appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

hooksArticlePageFloatingButtonConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

Peta Tomlinson

It’s the one place in the home where a person can truly be alone, to indulge in rituals that soothe, rest and restore. Hence, in designing luxury projects for her clients, Hong Kong designer Rowena Gonzales, of Liquid Interiors, looks for every opportunity to incorporate wellness elements that nurture and inspire.
Bathrooms that are out of the ordinary by bringing a spa feel into the home make well-being an everyday experience, rather than a luxury, she says.

Antoine Besseyre Des Horts, vice-president of design at Lixil Water Technology Asia, agrees that the elevated role of the once-humble bathroom has fuelled demand for wellness products that support our needs for living healthily, responsibly and beautifully.
Japan’s wabi-sabi philosophy is the interior decor trend of 2020
To meet that criteria, he says, the modern bathroom “must be easy to use and clean, ergonomic, safe, provide a sense of well-being, and express one’s personal style”.
Spatially, the designer points out, the bathroom is one more area of the home where traditional boundaries are dissolving. Just as the kitchen has merged with the living room to create a new social space, the bathroom blends more and more with the bedroom to form a private retreat. This requires more attention to be paid to the design, so that the lighting, colours and materials chosen reflect the room’s changing status.
If they have room, many people still want a bathtub so they can luxuriate uninterrupted in a long, hot soak. Baths with ergonomic designs provide the ultimate comfort, and there’s no doubting the visual appeal of a glamorous free-standing tub, like the sinuous Veil bath from Kohler, or the lure of a Japanese hot spring-inspired soak in INAX’s new S600 and S400 lines, launched globally at Milan Design Week 2019.
the modern bathroom must be easy to use and clean, ergonomic, safe, provide a sense of well-being, and express one’s personal style
Antoine Besseyre Des Horts
That’s not the only way to enjoy a restorative hydrotherapy session at home now that spa experiences are built into showers.
Grohe’s new Euphoria SmartControl shower system, for example, lets you tailor your own experience at the touch of a button. “Depending on your mood, or the time of day, you can choose a powerful, invigorating spray for an energising start to the morning, or unwind with a relaxing, ‘soft as summer rain’ spray in the evening,” Besseyre Des Horts says. The technology ensures that the water temperature stays precisely as you like it.

To achieve the desired relaxing ambience and cater to the need for more convenience and comfort in the bathroom, everything within the space should be intuitive and easy to use. “You don’t want to have to fiddle with different controls,” he points out.
5 hi-tech home appliances that will let you put your feet up
In terms of colours, white is clean, minimal, elegant and timeless. But with comfort an overarching goal of bathroom design, soft textures such as wood grain finishes, earthy tones and ceramics are emerging as homeowners seek to make a strong statement in their private retreat.

Meanwhile, Kohler is calling “the revival of colours” the major bathroom trend of the moment. The brand reports continued demand for its range of black toilets, tubs and vanities, but those who aren’t game to take such a big step can always dip their toe into colour by simply changing the tap ware.
Bedroom designs focus on sustainability and environmental concerns
Clutter is a passion-killer, and nowhere more so than in a bathroom. Convenient, in-drawer storage designed for make-up and hair or shaving accessories keeps daily necessities out of sight, while within easy reach. To streamline the look, conceal power points inside the cabinetry.
To finish, add the little things which will make a difference. High quality, fluffy towels, gorgeous hand soap and bathing products, pampering body creams and the use of scented candles and diffusers will all turn the home bathroom into a luxurious spa experience.
Want more stories like this? Sign up here. Follow STYLE on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter .


Curate your coffee table books like Karl Lagerfeld: eye-catching tomes from Taschen and Assouline just scream sophistication

What your coffee cup says about you: elevate your morning brew with designer mugs from Gucci, Missoni, Etro and Versace – from Richard Ginori porcelain to Greek goddesses and daring zigzag prints

Why Lauren Santo Domingo was ‘awestruck’ to join Tiffany Home: the incoming artistic director promises to bring ‘authority and authenticity’ to the NYC jeweller’s homeware range – interview

Extreme organising: how decluttering my kitchen helped me find peace of mind, and bring order amid the chaos of life

Home Essentials

From home spas to hydrotherapy: How modern bathrooms have evolved to provide a sense of well-being

INAX’s Japanese-style bathroom contains a bathtub which remains popular with many people who enjoy soaking in the hot water for a long time. Photos: Handouts

Grohe Euphoria Smart Control Shower System, Photo credit: Handout

Kohler Bath

Kohler Veil Collection, Photo credit: Handout

4 onsen spas in Southeast Asia with modern twists for a holistic luxury wellness experience

Singapore’s Yunomori Onsen combines Japanese traditions with modern technology to offer a fun-filled day at a water park for grown-ups. Photo: Handout

Urban Retreat Onsen Spa. Photo: Handout

8 Hong Kong spas where the facials, massages and multi-treatment journeys will help you reboot

The-Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong is offering the Environ Optimal Skin Facial at The Mandarin Spa. Photos: Handouts

Four Seasons Hong Kong offers the Golden Glow spa treatment which ends with bubbles

Tales of Bath at Lush Spa is inspired by the city of Bath's hydrotherapy which targets stressed out muscles

Amooma - At Amooma in Wanchai, take a load off and let your weary feet relax, be shaped and buffed, then soaked and scrubbed, masked and massaged

Touch of Heaven Day Spa Package, Jurlique Day Spa starts with a gentle salt body scrub

Rosewood Hong Kong Asaya Kitchen

Enjoy the 24 Karat Gold Crystal Collagen Experience at I-SPA, InterContinental Hong Kong

The Environ Optimal Skin Facial at The Mandarin Spa refreshes with a gentle cleanse and peel before technology kicks in with the Ionzyme® Electro-Sonic DF Machine.

Indian millennials, ‘silver wave’ shoppers and sustainable practices will define fashion and design trends in the 2020s

The concept of organic clothes and sustainable fashion is exciting the interest of major industry players keen to prove their green credentials in a world of finite resources. Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto

Casually dressed guy working in simple and modern space. Dominant color of the space is yellow.

Silver consumers are expected to be a considerable power for spending. Photo: Getty Images

Modern Indian youth culture concept. Photo: Getty Images

***PLEASE CLEAR THE COPYRIGHTS BEFORE REUSE*** Gucci SS2020. Courtesy of Gucci shot by Dan Lecca

From home spas to hydrotherapy: How modern bathrooms have evolved to provide a sense of well-being

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Luxury bathroom designs incorporate wellness elements that nurture and inspire

Luxury bathroom designs incorporate wellness elements that nurture and inspire