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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control panels that manipulate everything from time and temperature to light, sound, and aromatherapy have replaced outdated thermostats and unappealing switches.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

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?

Tags: Home Spa, Sauna, steamshower
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Green Feels Glorious!

Friday, July 23rd, 2010

While we’re spending our spa time saving our skin, why not save the environment at the same time? The movement towards a greener spa experience has so many positive ramifications – and like most other eco-conscious trends, it takes only small changes to make a substantial impact.

It sounds like the simplest thing in the world but the #1 spa-thing you can do to minimize your environmental footprint is to keep your H₂O usage in check. When looking for products for your home spa, keep an eye out for bath elements that emphasize low-flow or water-saving technology – it’s incredible how the most basic of eco-conscious actions can still have such a tremendous effect. Choose products identified as “WaterSense certified,” as they comply with specific guidelines identified by the Environmental Protection Agency to promote water efficiency. And while you’re saving water, keep an eye on your energy consumption too. Products that incorporate green-friendly elements, like ThermaSol’s patented SmartSteam^TM technology – a temperature control feature that conserves energy by maintaining even levels of heat, and never using more power than necessary – make putting your green-foot-forward easy and effective.

Going beyond your home spa doesn’t mean leaving the environment behind. More and more, spas are adding “eco-chic” to their resume of services – making your relaxation all the sweeter knowing that you’re doing right by the planet. The Green Spa and Wellness Center in Brooklyn, New York is the first and only full-service luxury green spa in the borough. Recycled materials are used in every part of the center – from paper to paint to construction products – they even are using recycled denim as wall insulation! Dual-flush toilets conserve water, non-toxic cleaning products keep public areas fresh without doing harm to the atmosphere, natural light replaces artificial illumination (supplemented with energy-efficient bulbs, where necessary), and bamboo flooring, an environmentally-friendly alternative to wood, lines the floor of the yoga & movement studio. How green are they?! And never fear, the movement goes west as well. At Absolute Nirvana, Santa Fe’s only eco-chic spa, green is in the air – literally. In addition to using only organic and chemical-free cleaning products, natural skin care ingredients, water-efficient appliances, and cloth hand towels, 80 percent of their electricity is wind generated. Good for you, great for the planet. Looking for a green spa in your area? Check out the Green Spa Network, an organization dedicated to bringing sustainability and education to spas nationwide.

So whether you’re spa-ing at home or luxuriating elsewhere, know that it’s so easy to do your part in helping to protect valuable natural resources, and with no compromise to your experience. Go green!

Tags: green spas, water conservation
Posted in Spa Reflections - Experiences, Rituals, History, Steam Showers | No Comments »

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 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.

Tags: compact bathroom, steam shower, Thermasol
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Go Team Steam!

Monday, July 12th, 2010

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!

Tags: health benefits, steam bath, Steam Showers
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Transforming a Shower into a Spa with a Steam Shower

Wednesday, April 7th, 2010

Signature Series- Conemporary Control and Steam Head

Home design magazines are filled with amazing bathrooms that have been transformed from utilitarian and functional to absolutely fabulous. Gone are the days of the “plain old” bath-and-shower combination, and these days the affluent and design savvy are turning their plain old shower into a luxurious two-person shower with all the extras, amenities and of course: steam.

According to cost vs value reports, bathroom renovations are one of the most cost effective home improvement projects you can undertake. According to the most recent reports by Hanley Wood, homeowners who remodel their bathrooms will still recoup 61 percent to 71 percent of the cost when they sell their homes in today’s still somewhat dreadful market. Now is the time to upgrade the bathroom with an amenity like steam so that you can enjoy the benefits of steam and enhance your overall lifestyle, while hoping the market picks up and your investment actually pays you back!

ThermaSol has a lifestyle brochure which helps consumers to build their ideal steam system for their home. The reader receives a lesson on the power of steam as illustrated by ancient cultures. They also learn the enhanced health benefits of steam therapy as well as specific essential oils which are believed to remedy certain ailments via in-shower aromatherapy. Color therapy and its invigorating and mood-enhancing benefits is also discussed.

Signature Series- Traditional Control and Steam Head

Amenity Packages For Your Steam Shower!
The Signature Series steam shower control kit is a miniature command center that offers the user precise temperature adjustment, variable session times, sound system volume control, chromatherapy light type intensity and two user presets when used with the Serenity Light and Music System.

The Temp-Touch Series is ThermaSol’s baseline control that offers function for all of their steam bath generators as well as their in-shower Light and Music System. A bar graph details minimum and maximum temperature settings, volume, light type and intensity and there is a 45 minute default session setting.

ThermaSol’s new generation Serenity Light and Music System takes the steam experience to a whole new level. The system includes an all-in-one in-shower, high intensity full spectrum LED type light system for the ultimate in chromatherapy, as well as a high-performance speaker set. The system features built-in FM receiver and two additional input source interfaces. Composite component input can come from portable MP3 players, CDs, DVDs and televisions or just about any audio player device. All ThermaSol steam approved components are mounted behind a 10” diameter solid brass ceiling grill. Also included with the system is the optional RF 2.8 GHz hand-held remote, which is waterproof, durable, and extremely stylized to meet the most discerning consumer requirements. The remote offers complete control over all of the functions from inside the shower and comes in 14 matching finishes.

A Stylized Home Spa:
Both the Signature and Temp-Touch Series’ come in two styles: traditional and contemporary. The Traditional Series control and steamhead feature a beautifully sculpted bezel and match the traditional, classical and palatial trim designs offered by most fixture manufacturers. The Contemporary Series control and steamhead blend seamlessly with modern, Euro-style or transitional fixtures in the bathroom.

Groundbreaking Technology
In addition to the controls and matching steamhead fittings, ThermaSol now offers three specialized generators. The SteamShower Classic Series features FastStart™ technology, which produces steam in seconds. It also comes with a PowerFlush inner tank cleaning system that promotes decalcification, reduces sediment build-up and is activated at the generator. The SteamShower AF Series has an AutoPower Flush inner tank cleaning system, in which all cycles can be activated through the actual shower and it also comes with FastStart™ technology. Lastly, there is the ProSeries™ which features AutoPower Flush, FastStart™ technology, a custom-fit removable smitty pan and SmartSteam™ technology. SmartSteam™ technology is the absolute latest in steam control by learning a user’s desired steam room temperature and maintaining it throughout the session with no annoying lags or bursts.

For more information visit www.thermasol.com

Tags: adding a steam shower, contemporary steam shower, installing a steam head, installing a steam shower, steam shower, steam shower controls, Steam Showers, traditional steam shower
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Hottest Trends in Home Spas

Monday, March 29th, 2010

We look at many home spas every day, both in person and online and we have noticed that there are some great trends that are really getting hot in the designs of many of these luxury home spas. Here are just a few of our observations:

1. Custom or Designer Tile: As of late custom and designer tile designs for home spas have become very popular. Most of the luxury home spa designs we have seen in the past few months have all included some amazing tile designs. Some of the designs we have seen have been zen-like, while others have been more drastic and bold. Here are just a few designs we have found, all which are available from Hastings Tile & Bath:

Hastings AAB Series White Relief

(more…)

Tags: aromatherapy scents, home spa trends, hot home spa trends, hot spa trends, luxury lighting for spa, rain showers, spa lighting, spa trends, Steam Showers
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Asian Inspired Home Spas

Thursday, March 11th, 2010

The sound of running water, river rocks, and split granite boulders for sink basins are all elements that bring tranquility to the home spa. When paired with simple lines, balance and harmony, an Asian-inspired sanctuary is born. For those looking to create the Zen bath suite there are a few design tips to keep in mind. First, blend plenty of natural woods, stone and metal to bring nature inside and abound. Secondly, look for bamboo bathroom furnishings such as shelves or storage boxes for added serenity.

Asian Home Spa by Troy Adams

Rock Border and Asian Flooring

Here we see a Asian Inspired Home Spa design by Troy Adams Design where a stainless steel soaking tub was placed on rocks, and then a teak bridge over a water-filled pond was created which leads to a glass-enclosed shower.

Yoko Suite Shower

THG Yoko Suite

Yoko Vasque Detail

Inspired by the Japanese bath, this stunning but understated design merges Eastern tranquility with modern features.
Intricate details epitomize the Cristal de Lalique Bambou faucet. A carved bamboo pattern brings a touch of nature to the sleek design. The matte finish of the crystal handles contrasts beautifully with the polished surfaces of the chrome faucet. The slender tub filler anchors the faucet, its geometric lines softened by curved edges. Images provided by THG

Beautiful Home Spa with Steam Shower

Beautiful Home Spa

Here is another design that uses more subtle Asian inspired elements to produce a soothing spa-like retreat. This minimalist and elegant bathroom suite was also designed by Troy Adams Design. The bathroom suite has a number of beautiful elements including a shower equipped with a rain shower in addition to a steam shower. The steam shower enclosure also has a top panel that can open to release steam after your steam shower.

Tags: asian hope spa designs, asian inspiration, asian spa, luxury asian home spa, luxury home spa designs
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Healing Steam – Health Benefits of Steam Bathing

Thursday, March 4th, 2010

Healthy Steam

Aromatherapy

The positive effects of steam bathing have been understood for thousands of years – since ancient Greek times when Hippocrates discovered that steam could cure many ailments. Today ThermaSol® reaps on the benefits of steam by creating innovative steam environments which feature excellent healing attributes. With added features like a Serenity Light and Music system with functions that are easily controlled by the Temp-Touch Series baseline control, it’s easy to have a complete therapeutic suite right in the home!

Respiratory Benefits

Home steam baths are great for promoting good respiratory health. Allergy sufferers often indulge in daily steam therapy for symptom relief as steam inhalation supports the respiratory system, and may help sufferers to alleviate their sinus afflictions.

Chakras

Skin Benefits

Aestheticians often recommend a good sweat: it creates a beautiful healthy glow by increasing blood circulation to unlock the pores to allow deep-seeded grime and dead cells to be washed away; unveiling healthy skin that glistens.
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Pain Relief Benefits

Steam can be a useful tool for managing muscular pain. The heat allows blood vessels to enlarge allowing more oxygen to flow through them and in turn release tension. This has the twofold effect of helping pain reduction and usually improves the healing speed.

Serenity Light and Music

Relaxation Benefits

The ThermaSol steam shower is an ideal way to unwind and help relieve daily stress. Taking a steam bath before bed allows muscles to loosen, helping achieve a relaxed and calm state which promotes a deeper, more restful sleep. ThermaSol also offers the option of light and music therapy. The Serenity Light & Music System offers a built-in FM receiver and has inputs for devices such as TV, portable CD, DVD, and MP3 players. The combined environment of steam, waterproof speakers for listening enjoyment and a fully adjustable light system with a wide spectrum allows for a daily tranquil experience to which anyone would look forward.

Aromatherapy Benefits
ThermaSol’s steam and aromatherapy oils work beautifully together to bring deep relaxation and healing benefits to your mind and body. Combine ThermaSol’s Essential and Precious Reserve Oils with a steam session to surround the bather in blissful, aromatic pleasure that further facilitates the toxin elimination process and provides the most effective therapeutic, holistic treatments available for the mind and body.

Tags: aromatherapy health, health, health benefits, health news, health treatments, healthy practices, healthy spa, healthy spa treatments, healthy steam, holistic healing
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Get Hot…Stay Cool

Friday, February 26th, 2010

Our bodies have amazing – and fantastic – reactions when exposed to concentrated bursts of heat and cold. Need proof? Just look at an athlete after any game, sitting with a heat pack on his shoulder or soaking in an ice bath. And more often than not, athletes are advised to use a combination of temperatures – going from one extreme to the other – to facilitate circulation and healing. Turns out, sports aficionados aren’t the only ones who can benefit from this type of therapy. In fact, temperature-based relaxation techniques have become particularly hot among spa-goers, for their refreshing feel and myriad health benefits. (Read more below)

Hot and Steamy

It’s no secret that different temperatures cause different reactions in our bodies. Heat is a stimulant, increasing blood flow and accelerating physiological processes; while cold has the opposite effect, constricting blood vessels and numbing nerves. On their own, each extreme has specific health benefits, but when used in combination, the results can be invigorating. Exposure to a heated environment (which helps to increase blood flow and energy), followed by a sudden exposure to a cooler temperature, allows the cold to “trap” that increased blood flow, preserving that extra energy throughout your body and immediately increasing circulation. And happily, spas are quickly becoming the best place to experiment with hot-to-cold relaxation techniques, or what many call “contrast therapy.”

The best approach to this casual science can be summed up in three steps: heat-cold-repeat. And while some prefer the more traditional hot tub/cold plunge-pool method, don’t feel limited to any technique. Remember, it’s more about the change in temperature than how you get there! Which means that you can do ten minutes in a steam shower, followed by one minute under a cold rain faucet (and then back again!) for an energizing burst. Or take a seven-minute soak in a heated pool and then a five-minute respite with an iced washcloth over your face and behind your neck – best feeling in the world. To get the most out of your extreme temperature adventure, it’s best to use your time exposed to your cold source (be it shower, plunge pool or ice sauna) as more of a “burst” than an elongated period of time. Try different combinations and see what you like best! Ready to give it a shot? You’re getting warmer…

Tags: healing steam, hot steam aphrodisiac, steam aphrodisiac, steam circulation
Posted in Spa Humor, Steam Showers | 1 Comment »

How do you define a luxury property? A home spa helps!

Wednesday, February 24th, 2010

If you’re looking to buy a luxury home, new or old or transform your existing home into a luxury property there’s one thing that you will surely need to include… a luxurious home spa. I did a quick search the other day and found some amazing luxury homes, all complete with their own spa-like bathroom, each complete with a steam shower. Here are some of my favorites:

Classic Spanish Revival Retreat | 9 White Water Lane
Previously Offered to $15M
Reserve $6.9M Pre-Sale Estimate $8-11M
Dana Point, California

9 White Water Bath 1

Big Spa Steam Shower at 9 White Water

This amazing house is set just off the water in Dana Point, California. This home has not one amazing spa-like steam shower, but two in its massive 11,000 square foot space. In the smaller bathroom there is a nice, private steam shower with a bench, while the other bath is described as a “spa bath” which is equipped with an oversized steam shower that is finished in stone and tile with glass accents, a private massage area, and fully appointed exercise room. For more details visit the auction site at www.thestrandauction.com

Stunning Architectural Topanga Canyon
List price: $1,499,000
Los Angeles, California, United States

Topanga Home

This beautiful modern home is a bargain compared to the Dana Point home, but this one only has 2,464 square feet compared to the 11k that you will get for $8-11M. This home does qualify as a “luxury property” though, and the steam shower in the master bath does help its cause, even if it looks small in these photographs. More information on redfin.com

Family Home Remodel
Approximately $100,000

Master Bath Before

Master Bath After

A couple called in Interior Designer Candice Olson to make their bathroom a luxury bathroom. While the bathroom was cute before, it wasn’t as luxurious as the couple would’ve liked so Candice spared no luxury by putting in a fantastic shower with a frameless glass enclosure, a rain shower, steam shower, body sprays and a white-quartz bench. She wanted the room to be calm and refreshing, so she chose cool, watery greens for the color scheme. She selected a small, green marble mosaic tile for the steam shower and for the backsplash for the soaker tub and vanity. The tile matches the green in the solid glass vessel sink and the painted glass in the luxurious shower. Now what was a cute, but very ordinary bathroom is now an extraordinary, refreshing oasis in which Tonia and Francis can retreat from the chaos of everyday life.

Villas at Miraval
$2.25 million to $3.4 million
Tucson, Arizona

Amazing Spa Like Bathroom

The Villas at Miraval are beautiful estates that have between 2,700-3,100 square feet of living space with an equal amount of outdoor space. These Villas have been designed to reflect the region’s earth-friendly architecture which is why they use raw materials like natural stone, cedar and hickory wood and natural materials in their designs, including their home spas which have a hot tub, single-family-sized spa pool and steam shower. Find more information at www.miravalvillas.com

Tags: amazing spa like bathrooms, luxurious home spa, luxury houses with spa master bath, spa like bathrooms, spa master bath
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