Former Boat Builder Currently Makes Stunning Wooden Bathtubs

Oct 30, 2020 by apost team

Nathie Katzoff, the artist and designer behind these gorgeous tubs from Seattle started off as a boat maker. But he now spends his days making bathtubs with an aesthetic value unlike anything seen before. This story from February 2020 is sure to pique your interest. After all, Nathie's craftsmanship is a rare but incredible talent, and how long has it been since you've last seen a wooden tub this beautiful? 

What's more, Kazoff uses his knowledge of building and woodworking to make sure the bathtubs are both practical and eco-friendly. He recently spoke to Iconic Life about his life and work.

Katzoff says he chooses wood for his constructions because it is the sustainable material he desires for building bathtubs that will last many years. He explains wood is a product of the earth, and when timber is harvested and treated properly, its life expectancy is almost forever.

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It may be no surprise that Katzoff began his career as an artist.

He tells Iconic Life, “I always had a good sense of proportion, color, space, and design, without having had any formal education."

After a few teenage trips with friends, he found himself interested in woodworking. This led to a period in Katzoff's life when he worked as a shipbuilder. Katzoff is now the owner of a custom furniture business and works daily at a craft he loves.

It is no easy feat to create a wooden tub with an aesthetic value that will stand up to many years of usage. The wood must be able to handle frequent use and endure being exposed to constant water. Katzoff has mastered the process.

Katzoff will not share what he treats the wood with, but he does share a couple of ingredients that make up his secret formula: he only uses hardwoods certified by the FSC. He says in the interview that many local trees have been recycled to complete his work. He explains the result is sustainable pieces that do not end up in a trash pile when current styles change.

Katzoff says each piece produced by his company is with the thought it will remain with the family for many years. He is rewarded handsomely for the time and attention it takes to construct the bathtubs. The price of Katzoff's creations starts at $30,000, according to Seattle Magazine.

The most popular wood used is sapele mahogany, which is designed by hand and takes hundreds of hours of work. The great thing about wood is that it insulates much better than porcelain or metal tubs, which keeps the water warmer for much longer. 

Historically, bathtubs were not fixed in a bathroom but were moveable accessories that were taken out whenever they were needed, and generally made of tin, copper, or zinc (sometimes they were made of more than one metal), according to Old House Online. This was before indoor plumbing was available, so once people started having running water in their homes, bathtubs started looking and feeling very different. They also became more widely available and readily embraced.

There mwere any attempts to create bathtubs that could withstand frequent use, as metals surfaces were hard to clean, but more importantly, metal bathtubs were prone to corrosion. This gave way to the porcelain bathtub in the 1920s: a bathtub that was equal parts easy to clean, non-corrosive, and absolutely stunning in its look. 

Before long, bathtubs became a modern fixture in a bathroom as opposed to a stand-alone accessory. This trend continues today as well, and there are thousands of models, sizes, and colors to choose from. The one thing that has remained for almost a century now is a porcelain bathtub in our bathrooms, which while convenient for sure, doesn't always add a touch of luxury that many people desire. 

This is where Nathie Katzoff's gorgeous creations make an entrance. They are made of sustainable materials, last for a long time, and are beautifully created. They add opulence and class not just to a bathroom but also to elevate the entire home's architectural design and feel. “We first approached our tubs by coming from a place where we were interested in creating a visually striking sculpture that just happens to also be functional,” Katzoff explains. 

Certainly, Nathie Katzoff has found a beautiful way to combine art, aesthetic value, functional value, and sheer creative genius in creating these masterpieces. To know more about him and his work, his website can be found here.

Would you consider a custom bathtub by Katzoff? Tell your friends, as they may also enjoy seeing the craftsmanship and beautiful design of this unique woodworking creativity.