Go Au Naturel in the Bath With Beautiful Stone

Using natural materials is all the rage in design. In bathrooms, for example, rocks and stones plucked from the great outdoors are finding their way underfoot and on the walls, and are being fashioned into dramatic tubs and sinks. Using river rocks, polished pebbles or fieldstone is a wonderful way to add texture and earthy color to your bath. And the choice can be practical, too: Pebble tiles can prevent slipping around a freestanding tub and provide a subtle massage to the soles of your feet.

This expansive glass-enclosed shower, complete with views of the Hollywood Hills, boasts a lovely dark-gray Jerusalem stone wall — and a boulder-like lava rock shower bench. The floor is limestone with minimal joint grouting, which makes the modern freestanding tub seem to float in the airy space.


Tennessee fieldstone adorns this rough-hewn shower wall, with its Hastings Ala Waterfall Showerhead. Striated Black Rust slate runs up the other wall and along the floor, adding to the grotto effect. A teak bench is available for those who want to sit while enjoying the spray,


The pebble tile under this tub looks good and provides a slip-resistant surface for someone climbing out of the tub. The tile also extends into the floor of the glassed-in shower.

Worried about cleaning the pebbles in your own bath? Experts recommend applying a penetrating stone sealer after installation and using a mild detergent on a weekly basis.


This rustic backsplash, with its twin mirrored medicine cabinets, adds interest — and texture — to a Phoenix bathroom. It’s made of Stackstone, a mesh-backed quartzite that’s shown here in Golden Gate. The cabinets are alder with a clear finish, and they are topped with a Caesarstone quartz counter.


The showstopper in this spacious Hawaiian bathroom is the Stone Forest Oval Bathtub, carved out of a chunk of blue-gray granite — although the exquisite, storage-packed double vanity is envy inducing as well. Note the architect’s use of straw matting between the ceiling trusses — another nice touch!


Hefty moss rock, readily available in the western and mountain regions of the United States, surrounds this tub and runs up the back wall. The rocks are mortared only on the back, so there are no visible mortar joints, making it look more authentic.


In this very Zen bath, there’s red polished pebble mosaic tile on the floor of the shower (it’s said to have a massaging effect on the feet). It also forms a “rug” on the floor.

Scabos travertine tiles in a split-face finish accent the shower walls, contrasting beautifully with the coppery porcelain tile.


The sinks in this Indonesian bathroom are fashioned from hollowed-out river rocks, so they are not identical, adding to their appeal. Note the spout-like faucets, which the designer custom made from gray andesite stone. The material melds well with the rest of the fixtures, including the warm reclaimed-wood countertop, mirror and very cool sconce.


Although it might be difficult to tear your eyes away from that sculptural wood-framed mirror, the gray pebble wall offers a dramatic backdrop. These pebbles usually come in 6- by 12-inch sheets, which are easily attached with regular thinset. An application of wet-look sealer will enhance the stones’ color. Adding another material to the mix are the bronze vessel sink and faucet (from Rocky Mountain Hardware).


Who needs a vanity when you have a clever designer to create this stonecentric design solution? It’s just a big rock with a sink carved out of the center, which is attached to the wall with steel supports. The plumbing is accessed through a closet behind this powder room.


There’s nothing like a dramatic stone wall in a bathroom — especially if it contains a fireplace. Add in the simple white Porcher soaking tub, reclaimed oak floors and iron pendant from Circa Lighting, and you’ve got an irresistibly romantic spot for whiling away the hours.

More: Dream Spaces: 14 Fabulous Indoor-Outdoor Bathrooms

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