Going with the flow

There are several reasons for going to a spa, such as to de-stress, to relax, to beautify, to fight the ageing process, and to forget life’s problems for an hour or two. Whatever the reason for indulging in a massage, facial or body wrap, it ultimately comes down to feeling good and improving overall health – something you can do in the comfort of your home.

Key to the feel-good factor is to create a space that feels calm. Draw inspiration from the onsen of Japan to give your bathroom that Zen feel: think natural materials, such as wood and stone, and pared-down design. Move away from superfluous detail.

When it comes to wooden elements, look to the work of Japanese studio, Nendo, for ideas. Under the direction of Oki Sato, the studio has created a set of linear, wooden and ceramic basins, bathtubs, storage systems and planters. Nendo also recently created a bathroom range as part of its KI collection for Scavolini, featuring rounded white boxes for use as storage or planters, and wooden shelves and drawer units. The look is clean and pure – perfect for the Zen bathroom. Rapsel’s Ofurò tub is another great choice for the Japanese-inspired bathing space; it is made of movingui and larch wood, with a tactile finish.

For stone tubs and basins, check out Hong Kong designer Steve Leung’s Inkstone range for Neutra, available through colourliving. Each of the pieces in this collection is carved out of a single block of stone, giving it a smooth, seamless finish.

Also think about raising the tub. Place it by a light source on a stone plinth, with stone steps leading up to it – this will make it feel like it is separate from the rest of the bathroom. You could even bring in sheer curtains, enclosing the tub from the rest of the bathroom, so that it feels private, without being too cut-off from the rest of the room.

The faucets can also enhance the bathroom’s spa feel. Philippe Starck’s Axor Starck Organic basin mixer resembles a bamboo branch and it saves water, using a maximum of 3.5 litres per minute. Then there are Dornbracht’s Mem taps in a new, golden finish – these will bring a touch of luxe to your space.