Read article : Luxe baths evolve into personal spas
Settle in and have your achy muscles caressed. Breathe fragrant aromas of eucalyptus, lavender, sandalwood or grapefruit. Listen to Bach, Beethoven or cool jazz, and melt away stress in a steam shower.
Pamper yourself. You know you want to, and there’s no need to travel to an exotic location. Today’s luxe bath can be your own personal spa and so much more.
Like uber thread counts that determine a bed sheet’s degree of luxury, the number of jets and how many nozzles control the dance of water now are deciding factors in upgrading shower and tub features.
Even the lexicon has changed. Today’s home spa emphasizes hydrotherapy, and there is nothing ordinary about it. The water is healing and magical because of amazing technology.
“It’s all about de-stressing,” says Ann Roever, senior product manager of bathing products for Kohler Co.
Beyond the whirlpool, the choices today are dizzying. Consider how soothing or invigorating a massage you want. Then think about whether you want to add chromatherapy, which allows bathing in a pool of changing hues, or aromatherapy in a range of scents.
Showers simulating rain that virtually massages the body were a novelty a few years ago, but today most manufacturers offer at least one model. The German manufacturer Dornbracht offers a large rectangular rain shower that recesses into the ceiling and adjusts from the equivalent of a drizzle to a tropical downpour.
Hansgrohe’s Raindance Rainmaker features a “three-whirl massage” that goes from droplets to intense spray, plus four mood lights and two air-spray modes. It sells for just under $3,100 and looks like a futuristic feature from a spacecraft.
There now are WaterTiles, a Kohler trademark, which come in fetching square or round shapes, recessed for a cleaner look. Some are even directional, allowing adjustment of the spray to targeted areas. One of Kohler’s newest products is a sexy shower wand that provides a rain-like spray.
Glass showerheads offer another attractive design option in today’s home spa. Like other bathroom hardware, showerheads also are available in a range of finishes, including polished and satin nickel as well as oil-rubbed bronze. High-end models cost several hundred dollars apiece.
With so many body sprays, the inside of a shower these days may resemble a car wash. It’s not surprising that there’s a trend to open up the space and make it unencumbered even by glass doors, conforming to barrier-free universal principles. One of the more elaborate shower towers, the Waterhaven by Kohler, features seven water “ports,” a two- arched telescoping shower head, four movable body sprays and one handheld shower wand for $7,260.
Methven, an Australian company, this summer is introducing a spa experience called “shower infusions.” The infusions come from a small cartridge that fits into the base of a handheld shower wand, permeating the space with aromas as it hydrates. There are four flavors: Lift (a combination of grapefruit and pomegranate), Fresh (green tea and peppermint), Bliss (jasmine and ylang ylang, a tropical Asian tree) and Balance (lavender and vanilla).
Another company, Mr. Steam, offers in-shower music therapy speakers, aromatherapy and mood lighting.
The tub, as well as the shower, is not lacking bells and whistles. There’s the air bath that offers the champagne equivalent of tiny bubbles, which creates a soothing to invigorating massage. Some compare the air bath to bathing in hot springs. Or you can choose a soaking tub, a deeper tub also known as a Japanese bath.
Tubs no longer need to be tethered to a wall. Freestanding tubs in the middle of a room add a new dynamic to the bath. With crisp, angular lines or sculptural curves, these baths are showstopping artistic architectural centerpieces in an interior. One design from Agape resembles an enormous shallow bowl.
In an effort to stimulate the senses, MTI Whirlpool’s Stereo Water is an invisible audio system that delivers sound through the tub. State- of-the-art speakers are acoustic “transducers,” applied to the bath shell’s exterior surface near the waterline. The sound is evenly distributed within the tub, enveloping the bather in sounds of choice, from rousing rock to a calming concerto, according to the company.
Many tub extras can be monitored with the touch of a button on a control with digital readout. Some companies even offer remote controls that are submersible so you don’t have to lift your hand out of the water. Perhaps even more welcome are devices that baffle the sound created by whirlpool jets.
Of course, there are dozens of spa bath accessories, including ergonomically designed backrests and armrests, some heated to soothe tired muscles, neck massagers (Jacuzzi’s Fuzion 7242 whirlpool offers a cascading neck-massaging waterfall), heaters in tubs that keep warm water at a constant temperature, anti-fog mirrors and towel-warming drawers. Even pet spas manufactured by MTI Whirlpool are part of the mix.
As in other areas of the home, the emphasis these days is on customization. Pearl Baths Inc. offers “recipes” for specific therapies that direct sound, light and type of massage. SilverTag provides a computer-controlled environment with 18 showerheads and 30 shower frequencies, programmable with a touch screen. The price is staggering; it sells for about $100,000.
Bath design really began to evolve in the 1980s, when almost any room that was a candidate for remodeling got supersized. With an emphasis on health, fitness and cocooning, whirlpools were the centerpiece of the movement, with big tubs for two persons among the hot features. Footprints expanded, with space carved from extra bedrooms to create giant havens for relaxation, often with separate walk-in showers.
The trend took off in the ’90s, with more attention focused on healthy eating and exercise. Bath design continued to upgrade, and everyone wanted cabinetry that resembled furniture.
Recreating the day spa, or travel experiences at spas in luxury resorts, seems to be driving the 21st-century sanctuaries.
“With a day at the spa costing $400 or more, you can invest this money in your home and benefit over the long haul,” says Kohler’s Ann Roever.
The clean lines of the latest tubs and showerheads call out for a more minimal design style. Decorative accessories, furniture and fancy accoutrements (like dripping crystal chandeliers) arrived in the ’80s and still show up in traditional luxury baths, but the spa bath has taken on a decidedly more Spartan look.
The spa bath often features Zen-like environments. Vanities, basins and other furnishings often seem to float. Even toilets have morphed into more stylish forms, some more sculptural, such as rounded models recently introduced by Villeroy and Boch. Natural stones play a role; river rocks sometimes decorate tub surrounds and areas around showers.
Some detractors say the current spa trend smacks of hedonism and narcissism. A brochure from Pearl Baths suggests basking in a tub “reminiscent of Cleopatra” by adding flower petals or two cups of milk to the water. Still, there are therapeutic benefits. Bubbles promote circulation, and music and candles can be soothing.
“We think of the home spa as a place to relax, refresh, rejuvenate and retreat,” Roever says.
The design of the mixers Any mixer is composed of 
Different mechanisms of mixing water Depending on the design of the mixer may vary and the mechanism of mixing water in it. Should there be any doubt that this factor will significantly influence your comfort and his life Kran-buksa The 
For kitchen sinks In the kitchen are commonly used built-in mixers. Their main difference from the models for bathroom is the shape and size of the spout. For most kitchen faucets are characterized by long, swivel spout, allowing you to wash even large pots. The higher spout, the stronger the water pressure, however, and the likelihood that it would be in a spray, which means you’ll need a sink with a deep bowl. Choose a sink and faucet for the kitchen at the same time it is desirable that their dimensions match each other.
Bath First of all, we should note that the bathtub faucets can be combined with a shower. Shower faucets are compact and do not have switch shower-bath and the spout, since the water is immediately fed to shower heads. 
Bathtub faucets with shower — the most common and versatile option. They are usually equipped with low spout and can be either fixed or swivel (suitable if one mixer is used for baths and sinks). In addition, the kit usually comes with a 
For shower rack The reception is a bar with multiple shower heads and allows you to combine the functions of a bath and a shower stall. The top rack is stationary watering can, allowing you to change the mode of water flow and provide a massaging and relaxing effect. In addition to the upper lake on the rack is usually attached shower with flexible hose. The alternative is a wall panel lake of arbitrary shape, directing water on you in the form of small rain drops with massage effect, so, it was called “tropical storm”. 
Ceiling shower Ceiling shower is used to create the effect of home spa, which provides various modes of water supply from tight massage jets, relaxing rain. The size of the ceiling of the heads ranges from 15 to 50 cm in diameter and unusual. This is a great option for relaxation, but a regular shower with a flexible hose for domestic use you still need. 
Bidet There are various options of mixers for bidets. You can choose a universal model, similar to the conventional mixer, however, is equipped with aerator that allows you to change the direction of the jet. In addition to bidet will fit faucets with hose for hygienic shower and faucets with a spout for 
Faucets with touch controls Touch mixer has levers and valves and consists only of a crane. It is equipped with a photocell that respond to movement in a zone of about 30 cm using the special lever you set the optimal temperature of the water, which will be switched on and off automatically. Touch mixer will save you from worrying about whether you turned off the faucet and does not burn the children. On the other hand, it is not suitable for the kitchen or for a set of baths, as there need each time different temperature. Basically touch faucets used in public restrooms to save water and hygiene. Cascading mixers Cascading mixers differ from the ordinary form of a spout, from which water flows a broad stream, resembling a waterfall. Their advantages are a stylish and original appearance, durability and the ability to separate installation when the crane is located at one end of the bath, and the controls in another, and the main drawback — relatively high cost. Faucets with suction shower for hairdressers For beauty salons for the convenience of the client and the master used special types of mixers with long pull-out shower. As a rule, they are single lever and is also equipped with an aerator to reduce splashing and ensure a softer stream of water even under strong pressure. Surgical faucets The main difference between surgical mixers — long handle that allows you to turn on and off the water with your elbow, not touching your hands to the mixer, which is caused by increased hygienic requirements. Such mixers can be installed at home, such as in the kitchen and for people with disabilities. Modern faucet is not just a utilitarian device, and the interior decoration, possible to ease your household chores and get pleasure from the water treatments. On the website santechsystemy.ru you can find truly wide selection of faucets for any type of premises, preferences and financial possibilities. You should go and see it for yourself!