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THE BEST SPA-LIKE BATHROOMS DON’T JUST LOOK THE PART, THEY’RE ALSO PACKED WITH INNOVATIVE IDEAS TO HELP YOU RELAX
FEATURE Hugh Metcalf
When we talk about turning our bathrooms into home spas, the focus is often on the materiality. Yet, there’s much more that goes into the best examples of spa bathrooms that can make it feel like you’re gettingafull range of treatments in the sanctuary of your own home.
While aspa-like bathroom might have, at one time, focused around a bathtub with bubble jets, this is an idea that has fallen out of fashion somewhat. These tubs might have been used in every new bathroom 10 or 15 years ago, but in reality some were noisy, high-maintenance and off-putting if they broke down. Although modern spa-baths may have improved since then, for many a different kind of tub is more desired for aspa-like bathroom.
So what kind of bathtub should you choose for a spa bathroom instead? One popular idea is the Japanese soaking tub –a type of deep bath traditionally made from cypress wood. ‘People love the beautiful modern aesthetic of a hand-crafted, warm, natural wood tub,’ explains Ken Larson, from Zen Bathworks who craft Japanese or Ofuro soaking tubs. ‘The simple beaut y and traditional design combined with unusual depth offer the bather a bit of luxury that is easy to use,’ he adds. ‘Traditional, organic wooden Ofuros offer a silent steaming ref uge from the artificial pressures of society.’
Yet, these baths aren’t just chosen for their good looks – this material offers something to your other senses, too. ‘The lemon/ginger scent of the Hinoki wood is aromatherapy at its best,’ Ken explains.
Elsewhere, we’re seeing designers eschew traditional (and even trendy) freestanding baths for more generous, deep soaking baths, using tanked-and-tiled constructions to get acustom size without breaking the bank. For Alissa Pulcrano, co-founder of Bright Designlab, that was the idea behind a large tiled bath in a vacation home on the Oregon coast. ‘We reconfigured the en-suite bathroom and created a spa-like experience; complete with sauna, steam shower, cold plunge and foot washing station,’ Alissa says. The supersized tub is almost Roman bath-like in its stature, and has been fitted with dual taps to fill its large proportions quicker, while curved edges make it amore welcoming prospect for weary bathers. ‘The tile is acustom match of sea green –the tile setter was nothing short of magic laying out this tub with meticulous care,’ Alissa explains.
BRIEFS FOR SPA-LIKE BATHROOMS INCLUDE A LOT OF UNOBTRUSIVE FITTINGS SUCH AS CONCEALED RAIN SHOWERS AND HIDDEN OR AESTHETICALLY PLEASING LIGHT SWITCHES
However, it’s the showers where the technolog y starts to be introduced for at-home spas. One of the core elements of the modern home spa is the steam shower –contained pods with steam generators. Y
