Archive for the ‘Home Spa’ Category

Spic-and-Span-and-Spa

Wednesday, August 11th, 2010

They say cleanliness is next to spa-liness, right? (Oh wait…that might not be the saying after all.) Well, regardless of the actual phrase, this one’s true too. The time you spend in a spa should be as clean as possible. After all, no one wants their pores open to the world in an environment that’s less than spic-and-span. This explains why so many people are opting to install home spas over renewing their memberships to outside organizations, where luxury might run high, but so does the germ factor. So to keep your home spa running shipshape and sanitary, we have some squeaky clean tips.

Clean from within. When designing your home spa, choose elements that keep things clean from the inside – like a ThermaSol steam shower with PowerFlush technology, an inner-tank cleaning system you can activate from an in-shower control, to keep things clean while you steam. When the cleaning happens from the inside, all you have to worry about is the surface stuff!

Be kind to your spa. The best home spas are often constructed from the most sensitive textures, which is why you should never use hard scrubbers or abrasive brushes or cleaners in your home spa. Opt instead for natural-based cleaners and organic compounds. And don’t overlook the basic stuff – there’s almost nothing that a little water and baking soda can’t clean (without damaging your beautiful surfaces).

clean spa

Spa and Re-Stock. It sounds like a pain, but the best way to keep your home spa at its absolute cleanest is to tidy as you go. Every time you steam, or use your home spa, do a basic rubdown of surfaces, floors, mirrors, and fixtures. It’ll keep germs and soap scum from building up, and ensure that the next time you need a boost you won’t need to wait a minute before heading into the lap of luxury. Keep towels and soaps restocked too, for a real spa-within-your-home experience. It’s keen to be clean!

The Spa Front And Center

Wednesday, August 4th, 2010

Sometimes, doesn’t it seem like everything is changing? We watch television on our computers, check stock quotes from our pocket, and eat desserts with weird things…like bacon. Turns out, the structure of our homes is changing as well, and that which was once hidden from sight has now assumed a starring role under our roofs. Like the home spa – a feature once evicted to the basement, tucked away in a bathroom, or, even banished to the outdoors – is now taking its rightful place front and center for all to access.

Good design trends deserve most of the credit for the public emergence of the home spa. Tacky wood paneled saunas have been usurped by stunning, modern steam shower stalls, adorned with gorgeous glass fronts and laden with up-to-the-minute perks. Sleek digital control panels that manipulate everything from time and temperature to light, sound, and aromatherapy have replaced outdated thermostats and unappealing switches. (And by the way, when did you ever have aromatherapy in your sauna?) Now styled with an architectural eye, the home spa has truly gone from a thing of utility to thing of beauty – and it’s time to show it off!

home spa

Home Spa

A shift in the way we entertain is also responsible for the home spa’s – literal – newfound prominence. The steam shower is the new swimming pool – infinitely easier to maintain, but still the perfect centerpiece to share with company (and won’t monopolize square footage in your backyard). And the centralization of our lives (which now revolve around an all-purpose kitchen-family-room-media-center hub in the middle of our homes) has encouraged general domestic transparency, which isn’t good news for that old hot tub out in the shed. Bringing the home spa into the main of the house is just another step in organizing our homes around our priorities – comfort, luxury, health, and togetherness.

So don’t shy away from bringing relaxation to the forefront! Show off your home spa like the star it is, and embrace both its powers of health and happiness and its aesthetics. By the way, has anyone seen my laundry room?

Age is All the Rage

Tuesday, July 27th, 2010

For so many Americans, the notion of “hopping into the tub” is much easier said than done. Those with arthritis, mobility limitations, or anyone who’s suffered from the sneaky side effects of aging (like that new pain in my back I felt this morning) know that your bathroom or home spa needs to be accessible. And thanks to a number of forward-thinking manufacturers, getting older doesn’t mean losing out on a luxurious bath experience.

Forget the days of the clinical, unappealing walk-in bath. It’s true – not that long ago, stylish options for walk-in tubs were nearly non-existent. But today, you can outfit your bathroom with a walk-in tub that doesn’t disrupt your home design. Like Maax Professional’s high-concept collection of ADA-compliant showers and tubs, all of which keep you comfortable and your bath beautiful. And just because you have a new tub doesn’t mean you need to change your design tactics – compliment the wall of your bath with tiled designs as you would with any other tub. Stylish, but most importantly, safe.

The no-step design of a steam shower stall also makes it a perfect bath element for anyone who needs one less hurdle on their way to relaxation. Full floor-to-ceiling doors, like those on ThermaSol’s easy-open steam shower stalls, allow you to walk in to luxury, making it the perfect antidote to non-bending arthritic knees. Not to mention the fact that the health benefits of a steam shower are wondrous on aching muscles and joints.

And delight in bath accessories that lend a helping hand without cramping your style. Like JACLO’s line of modern luxury grab bars that provide support for your body, but are easy on the eye, seamlessly fitting into any modern bath. Or Caroma’s collection of Easy Height Toilets – slim, beautiful, and exactly what you need to make your bath accessible and comfortable. So even if you’re feeling the physical limitations of getting, um, wiser and more mature, know that you never have to feel the aesthetic limitations of an easy-to-access bath.

ThermaSol Steam Shower

ThermaSol Steam Shower

Small Bath? No Problem.

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010

Let’s face it – unless you had the luxury of designing your home from the ground up, or spent a month brushing your teeth at the kitchen sink while construction workers knocked down walls and descended on your W.C., chances are your bathroom isn’t the biggest room in the house. But fear not – a petite loo just might be the perfect size for infusing a lot of luxury into a little space.

LAUFEN mimo

LAUFEN mimo compact bath collection

In any compact area, the most important consideration is to make sure that everything you fill a room with is more than just “occasionally” useful. So if you don’t find yourself lounging in a bubble bath three times a week, why not skip the tub basin and opt for a shower stall? Space-saving and efficient, a shower stall can be custom-fit to your bath’s dimensions, and immediately enhances the size of the room. Amp up the luxury by installing a steam shower – ThermaSol has revolutionary steam units designed for even the tiniest bathrooms – and your days of soaking in the tub will be a distant memory.

While you’re saving ground in the shower, why not really free up some floor space and go small with other elements for the bath? Manufacturers have taken note of the shrinking trend in bath design, and have crafted gorgeous collections with a diminutive take. The mimo collection by Laufen is short in stature but huge on style, with smaller-than-norm sinks and toilets that pack a punch without monopolizing square footage. And never fear – the difference in size of the scaled-down versions is virtually unnoticeable in everyday use.

But if you’re not yet ready for a big bath overhaul, your small space can still benefit from some spacious updates. Make things feel instantly open with a lighter wall color – bright yellows, soft greens, and pastel grays are my favorites in a tiny bath. Opt for open-air shelves or cabinets – it’ll give the illusion of a bigger room, and gives you easier access to your bath knickknacks. And remember to de-clutter! The more you organize, the more space there is for you. So don’t dismiss your small bath just yet! There’s a lot of luxury to be had in even the tiniest of spaces.

Guide To Hosting A Fabulous Spa Party

Monday, July 19th, 2010

Thank you to our friends over at Spa Week Daily for asking us to write a guest post on their blog. It’s a guide to hosting a great home spa party – four tips that will ensure your next party is full of luxury and relaxation. Read the full post here.

Home Spa Party

Home Spa Party

Go Team Steam!

Monday, July 12th, 2010
Steam Shower

Steam Shower

Steam is magic. It really is. Warm, swirling, and rife with brilliant little pockets of misty vapor – it’s by far water’s most elusive and interesting form. Still fancy yourself a skeptic? Have you tried to iron a pair of pants without the amazing power of steam? Mhmm. That’s what I thought. Steam rocks.

Beyond its abilities as a crinkle-reducer (and, of course, tea kettle indicator), steam first and foremost has incredible benefits for our bodies. After all, steam is simply a reincarnation of the element every health enthusiast would deem The Best Thing Ever: water. And if you know what a little H2O can do for our insides, it’s unbelievable what steam can do for our outsides, and beyond.

By simply stepping into a steam room, you’re immediately exposed to the fantastic healing powers of steam. For your skin, steam instantly opens pores and induces sweating (aka, nature’s toxin-releaser – one of the healthiest things your body can do), leaving skin softer, cleaner, and ultimately healthier. The heat of the room also causes a healthy elevation in heart rate and an increase in metabolism (who knew? A steam room diet!). Circulation and flexibility also skyrocket within minutes of stepping into a steam room, the result of the warm, moist air, which acts as a natural joint-relaxer. Arthritis sufferers and individuals with bone or muscle problems see amazing results from time spent in steam rooms. And despite the thickness of the atmosphere, steam rooms actually hold myriad benefits for our respiratory systems, opening up the lungs and bronchial tubes, and even aiding those with asthma and other breathing disorders, thanks to the temperature of the air and the water vapor. In addition, the relaxing effects of steam can have wonderful effects beyond our physiology – time spent in steam rooms has been shown to increase mental calm, and even act as an antidote to insomnia or other sleeping problems. Adding other elements to your steam experience – such as light exercise or yoga, skin exfoliation, or even aromatherapy – will only enhance the already-amazing health benefits of steam.

Thermasol offers a wide array of steam bath products for the home. Consider turning your shower into a steam shower and experience all the amazing benefits of steam on a daily basis.

So if you thought that a stay in a vapory paradise was just one of those spa activities to knock off your “to do” list, it just might be time to rethink steam, not only for its powers as a force of relaxation, but more importantly, as an amazing tool for your health – mind and body. See? I told you. Steam rocks!

Waterproof Technology for the Spa

Friday, May 7th, 2010

When you think of spas, showers, and baths you don’t think of an environment that is very friendly to modern technology. But, in fact, you can find a variety of consumer electronics that work perfectly in the spa and in wet conditions, and enable you to watch television, surf the web, make phone calls and listen to music. Here are a few waterproof devices that might enhance your spa experience.

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TrendyDigital WaterGuard Waterproof Case for iPad

Waterproof iPad Case

Waterproof iPad Case

The nice thing about a tablet computer is that you can pretty much take it wherever you go, and that now includes the spa. This waterproof case for the iPad made by TrendyDigital will protect the device and allow you to operate the keyboard and navigation interface while using it in the shower or bathtub. It’s perfect if you want to relax and read a good iBook during your spa experience. The case also comes with an adjustable strap so that you can wear it around your neck or shoulders while you stand in your steam shower.

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Give Your Mom a Spa Gift for Mother’s Day

Thursday, April 29th, 2010

Chances are your mother has been working hard this year and may not have had the opportunity to indulge herself with a trip to the spa. Carnations are always a nice gift, but she gets to look at them for a few days and then they die. Why not try stepping up your game this Mother’s Day by giving her some spa products that will leave her relaxed, refreshed, and ready to tackle another year of motherhood. Bring the spa to her with these spa-centric gift ideas.

Six Pack of Aromatherapy Essential Oils from ThermaSol

This year you can get your mother a six pack of Aromatherapy Essential Oils that will last her until next year’s Mother’s Day. If you mom has a steam shower, or an essential oil diffuser than this could just be her favorite spa gift of the year! The essential oil six pack includes French Lavender, Portuguese Eucalyptus and Italian Bergamot Madagascar Ylang Ylang, French Rosemary and Egyptian Geranium oils.

Essential Oil Six Pack

Essential Oil Six Pack

The Theramasol Six Pack of Aromatherapy Essential Oils costs $99 at ThermaSol.com

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Fish Spa Treatments Getting Shut Down

Monday, April 19th, 2010

We’ve written about unusual spa treatments in the past, but this spa treatment is actually not as far out as the snake massage or gold facial, yet is getting a lot more slack than any other treatments we’ve mentioned lately. In a recent story by NPR.org, they discuss how this treatment is being shut down in various states. If you’ve ever sat with your feet in the water of a lake or pond, then you’ll know that if you have a lot of dead skin on your feet, that often little fish will come and tickle your toes with their little nibbles. While it might just seem cute at the time, spas in the United States, China, Japan, South Korea and Turkey began offering this spa treatment in 2008 when this treatment began to boom.

Spas are now being ordered to shut down any fish spa treatments because the cosmetology boards have ruled in over two dozen states because you can’t clean the fish, and every tool that is used on someone needs to be either disinfected or thrown away. We don’t want to see the fish be thrown out, with their last meal being the dead skin from your feet! Some say that there have been no proven cases of foot fungus being passed by these fish, but the possibility that this could occur seems to be quite real, so the fishies have had to go, at least for now.

Fish Spa Gettting Shut Down

Fish Spa

Spas that offer this treatment have warm pools or hot springs that contain cute little fish known as doctor fish. These little fish don’t have their medical degree; they are actually one of two species of fish: Garra rufa or Cyprinion macrostomus. Other nicknames for these little nibblers include: nibble fish, kangal fish, and little dermatologists. These fish are used primarily for foot treatments, but also can be used for facial and body treatments and even to treat various skin diseases such as psoriasis.

When you put your feet in the water, the fish swim up to your feet immediately and nibble off all the affected and dead skin, while leaving the healthy and young skin untouched and unharmed. This treatment is painless and actually tickles a bit, making it a very popular and fun treatment for many people. Now that the spas are being forced to stop this treatment though, you may need to visit your nearest pond or lake to get a similar spa sensation. We have also seen a trend that is beginning to become more popular where people are purchasing their own nibbling fish and setting up their own home fish spas! Talk about a luxurious home spa!

Common Treatments for your Ailments- Inspired by the Spa!

Monday, April 5th, 2010

We all have them from time to time; common, annoying discomforts and ailments that can cause us pain or just make us feel icky. Here is a list of some common things that we suffer with and some simple treatments that you can try next time you are afflicted with one of the following, all which have been inspired by the spa! (Keep in mind that this is not to be taken as medical advice, and is meant to be read for entertainment value only.)

1. Jet Lag | Treatment: Tanning - It has been fairly well documented that one of the only treatments for a bad case of jet lag is to get out in the sun in your new time zone. Many suggest taking part in some type of exercise activity such as walking or running, between the hours of 11:30 am and 2:00 pm on your first day at your new destination, but if you can’t exert yourself, try laying out in the sun. You may also want to try hitting the tanning bed if getting the real thing is not an option.

Tanning Bed

Tanning Bed

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