Wonderful Wet-rooms
Treat yourself to a plunge in a super-stylish spa-like sanctuary at home.
We homeowners are like sponges - wherever we go, we have an eye on the interior design of the place we're visiting. If we see something we like, we tend to bring those ideas home with us. So, just as our kitchens can resemble the gleaming professional workspaces of the glitziest restaurants, our bathrooms are metamorphosing into über-luxurious get-aways where we aim to pamper ourselves. And who could blame us? With so many fabulous ways to transform the once humble bathroom into the spa of our dreams, it's no small surprise that wonderful retreats, kitted out to the max with the latest in showering and wellness technology, are right at the very top of our wish-lists this year.
Why a wet-room?
The fact that the average wet zone is diminishing in size has perhaps fuelled our modern craving for the luxury of space. As we know, the best way to make the most of the room we have is with an open-plan design. So, why not go back to basics, unveil those extra inches and make your bathroom feel bigger than it actually is? In an anything goes shower zone, there are no boundaries to tailoring it to your needs.
Says Mike Wilson, Marketing Manager at Kohler, "We are seeing an increased demand for a home spa environment that is on a par with luxurious wellbeing resorts and boutique hotels. In the past, it was viewed as a huge extravagance to splash out on an all-singing-all-dancing wash zone. But, with less free time for pampering breaks these days, consumers are looking for products that will enable them to create a similar experience in their sanctuaries, so they need not leave home."
Getting the low-down
When it comes to creating your spa-inspired bathing zone, the first consideration must be the floor. To make it totally waterproof, most will need to be tanked - a layer of asphalt, zinc, fibreglass or another specially formulated material is laid first and a drain is then installed. This job must be carried out by a professional fitter, as, if you cut corners, you are likely to pay the price.
A new, modern alternative is to opt for some duckboards, which is a particularly good solution for homes with suspended wooden floors. Says John Pidgeon, Managing Director at Original Bathrooms, "This choice gives the desired look without the need for extensive works. An invisible tray sits beneath a ribbed ceramic platform, so the water can disperse harmlessly along the grooves and down into the gaps which lie between."
Tiles are often the preferred material for walls as well as floors and this is where your dreams can be fulfilled with a selection of sophisticated stone, ceramics or jewel-like mosaics. But be sure to remember that impermeable artificial materials such as Corian® are just as adaptable and can give a smooth and seamless look. In addition, they are practical, easy-to-care-for and durable options, so well worth the investment.
Fantasy fittings
No bathing zone would be complete without a shower, and many of today's reflect those seen in spas the world over. Space is a sought-after luxury, and the walk-through style is now much in vogue, with large screens in clear glass, or no glass at all, plus a flowing deluge coming from overhead.
It's obviously important to make sure the water stays in the shower area, rather than drowning your haven, so careful consideration must be given to controlling the destination of the spray. Today's wet-room screens are both large and rectangular, fitted to the wall or inset into the floor, so you can bid goodbye to the cramped enclosure.
Other options include creating a spiral design with the shower in the middle, or exploiting any unused alcove by making a self-contained spot.
Chrome is still the finish of choice for columns, although glass and rich wood 'shower tower' consoles can add a designer edge - the more body jets, the better. Ceiling-set showerheads are the ultimate in spa sophistication, delivering a monsoon downpour from above. Styles that offer customisable settings for volume, massage and temperature seem the height of decadence, until you discover the steam and sauna systems that truly bring the therapeutic benefits of the wellbeing experience right into your home.
