.

In producing the design for a freestanding tub, Ludovica and Roberto Palomba took their cues from the sea and refer to it as a “fingerprint of nature.” While the walls of the tub are of constant thickness, the bottom of the tub looks as though a cube has been rounded out, symbolizing the erosive effect of water.

The bathtub from the new ILBAGNOALESSI dOt collection, which was conceptualized by Dutch Architect Wiel Arets for Alessi and created by Laufen, features geometric forms, and a round, dot-like recess, which adorns nearly every piece in the collection. The dot is a functional characteristic, similar to the dot on the “i” in this unique bathroom series. The bathtub appears reduced to completely flat surfaces and is architectural in appearance.

Geological forms and materials remind us of natural environments, which are ideal for a relaxing spa retreat. Stone Forest’s new Oval Soaking Tub, which is carved from a single block of black granite, complete with an integral seat, is custom crafted to individual requirements. Large cores are removed to specific depths creating the rough tub interior. It is then ground and polished down to a high gloss finish.

How does granite fair in the bathroom? Granite is a non-absorbent material that is resistant to most stains, retains luster, requires little maintenance and is impervious to most chips and cracks.

Give old-world tradition an update with the latest medium in tub technology. Bathtubs by Six Eleven are composed of a technologically advanced material. This rare proprietary-formulated cast polymer requires labor-intensive production utilizing a formula has only been mastered by Six Eleven. These unique tubs, like the Tuscany ― a clawfoot model ― are thermo-insulated, thus requiring less energy to heat, and which in turn retains hot water longer than any cast iron or acrylic bathtub.