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Bath
product manufacturers are making it easier to bring home
the serenity of the spa lifestyle and its health
benefits. The comfort revolution that began decades ago
with the introduction of personal whirlpools now extends
throughout the bathroom. Today, you can enjoy the
amenities of a five-star spa in your own home thanks to
new, customizable fixtures and products that turn an
ordinary bathroom into a haven.
define
your space
Less
is more when it comes to planning a home spa. This is
good news for those who think their bathroom may be too
small or too large for spa-like fixtures and
fittings.
Bathroom
product manufacturers like Porcher offer minimalist and
modular solutions for bringing serenity to spaces of any
size. Porcher's Tetsu Collection &endash; a Japanese word
for "peace" &endash; features exotic natural woods from
Africa and the Orient with its collection of furniture,
fixtures, accessories and tub surrounds. For example,
pre-assembled Tetsu wall-hung units have cabinet doors
that open to reveal large grooming mirrors and smaller
cosmetic mirrors. The furniture also has built-in
plumbing for lavatories or vessel sinks that can be
accented with sleek wall-mounted faucets. This means
there's no need to tear down and rebuild existing
walls.
The
key to creating your personal bath retreat is to reduce
clutter by selecting products with clean, smooth
surfaces. The quieter and more organized the design, the
calmer you'll make the environment. One idea: select
built-in storage whenever possible. Choices run the gamut
from the woody warmth of a Scandinavian-styled sauna to
minimal, Zen-inspired spaces outfitted with sleek,
modular bath furniture.
indulge
in special comforts
The
comfort culture in the home spa includes small and big
indulgences &endash; everything from soft furniture to
wall-mounted towel warmers to built-in sound systems.
Porcher's Tetsu Collection, for example, features a
comfortable chair with built-in storage and a removable
cushion that flips over to become a tray for holding
aromatherapy candles or placing a cup of herbal
tea.
You
can also incorporate other creature comforts into your
home spa. Affordable, ultra-thin electric systems offer
luxury underfoot by providing radiant heat through stone
and tile floors. Customized shower units and tubs with
multiple adjustable massaging water-jet heads or
hand-held units provide all sorts of hydrotherapy
options, as do classic Japanese soaking tubs. Built-in
shower seats of various shapes and sizes add yet another
level of comfort to the well-designed spa bath. Of
course, oils, bath salts and plush towels and robes round
out the spa experience.
set
the mood
Proper
lighting that can adapt to the mood and time of day is a
must in the home spa. Consider easy-to-install dimmer
lights or chromotherapy, a new option that's available in
some tubs, shower systems and sinks. Chromotherapy
products shine streams of changing color hues and
intensities through standing and running water. Painting
(or resurfacing) the bathroom walls in a soothing color,
such as a watery blue or a soft green, also changes the
mood with a few simple strokes. But there's a reason why
white remains a classic for hygienic and healthful
spaces. It inevitably clears the mind.
escape
and enjoy
Wellness
and well-being are in style. But living well doesn't
necessarily mean living large. Today's relaxing bath
environment is a place where it's possible to appreciate
and achieve all of the luxuries that contribute to
physical and emotional fitness. Fortunately, in today's
market, there's something to suit nearly every need,
preference and budget when it comes to creating your own
home spa. |