Five ways to reuse a clawfoot tub
We have two clawfoot bathtubs in my house. There will come a day that our renovations will lead us to replacing at least on of the tubs. As a fan of the heavy baths with their unique talloned perches, I will not be tossing the extra tub, but rather reusing it. I have been looking for ideas and here are five:
- My father, appealing to my love of religious kitsch, has been encouraging me to create Virgin Mary shrine for years by burying half of the tub and getting a yard statue of the holy figure.
- Turn it into a chair by removing a side but keeping all four feet. The result is quite lovely.
- A neighbor of mine has a clawfoot tub blooming with flowers on the sidewalk in front of their house. This might not work in every neighborhood, but the tubs do make great planters.
- I have also see bathtubs used as ponds complete with lily pads. The option to sink -- or not to sink -- is yours.
- I'd imagine that you could cut a hole in the side and flip it over for a doghouse. It would be weather proof and last quite a long time -- if I had a dog.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-06-2008 @ 3:21AM
Michael - GreenLivingTips.com said...
Hi Kelly, I'm not sure if this in the case in the USA, but in Australia, clawfoot tubs are very much sought after as a collectors item, with people paying thousands of dollars for a bathtub in good condition. Might want to check that aspect out before turning the tub into something else :)
Reply
7-07-2008 @ 9:15AM
kelly.leahy said...
Oh yes! I knew I was missing something!
7-07-2008 @ 9:14AM
kelly.leahy said...
Clawfoot tubs do have some value but where I live it is more like hundreds than thousands. Given how many claw foot tubs there are in my area, I wouldn't get a whole lot.
7-07-2008 @ 9:11AM
ben kamobi said...
They also great to put on the beach, fill with water, and then watch the sun set - as long as you have taken your proper erectile dysfunction pill.
Reply
7-08-2008 @ 6:46PM
Jodi said...
If you have kids, you can make an awesome reading spot for them, or for adults even, with a clawfoot tub. We had one in elementary school, and it was awesome. Just make a custom cushioned cover to fit over the tub and fill with pillows.
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7-08-2008 @ 6:49PM
kelly.leahy said...
Oh, that IS a good idea.