Design Report
The Look of Luxury
Replicate the look of an exotic suite in Bali, a futuristic Italian hotel bath or a lavish spa room in Paris without so much as crossing an ocean. In our view, “bathtub travel” deserves a nice long soak in a luxurious tub

“The bathroom is much more than a place where we clean our bodies,” writes Alberto Alessi in the concept statement for Stefano Giovanni’s Il Bagno Alessi One, a tub and fixture collection defined by sensuous curved forms. As Alessi describes it, the bath is also a room that belongs to dreamtime and play.

Captivated by the idea of an oasis for the imagination, we look to faraway destinations for creative design ideas for the bath: a royal suite in Ubud, Bali; an urban hotel “pod” in Rimini, Italy—featuring Il Bagno from Alessi; and a spa room in Paris, France.

While these hotel bathrooms differ dramatically in style, all of the designs embrace simplicity, and every aspect appears considered with care. Although we couldn’t jump on a jet to test the tubs ourselves, we did call on local design experts for materials, fixtures and furnishings similar to some of the design elements shown in these sumptuous spaces.

Get the Balinese Retreat Look

At Shambhala Estate at Begawan Giri in Ubud, Bali, the Royal Suite of the Umabona residence (House of the Earth) beckons with a luxurious stone tub with a hand-carved pergola arching gracefully above it. Designed by interior architect Koichiro Ikebuchi, the room displays an artful mix of Asian and European influences. Earth-toned paint and tile accented with the warmth of wood are perfect in an atmosphere made for rest, relaxation and rejuvenation. According to Shambhala Estate owners, the COMO Group, Ikebuchi took inspiration from the Majapahit palaces of ancient Indonesian kings.

Get the Mod Urban Pod Look

At the opposite end of the spectrum is the ultrafuturistic bathroom at the duoMo Hotel in Rimini, on Italy’s northeast coast. Created by Ron Arad, the “pod” is a wet room with a teak-slatted timber floor and a large circular glazed window that looks through to the bed on the other side of the wall. The curvy porcelain forms of Alessi bathware are the star attractions, with a range of white and rainbow-hued lighting for moods tranquil or upbeat.

Get the Spa Look

Colored lighting also creates an inviting atmosphere in the bubbling spa bath at Hotel Sezz in Paris. In this bath—neither the quiet sanctuary of Shambhala Estate’s Royal Suite nor as uptempo as duoMO’s pod—Hotel Sezz designer Christophe Pillet blends an avant-garde attitude with cosmopolitan charm, Parisian style. Beautiful khaki-gray stone from Cascais in Portugal is central to the aesthetic. Sezz’s chic powder room features a modern glass lavatory, hot-pink mosaic tile and matching candy-colored walls that speak to the heartbeat of a romantic city.

The promise of beautiful design in beautiful hotels has been known to create a desire for a change of scenery, whether you’re ready to pick up some tile samples and paint swatches, or pack your bags for a firsthand look. But here’s the thing: Although armchair travelers have been around for ages, in our view “bathtub travel” is a concept that holds more water—and the benefit of a nice long soak in a splendid tub.

Design Details

COMO Shambhala Estate at Begawan Giri; reservations: telephone +62 361 978 888, fax +62 361 978 889, e-mail res@cse.comoshambhala.bz

DuoMO Hotel and Hotel Sezz; reservations 800-337-4685 or res@designhotels.com