theSun Property May 2015

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ON FRIDAY MAY 29, 2015
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WITH our hectic lifestyles
and the daily grind
most of us go through
day-in, day-out at the
office, home and on the road,
finding the time to put one’s feet up,
relax and unwind can be a task, let
alone a trip to the spa.
Sowe spoke to interior designers
Alain Low and Justine Leong on
how to create one’s “very own spa”
to helpmelt away the day’s stress
and put one in a great mood. Below
are easy-to-follow tips to transform
any bathroom into a spa.
DECK THE BASICS
Mention the words “spa” and
“bath”, andmost people think of a
luxurious bathroomwith a claw-
foot bath tub. “A free-standing tub
or Jacuzzi tub instantly amps up a
bathroom to give it spa-like status.
However, not every bathroomhas
the space for it,” says Low. “If you
have a smaller bathroom, opt for a
shower cubicle, with both a rain
shower plus a separate hand-held
shower fixture. You can even attach
wall-mounted body jets/sprays/
nebulisers within the cubicle. “This
makes up for not having a Jacuzzi
tub and adds to the spa-like
luxurious ambience,” he adds.
According to Leong, a deep,
double-sink vanity unit with plenty
of counter space and a framed
mirror the width of the vanity
unit is amust for a spa bathroom.
“You hardly find spas with small
vanity units andmirrors.”
Leong also suggests separating
the toilet area from the shower/
bath section, either with a frosted
glass or a carved roomdivider.
AMP THE FINISHINGS
“Finishings are crucial to spa
bathrooms … themore luxurious
it is, the better,” says Low. Granite,
quartz or marble are ideal for floors,
walls, vanity top and tub. If cost is
an issue, try the less expensive
laminates, which can be tailor-made
to resemble thesematerials.
“If you can afford it,
go ahead and splurge, if not, it is not
necessary to use thesematerials
everywhere,” says Low. His
suggestion: to use granite on just
the vanity top or accentuate the
feature wall next to the free-
standing tub. “Small but well
planned highlights work just as
well, tomake a room look classy,”
he adds.
LIGHT IT UP
Lighting is an important part of
every spa environment and can
either make or break the overall
spa experience. “No harshwhite
lights! The lighting should be
yellow, mellow… slightly dim,
CHROMATHERAPY –
COLOURS AND ITS EFFECTS
Red stimulates vitality
Orange soothes themind and
stimulates circulation
Yellowpromotes comfort and
relaxation
Green reduces anxiety
Blue promotes calm
Purple lessens anxiety
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> Transformyour bathroom into a relaxation zone Spa oasis
to radiate a soothing ambience,”
says Low. “Opt for ambient
recessed lights, down lights and
wall scones if youwant a
contemporary spa look … and small
chandeliers and pendant lights for a
more glamorous and expensive
touch. Whichever lighting you
choose, make sure it has a dimmer.
Home spas need to be practical.
With a dimmer, you can brighten
up a room for tasks like applying
make up or dim it when youwant
to relax.”
Leong says that chromatherapy
(the use of coloured lights to help
evoke amood) is amust for a
perfectly relaxing spa experience.
Each colour evokes amood (see
side box). So, choose themood you
want to go for andmatch it with the
appropriate coloured lights. There
are shops in themarket selling
bathroom fittings and spa showers
with attached chromatherapy
features.
However, for a cheaper
alternative, Leong recommends
placing tea lights in small, heat-
resistant, coloured glass jars, and
surrounding your bathtub or
shower area with them.
ADD ENTERTAINMENT
Whether you are enjoying a
bubble bath or chilling in the
shower, adding entertainment to
the equation, as in listening to your
favouritemusic while in the bath,
makes relaxation somuch better.
Consider fixing wall-mounted
surround sound speakers or
waterproof speakers next to
your shower, or perhaps a plasma
or LCD television set opposite
your bathtub.
“Music and entertainment
may be nice inclusions to your
spa experience, but you don’t
want them to distract the overall
decor of the room… so I would
suggest hiding these systems
aesthetically. You could do this
inexpensively by placing plants
or vases in front of them. Or if you
can afford it, there aremany state-
of-the-art features for this purpose,
such as amirror that doubles as a
television cover,” says Leong.
IT’S IN THE DETAILS
Presentation is very important
when it comes to spas or spa-like
bathrooms, so take note of the
subtle “signs” that suggest an
important thing or two. These
include: “Keep the clutter away.”
Necessities like tooth brushes,
combs and face washes, should
preferably be stored neatly in an
attached cabinet or drawer.
Replace any aluminumdustbin
or plastic laundry basket for wick
ones with lids. “And in keeping true
Aromatherapy is an important
aspect of the overall spa
experience, so place incense
sticks or reed diffusers on your
vanity tops or the corners of the
room. For a relaxing bath try these
oils.
Lavender to get you relaxed
Rose for calming themind
Geranium for a comforting
experience
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SCENTS AND SENSE
to the spa look, ‘accessorise’ the
vanity counter with transparent
glass jars of cotton pads, buds and
tissue, on a wooden or glass tray,
along with a fresh flower stalk in a
small vase or pot,” says Leong.
“You alsowant to incorporate
the little things found in spas, like a
chaise chair in the corner of the
room, or perhaps decorate the
interior with a fancy looking fan too.
“Another important tip is not to
skimp on items that double-up as
‘accessories’, like soft cotton
bathroom slippers, three sizes of
towels (hand, face and bath) folded
neatly on a rack (try to keep these
items white in colour) and an
incense holder that emits your
favourite scent,” she adds.
PHOTO: MYDECORATIVE.COM