We all deserve a private place where we can relax in comfort, let go of tension, recharge our batteries and emerge refreshed and energized. Many busy homeowners are remodeling their bathrooms into a retreat where they can daydream, read, listen to music or socialize.

The latest in water retreats
If your ideal home spa isn't complete without a whirlpool bathtub, you can find one in virtually any shape, size and color. Amenities include such features as air flow adjustability, quiet motors, control panels, heated liners and even underwater lighting systems. The latest models are also equipped with adjustable jet systems that can target specific areas to soothe tight muscles and aching joints.

A popular alternative is the air bath, which uses millions of effervescent bubbles to create a delicate curtain of heated air that rises through the water. The result is a gentle, soothing experience, more of a caress than a massage. Unlike in standard whirlpools, salts and aromatic oils can be used in an air bath.

For the best of both worlds, choose a combination water retreat such as Jacuzzi's Salon Spa, which can deliver the therapeutic benefits of a whirlpool or the calming effects of an air bath.

Designer showers
Steam showers, too, have evolved into multi-faceted systems. According to designer John Hall, who carries several new Jacuzzi models in his new Cleveland showroom. "A shower steam unit is one of the key elements in transforming your bathroom into a complete spa.

"One of the nice things is that, after a hard day of work or exercise, you can come home and step into steam," says Hall, who recommends installing adjustable heads that direct the spray to different levels. That way, if you're running late and don't have time to wash and dry your hair, you can point the spray low enough that your head stays dry. Many of Hall's clients also like placing the heads above the shower so they can enjoy a rainfall effect.

Create the ultimate ambience
To transform a standard bathroom into a luxurious oasis, think beyond the water features. Design elements such as cabinetry, color, light, sound and your choice of flooring - slate, marble or natural tile, for example - also shape the spa experience. Accessories run from the merely functional (non-misting mirrors) to the indulgent: radiant heated floors, towel warming drawers, even a fireplace.

Now ask yourself: What really makes your mornings hum, your evenings purr? If you love starting your day with hot coffee or cold fruit juice, put in an instant hot water system or a mini-fridge. Want to get the latest headlines without retrieving the newspaper? Install a remote-control television like Jacuzzi's Lift It TV Lift System, which brings the set up from its cabinet whenever you want to watch the news.

For a perfect evening, put on a CD, pull out a bottle of chilled wine, and slip into a tension-relieving whirlpool bath. Or opt for a calming air bath enhanced with aromatic salts and chromotherapy, while surround sound adds another cushion of comfort as the cares and demands of workaday life float far, far away.

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Sources

John Hall
High-end kitchen and bath design
jhall@jhallkitchens.com