High tech havens
Embrace the latest in bathroom gadgetry for luxury living at its best.
You'll need to spend much more than a penny to kit out your bathroom in the latest gadgetry. But, for those obsessed with the ultimate in high-techery, it'll be well and truly worth it. From showers that remember your perfect water temperature to tubs that give you the full spa treatment and create a stunning coloured light show at the same time, futuristic bathing has already become very much a thing of the present.
Today's innovations
It's amazing how technology originally developed for other applications has somehow begun to find its way into our sanctuaries. Scientists at NASA came up with the radio wave wizardry to turn any glass surface into a loudspeaker, and this has been snapped up by bathroom manufacturers to make screens and doors that can play music from your iPod while you enjoy your daily dip. Similarly, wireless remote controls that once commanded nothing more complicated than
the TV will switch on the shower or bath at your ideal settings before you've even got out of bed.
Modern advances in digital systems are behind many of the latest innovations, and sales suggest that homeowners are eager to invest in every new gizmo. Says Simon Greenstreet, Sales & Marketing Director at Aqualisa, "Technological features and benefits are within reach of everyone. In fact, whatever the size of your room or budget, there's sure to be a sensational solution available."
The latest in luxury
With the benefit of science, you can relax and enjoy a good pampering at the flick of a switch. The latest multipurpose enclosures are little Tardises of self-indulgence, soothing us with steam, refreshing us with rushes of water and stimulating our senses with beautiful scents and calming hues. Explains Helen Skerratt, Bathing Product Manager at Kohler UK, "We're now witnessing the emergence of pod-style hydrotherapy cabins with a myriad of wellbeing functions and features, such as clever chromatherapy and MP3 systems. This is down
to the fact that more people increasingly want to personalise their washing areas and turn a daily ritual into a memorable spa-like experience."
Decadent plunge pool baths and invigorating waterfall-like showers are no longer mere luxuries, they're now on many a homeowner's checklist.
Some high tech items can be commanded to heat to the desired water temperature at the touch of a remote control on the bedside table, or to fill
to your exact specification - complete with bubbles - from a PC, so they are ready when you are.
Keeping cosy is another aspect of the modern haven that is made much easier thanks to the helping hand of the latest innovations. Under-floor heating has become more affordable and simpler to install in recent years while radiators now look nothing like their frumpy forebears. Instead, your room can be given a warm and welcoming feel by the use of stainless steel sculptures that make a statement of style in their own right, or understated blocks of natural stone that generate a gentle warmth. There are even spa cabins that heat the area outside the door, so stepping out of them is just like being wrapped in a warm fluffy towel.
Fast forward
If technological bathrooms seem futuristic to us now, what will they be like in a couple of decades' time? Well, one theory is that they'll be a lot more compact. That said, consumers aren't happy to compromise on the scale of their pampering, just that the workable elements have had to become smaller to fit into the available area. Shower valves are one example and, thanks to digital technology, the latest remote controls for enclosures and baths can often be no larger than a credit card.
As for other innovations, hygiene is sure to be top of the agenda and now in existence are taps that can be operated by a simple wave of the hand, rather than having to touch them, cutting down on the chances of germ transference.
Sensory stimulation is another growth area, with chroma/aromatherapy, as well as radio and MP3 capability, being built into tubs and cabins. Plus, waterproof TVs and tan-while-you-shower solutions are becoming must-haves to complete the pampering experience in this brave world.
