Mihaela Lica(862) Mihaela Lica Pamil Visions Log in to become a member of Mihaela Lica's Fan Club!
The home spa is a modern term. In its daily use it signifies wellness. In the
terms of a building consultant it means luxurious bathrooms. That's what this
article is all about.
Defining the Home Spa
Those
who talk about spa today know little or nothing about the word's origin. We do
not include in this category scientists, spa resort owners, hot tubs
manufacturers, geography and history passionate learners or Belgian citizens.
Why not Belgians? Well, just because the famous mineral springs in Spa, Belgium,
are the reason why the common noun spa is so often used nowadays, denoting not
only places with medicinal and mineral springs, but also a "tub for relaxation
or invigoration, usually including a device for raising whirlpools in the
water."
It is the very tub for relaxation we have to consider when we
think about the home spa, and a few other elements necessary to create a
comfortable atmosphere. The ones who visit spa resorts seek tranquility in a
healthy environment. And they pay for it. Every time. If you are a busy
businessman, or woman, with just about no free time, visiting a spa to release
stress might sound like a nice option, as long as you can make it there before
the closing hours.
Many people have too much to do and close to no
chances to find the time to combat the effects of the stress. Besides, there are
also people who cannot afford to spend each week a small fortune to experience
the benefits of a day at the spa. So let's bring the spa resort home...
What is a home spa? To put is simple is a spa resort in the comfort of
your own house. No schedule, no entrance or club fees. You can go in and out
whenever you want. There is just one catch to it: if you want to socialize
there's no one around but your cat (that's if you have one).
Tips
for Creating Your Own Spa Bath
Whether you plan to build a new
bathroom, or just to remodel an existing one, plan a step ahead and create a
modern, comforting environment. "Modern" doesn't refer to a futuristic design.
In fact, building a bathroom that reminds of the Roman thermae is as modern as
building one that takes you on a trip to Mars. A modern design combines
technology and fantasy to create the bathroom of your dreams: a unique space
where you can relax after a hectic day at work. Many of the contemporary
bathrooms are more practical than relaxing. Some are small and uncomfortable,
some are large and cold. No matter the space you have to work with or your
budget, a bathroom can become a pleasant, luxurious spot. All it takes is
careful planning and the will to succeed.
Don't get this wrong:
luxurious doesn't necessary mean expensive. In this particular case we refer to
"something inessential but conductive to pleasure and comfort" as the "American
Heritage" dictionary defines luxury. With so many offers and manufacturers out
there, you'll find options to accommodate any plan.
The building
consultants from EEKHOF Objektberatung (http://www.eekhof-beratung.com/) have gathered a few tips you
might want to consider when planning your relaxing bathroom. Let's take a look
at what they could come up with:
Water, combined with other elements such as light, aroma and sound,
is a perfect relaxer. For large rooms bathtubs are a must. The long,
rectangular bathtub is out. Nowadays there are hundreds of different styles,
shapes, and features including massage tubs and soft bathtubs available for
everyone to choose from. The most durable bathtubs are also the heaviest ones
since they are made from enameled cast iron. So, if you go for the best, that's
your choice. Acrylic reinforced with fiberglass tubs are lighter and come in
more complex styles than cast iron. Fiberglass bathtubs tend to scratch too easy
- so we wouldn't recommend them as a long-term investment. When it comes to
color and revolutionary materials, for more design options we would recommend
Quarrycast bathtubs. Quarrycast is a mineral crystal composite developed by
Victoria & Albert, a UK manufacturer. There are also bathtubs designed to
fit in small spaces. All you need is to browse the web and you will find the
right one.
Built-in showers are a good choice for small rooms. Yet, don't think
that showers cannot bring you that spa feeling you long for. Showers have
evolved and now they are able to bring you as much pleasure as a sophisticated
bathtub. Such products are also known as "shower towers". Designer showers
provide new relaxing means: therapeutic massages, rain-like feelings, or
experiences similar to a steam room at a health club or spa.
To perfect the luxury feeling, more and more people prefer to warm up the
cold floor tiles in their bathrooms with electric heating systems that fill
the room with floor-to-ceiling warmth. Try the Uponor products if you are
looking for a market-leading manufacturer, or look for other products such as
the ones offered by Radiantec, Warmup, Heatlink. No more chills after a hot bath
on a cold winter day.
Another modern accessory is the towel warmer. There are plenty of
styles and types to choose from including portable, wall mounted or floor
mounted, spiral, circular and more. You can see a large selection at Stacks and
Stacks.
Bathroom is not just about toilet, sink and a bathtub. Bathroom
furniture, also known as bath vanity units, is the "magic touch" needed to
create the perfect ambient. Most of these units are protected against warping in
normal moist conditions.
Mirrors are a stylish way of giving small rooms a sense of openness,
but they are perfect accessories for large rooms as well.
For larger budgets we recommend a product that conquers the market more and
more today: the bathroom TV. The LCD bathroom TV has heated screen for
condensation free viewing, inbuilt water resistant speakers and a 90 degrees
wide angle-viewing screen.
The shower CD players are already there for those who plan their
wellness spa on a budget.
With LEDs dominating the lighting industry there is a large selection
of shapes and light and color controllable fixtures you can choose from. LEDs
have many advantages if you look for dimmable illumination or for hidden lights.
If you look for a unique light source or for light effects to complete the spa
feeling, there are also many controllable fixtures "out-of-the-box" you might
consider purchasing.
To make a long story short, the
modern bathroom should be a perfect environment in which to relax and rest, and
should provide a refuge from the tensions of daily routine. This is why spa
resort trends such as chromatherapy, aromatherapy and music therapy are
successfully applied in the design of the contemporary domestic bathroom.
Obtaining that spa feeling in the comfort of your own home is not an impossible
task. And when you don't have the courage, experience, ideas and time to start
such a task on your own, a building consultant has the answers.
Mihaela Lica is the founder of Pamil Visions - online branding for small businesses. She
is now a freelance writer, public relations consultant and an artist.
Previously she used to be a respected TV redactor, working for the
Romanian Ministry of Defense. At the moment she works with small and
new business helping them in their branding efforts.
» left by Gerd (3 years 121 days ago.)
Very interesting article. Too bad the company's site is not translated into German (talking about EEKHOF Objektberatung). I'll contact them anyway. Respond to this comment
Was this article helpful to you? Leave a Public Comment or Question:
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
