Lovely Outdoor Shower in Toronto Is an Oasis
Project Design: Liz Doyle Build: Steve Leckie Additional Text: Liz Doyle Photos and Text: Ben Westheimer
This beautiful bathroom is tucked away on a quiet High Park street in Toronto. The owners wanted to continue the bathroom outdoors, with a wooden shower in the backyard. It’s perfectly placed among the gorgeous greenery of the yard. The afternoon light falls on the cedar and makes for a serene outdoor shower experience that doesn’t feel like you’re in a city. The heat of the Toronto summer makes this an especially welcome addition. In a city filled with concrete and tall buildings, moments in the outdoor shower can totally reorient a day and acts as a restful reset. Simple projects like this with huge impact are an inspiration to create.
The shower’s floor is made from red bricks which compliments the cedar and adds to the texture of the space.
“I wanted the outdoor shower to feel like a little escape—simple, private but open, and connected to the yard. What I love most is how natural it feels, like you’re rinsing off right in the middle of the garden… and apparently my dog Ziggy loves it too, since he keeps trying to cut in line for his own ‘spa day.’”
- Liz Doyle
A word from the designer
Every material counts
All the materials in the shower were thoughtfully chosen. Cedar wood creates a spa like aroma as the water hits the wood. Salvaged red brick is the perfect floor for a spa sensation as the shower runs.
The platform for the towel hooks is also made from wood, allowing the wooden design to shine throughout the shower. The stones along the edges of the red brick are placed to add to the outdoor feel. The placement of the shower nestles it between the greenery, and while not really a material, the green leaves interact with the wood in a wonderful way.
Bronze piping was used as the rail for the shower curtain because it looks great against the green surrounding it. The materials combined create a picturesque shower experience in the heart of a busy city.
The details matter
Every detail chosen creates the overall atmosphere of the shower. Copper rail for the curtain brings out the warmth from the brick and lighting in the evening - a nice contrast from the trees. An elegant rainfall shower head is the perfect companion for the handles below which connect to exposed piping. The mix of modern elements like the shower head and curtain, combined with natural materials is what makes this shower special. It doesn’t feel out of place, but feels unique enough to be a little oasis within the backyard.
Integrated towel hooks for convenience - and staying true to the wooden theme with the backboard.
"When the water hits the cedar, the whole shower blooms with a warm woodsy aroma."
The light quality
During the hot summer months in Toronto, being able to use the shower at night is essential. When the sun sets, the added light bulbs take over. The evening glow reflecting off the natural materials is amazing. Whether rinsing off after a run, showering midday or in the evening, the light is always something special in this shower.
“The shower at sunset is beautiful.
The bricks glow, the wood shines, and the metal reflects.”
When the sun sets, the added lights take over.
Dogs love it too!
