The first showers were of course waterfalls. But since sanitary facilities have been moved indoors, we've been trying to improve nature with imaginative bathing options – be it in the stream or in the steam bath. Lately, however, some style-conscious designers are trading in the minimalist, high-tech spa look for something more quirky and historic. We call it the “conservatory shower”: a chic fixture that replaces the traditional seamless glass enclosure with a birdcage-like frame. It's a look that dates back to the Golden Age, and designers like Pamela Shamshiri and Sara Story source their own versions from architectural restoration shops or commission the production of brand new models.
Story, an AD100 honoree, chose to redo her home in New York's Hudson Valley. “We had combined two rooms to create a master bathroom, but with that arrangement, a shower along a perimeter wall just didn't make sense,” she says. The sculptural statement of a conservatory shower felt right with its marble form and polished nickel frame. “It’s a unique focal point for this bathroom,” she says. “The highlight is often the tub. But here, in the shower, you have 360-degree views of the countryside and a wood-burning fireplace. It’s pretty magical.”
Sara Story's marble-drenched bathroom in upstate New York features an antique cage shower.
Courtesy of Ellis Sotheby's International Realty
All this magic wasn't easy. “It's always much more [difficult] “To create something sculptural,” she laughs. “And the shower doors are rounded, so it was a big challenge because they had to move around the rounded shower walls. I made a bespoke metal shower container for shampoo and conditioner, which to me feels very British, like those grand old hotels in London.” The result was extremely effective – although Story advises: “I'd cover all costs upfront next time. “
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For professionals who want the real thing, Steve Zaborski of Zaborski Emporium in Kingston, New York, has a few rows of vintage sunroom showers that he found at flea markets and estate sales. “I got one from Margaret Carnegie Miller’s summer home,” he says. The shower was in the personal bathroom of industrialist Andrew Carnegie's only child. “They are hard to come by because they are usually over 100 years old. Some need renovation, others are in pretty bad shape. Most have surface material only, as they are made of nickel-plated brass and have a cast iron or earthenware base. It depends on how good the result you want is.”
Their scarcity often drives up the price, although Zaborski points out that people generally don't worry about cost when looking for conservatory showers. Even more concerning is space—you need a bathroom big enough to open the door and grab a towel, not to mention accommodate all the plumbing—and whether your home has the water pressure to handle all of it to supply water pipes with electricity. Still, installation is fairly easy, he says, since they tend to come apart into labeled pieces. And he notes that the shower is generally no heavier than the cast-iron tubs influencers are soaking all over their feeds.
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