Bringing home the spa: four master baths designed to lift the spirit

Sunset, Jan, 2003 by Mary Jo Bowling, Peter O. Whiteley

More than ever, Westerners are finding ways to enjoy the restorative powers of professional spas right in their own homes. Whether they're adding a few inexpensive touches or undertaking a remodeling project, they've come to consider their bathrooms as private sanctuaries. "The master bath is not just a place for showering," says architect Mercedes Corbell. "It's a place where people go to escape the bustle of the home and their busy lives." You can achieve a spalike atmosphere with these design mantras.

1. Connect with nature. Natural sights, sounds, and textures are inherently soothing. Carefully plan window placement to frame trees or views. Consider installing a window shade that rises from the sill to shield the occupant, or build an adjacent cubicle-size courtyard and open a connection to it. A skylight will brighten the space and preserve privacy.

2. Create a soothing palette. When you analyze the elements that make professional spas so relaxing, you realize the importance of color and material choices. Most spas use soft, neutral hues and natural wood and stone.

3. Simplify and store. A cluttered room doesn't make a peaceful room. Wall-mounted cabinets are a good storage solution because they seem less massive than conventional floor-mounted cabinets. Pedestal sinks with open rack storage underneath have a streamlined look.

4. Compartmentalize. The calmness of a master bath is enhanced if the utilitarian is separated from the relaxing. One way to do this is to detach the toilet from the bathing area. A screen--perhaps a partition that doubles as a storage wall--can be an effective divider.

5. Look at the light. If you seek a tranquil mood, create it with soft, diffused light or candles. For flexibility install a dimmer switch.

A place apart

WINDOW: Rice paper inserted between sheets of laminated glass in lower panes creates a screen that's sufficiently opaque for privacy yet transparent enough to let through light.

BATH BAY: With its own glass-wrapped platform of honed limestone, the tub creates a miniature room and accentuates the retreat idea.

STEP: Wood slats create an elegant transition.

DESIGN: Lane Williams Architects, Seattle (www.lanewilliams.com or 206/284-8355)

Quiet zone

NICHE WINDOWS: Small, strategically placed colored panes bring in light without sacrificing privacy and provide space for soap, flowers, and art.

TEXTURED WALLS: Covered in warm gray plaster, the walls' tone contributes to the sense that this is a sanctuary.

DESIGN: Mercedes Corbell Design Architecture, Oakland, CA (510/832-8970)

Easy spa touches

Immerse cucumber slices in water for a half hour, lie down, and place them on closed eyes. Water makes cucumbers cool, gelatinous, and very soothing.

Soak hand towels in warm water with a couple of drops of scented oil. Wring out, roll up, and microwave them for 20 seconds at 100% power. Rub lotion on hands or feet and wrap With the warm towels.

Listen to music that's evenly paced, with minimal percussion and lyrics. Or use recordings of nature such as the sound of rain, waves, or a running brook.

Drink tension-relieving chamomile or other herbal, decaffeinated tea. Even the ritual of making tea can be relaxing.

RELATED ARTICLE: All natural

TUB: A modern version of the furo a classic Japanese wooden soaking tub. Its shell is insulated stainless steel which warms to the water temperature but loses no heat.

BENCH: A cantilevered plank of recycled walnut. The character of the wood appears in its irregular outline and richly patterned grain.

CABINET: Wall-mounted to float like the bench, honey-toned hemlock adds warmth. Open shelves allow for simple, spare display.

WALLS: Celadon-colored plaster provides a soothing backdrop.

WINDOWS: Simple rectangular panes frame trees and wash walls with daylight.

FLOOR: Radiant-heated flagstones were laid adjacent to the bath, and there's walnut flooring in front of the vanities.

DESIGN: Cheng Design, Berkeley (www.chengdesign.com or 510/849-3272) and Thompson Brooks Inc., San Francisco (www.thompsonbrooks.com or 415/581-2600)

Light chamber

WINDOWS: High, rectangular panes fill the space with daylight while preserving privacy.

PARTITION/DOOR: Clear glass creates an airy feeling in a compact room. The floor-to-ceiling partition allows the shower to double as a steam room.

DESIGN: Satterberg Desonier Dumo Interior Design, Mercer Island, WA (www.satterbergdesign.com or 206/232-1830)