In this elegant Italian-influenced bathroom, a drop-in soaking tub is set into a ceramic tile deck that extends up the wall in a surround consisting of a single row of large tiles. A decorative tile accent row tops the installation.

In a relaxation tub such as this one, a tub surround does not need to cover more than about 12 inches of the wall. A bathtub with a shower, however, would require a much more extensive surround.

In the right hands, tub surrounds can become works of art.