Dan's Papers - June 5, 2009 - Creating a Personal Paradise

Imagine creating a space in your own home where you can relive the blissful experience of your favorite spa. Your master bath can be a peaceful inner sanctum and a soothing retreat from the outside world. Enjoying the benefits of a spa-like experience no longer means taking the time to visit a spa. Homeowners are now able to take pleasure in their own home spas.

Finding ways to de-stress is essential in achieving optimal health and well-being. Experiencing a few moments every day in a soothing bath can help relieve the symptoms of stress by promoting relaxation, decreasing muscle tension, and helping you get a good night's sleep. When planning your bath remember that a connection to nature heightens your sense of peace and adds visual warmth to a space. Materials such as stone, glass, bamboo and teak reflect the environment. Earth colors as well as natural materials are widely used in spas because of their calming effects. Incorporating a private patio or balcony, if possible, with live indoor plants also adds to that relaxed feeling.

Many bath manufacturers offer products that enable homeowners to create their own personal oasis. The biggest luxury trends this year include tub entertainment systems that incorporate DVDs and combinations of fiber optics, chromatherapy, hydrotherapy and aromatherapy.

Chromatherapy uses soothing lighting to create mood. Today's bath can be equipped with light effects as well as water therapy. Hydrotherapy's therapeutic qualities have been known for thousands of years, dating back to the ancient baths. Egyptians bathed in heated waters treated with flowers and herbs, while the Greeks believed that water therapy was essential for optimal health. In its modern form, hydrotherapy has been found to be effective in treating muscle pains and stiffness, inflammatory disease and the symptoms of daily stress.

Aromatherapy uses the oils of plants to create therapeutic aromas and muscle relaxants. The right scents are an important choice, and you can choose from calming, invigorating, romantic or cleansing scents. Scents like French lavender, eucalyptus and jasmine are just a few fragrances to choose to set the mood. We know that scents can sharpen the mind and uplift our moods. You can even consult an aromatherapy specialist for advice on quality oils for your specific needs.

These elements will enable a homeowner to create their own spa experience. The Royal A-512 Whirlpool Bathtub is a fully loaded massage bathtub with under-water chromatherapy lighting that changes the color of the water, giving it a calming effect. Companies like Pearl Baths and BainUltra manufacture units that merge scent, fluorescent mood lighting and sound with steam to create a total mind and body experience. The Vedana, a personal therapy system by BainUltra, can be mounted on a shower wall. This unit offers five high-quality spa treatments that include hydrotherapy and aromatherapy. Another company, Sundance Spas, combines hydrotherapy with aromatherapy by releasing luscious aromas through air injector jets in their hot tubs.

Further enhance your spa-like retreat with the hypnotic and gentle sounds of music. This can greatly elevate your bathing experience. I love to incorporate sound systems into my master bath plans. Jacuzzi has a new bathing system that features AquaSound, an audio system with iPod docking station and floating remote controls!

It's important to keep a spa environment warm. The best way to do that is with radiant heat flooring, a luxurious addition to your home spa. Radiant heat is superior to other heating methods. Warm and cozy underfoot, it radiates heat throughout your body instead of hot air blowing into the room.

Preserve the décor of your interior design and hide television screens behind two-way mirrors. Simply press the "on" button of your remote control, and suddenly your TV display becomes visible. Another addition to your bath you'll appreciate is electric heat elements behind the vanity mirrors to dissipate steam. This thin and silent electrical element is connected to your bathroom light switch. It starts to de-fog as soon as you enter the room.

Generous windows can visually open a space. Bathrooms from the past were typically the smallest rooms in the house and had small windows covered with blinds. Today large bath windows are no longer a problem. With the flip of a switch an electronic fogging mechanism can turn a clear window into an opaque "privacy" window!

I've helped many clients create their own home spa and without exception, it quickly becomes their favorite room. The allure of this personal paradise is irresistible!