The Concrete Bathtub that Elle Decor Names “the unexpected star” of The Madison
Taylor Sheridan’s new series stars Michelle Pfeiffer, Kurt Russell – and a Native Trails concrete bathtub
In its recent coverage of The Madison, Elle Decor draws attention to a detail that design insiders immediately recognize: the bathtub is not background.
In Taylor Sheridan’s newest series—set between Manhattan polish and Montana wilderness—the NativeStone Avalon concrete bathtub offers a compelling juxtaposition, bridging two very different worlds.
Avalon doesn’t just sit in the background. It anchors the room, shapes the mood, and, in more than a few moments, becomes part of the story itself. In fact, the tub appears three times in the trailer alone — a visual refrain that signals just how central this space is to the characters’ lives.
And yes, there’s a scene where both Michelle Pfeiffer and Kurt Russell share the tub, proving what we’ve always known: great design isn’t just seen, it’s experienced. As production designer Charisse Cardenas notes with a wink, “you could fit two people in there rather easily.”
Chosen with Intention
As Elle Décor reports, Cardenas selected the Avalon after reviewing more than a dozen options. The brief was precise: a bathroom that feels effortlessly luxurious, grounded in natural materials, and balanced between masculine and feminine energy.
“There is a fine line between a bathtub being feminine and sort of masculine, and this fit both,” says Cardenas. “We used travertine and tiles from Ann Sacks and hardware from Waterworks, all top-of-the-line products,” Cardenas says. Notably, the bathtub matched the rooms ‘neutral tones and fancy finishes,’ while bringing an organic, grounding presence as the room’s focal point.
“I’m an intuitive person,” she adds. “And I immediately knew I loved this one.”
Crafted for More Than the Camera
What resonates on screen is precisely what defines Avalon in real life.
Its curved form and deep interior invite immersion, while thick NativeStone® walls provide natural insulation, keeping water warmer, longer. Each award-winning tub is handcrafted from a blend of cement and natural jute fiber, then shaped, polished, and sealed by hand.
The result is a bathtub that feels – and is – substantial. As Elle Decor reports, that quality shaped the set itself. “The crew had to reinforce the floor to make sure it was strong enough,” Cardenas says. “We brought in the tub first before we built the windows and then built the rest of the set around it.” That weight is part of the story, suggesting permanence, intention, and design that’s meant to last.
Designed for Real Life
Cardenas may be, as Elle Decor puts it, “a self-described bathtub aficionado,” but she regrettably didn’t get her own turn in the concrete bathtub. “It would have been great,” she laughs, “except this one was surrounded by 200 crew members.”
Fortunately, the Avalon’s appeal does not end on set. While Avalon may now have a Hollywood résumé, it was always meant for everyday rituals — the kind that turn routine into restoration. Available in 62″, 66″, and 72″ sizes and ten finishes, it is equally at home in both residential and hospitality spaces.
When Design Becomes Story
There’s something fitting about a concrete bathtub becoming the unexpected star of a show rooted in contrast — urban and rural, polished and raw, control and surrender. Cardenas understood this early on. “There was a natural element to it,” she explains, “which tied in the world of the Montana cabin with this modern, high-end apartment.”
Because the best design does exactly that. It bridges worlds. Holds tension. Creates space — for connection, reflection, a moment that lingers longer than expected.
In The Madison, the Avalon is more than a set piece. In a space meant to feel “luxuriously posh,” it does exactly what Cardenas needed it to do: hold the room. And now, thanks to Elle Décor and a few unforgettable scenes, it’s having its moment.