"Life is made up of many routine events; what makes each of us unique is the way we choose to celebrate them." Thus author and design authority Diane Von Furstenberg shares her fascination with the daily rituals common to us all that were her inspiration for The Bath. In this sumptuous coffee-table treasure, featuring 175 original color photographs of extraordinary baths and bathrooms around the world, Von Furstenberg explores the inextricable link between home design and personal well-being.

The Bath's five chapters offer an ideal mix of useful fact and escapist fantasy. They trace the history of the bath and its rich folklore, showcase and inspire innovative design ideas, and offer five natural recipes for do-it-yourself bath aromatherapy. Von Furstenberg starts with "The Source of the Bath" and "The Private Bath," and goes on to "Thermal and Public Baths," "Bathroom Suites," and "Bathing." Learn how ancient cultures embraced the primary needs of hygiene and pleasure: Egyptians bathed to purify themselves before daily prayers; Greeks believed in the fortifying powers of cold showers; and Romans saw the bath as supremely social. Private baths, once the province of kings, are now taken for granted. Von Furstenberg guides you through world-renowned thermal baths and spas, from Italy to Budapest, where mineral-rich waters and mud baths have legendary healing powers.

Bathing is a sacred personal ritual, a private time when the senses are indulged. Marrying ancient ceremony and modern technology, the bath has become a unique sanctuary offering endless design possibilities. A companion to Von Furstenberg's popular book Beds, The Bath takes us across time and around the world, to remind us that as our lives get ever more frenetic, the ultimate vacation for the senses is right down the hall.