Immersed in sculpture

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A soothing soak at the end of the day can refresh the soul, when surrounded by works of art in limestone and wood

View of the passage way which connects the architecture, ceiling, floor, flooring, interior design, lobby, real estate, wall, gray, brown — View of the passage way which connects the master suite to the open-plan living area.

View of limestone bathtub with faucetry, tiled flooring, architecture, bathroom, ceiling, daylighting, estate, floor, home, house, interior design, real estate, window, gray

View of limestone bathtub with faucetry, tiled flooring, apartment, architecture, bathroom, ceiling, daylighting, estate, floor, home, house, interior design, living room, real estate, room, window, gray

View of master bedroom which features custom made bed, bed frame, bedroom, ceiling, floor, furniture, hardwood, home, interior design, living room, room, wood, wood flooring, brown, gray

View of master bedroom which features custom made architecture, bedroom, ceiling, hearth, home, house, interior design, living room, real estate, room, gray, white

A bathtub can be more than a place to soak tired bones. With vision and the right materials it can be a work of art, especially when set against a background of trees and a great view.

Laurence Dreiband, the designer and owner, created a sculptural environment for this master bathroom, in the hills above California's San Fernando Valley.

In designing the tub, he juxtaposed slabs of Cascon bleu limestone, duplicating the angles of the house. The limestone is also used on the floor.

"I looked for natural materials, such as the limestone, which is embedded with fossils," Dreiband says.

Walnut and white oak also appear in the bathroom. The cross-grained texture of wood softens the stone. In keeping with the home's open-plan design, the walnut floor continues into the bathroom without interruption.

"I thought about a door, but the area is so private that it wasn't necessary," he says.