Bathrooms with style

I get teased on a regular basis by the boyfriend because although I love my books, so many of them bear the marks of my rather violent affection. They have watermarks where I've dropped them in the bath, small tears in the covers from where they get bashed in my bag, receipts and tickets marking the last page I got to as I usually read two or three at once, sand in the spines from the beach, stains where they've been splashed with wine...the list goes on. I'm never without a book - indeed, I'm more careful about making sure I have a book when I go anywhere than mundane things like lipstick. However, I can't wait to get the bathroom in the new house finished as the boyfriends mother has kindly donated a very classical, free-standing bathtub big enough for two that will be situated in front of an open fire (*swoon*). So my poor books are likely due a few more soakings as I fully intend to hop in the tub as soon as it is installed to stay there until I resemble a prune. I hope that the plumbers aren't squemish... I won't be able to post photos of progress until the room is painted so until then, here are some of the looks inspiring me at the moment. I especially love the idea of having an armchair in the room somewhere:

By Clodagh, on www.housedesignblog.net

The myfireplaces blog has some amazing ideas - I love the modern simplicity of the fireplace above but the classical design below is much more spa-like.

South Sea Republic (based in Singapore) have another modern take on the idea:

However, we're restoring a period property and the (original) grate we have is narrow and cast iron to to keep some of the period character, ours might end up more like the below (found at the Scottsdale Art Factory in the US):