The Master Bath Retreat

Dry activities, on the other hand, include:

As a recent reader of Health Magazine said, "I used to think of working out at the gym as just that - work. Now I see my home gym as a getaway. I work out, but I take my time. I recently began to dedicate Saturday mornings as my 'spa day.'"

SPA 'TO DO' LIST

For designers, the challenge is simple: allowing the floor space and storage area for all this stuff!

Once again, find out what the consumer uses. Learn the space needed around the different pieces of equipment.

1. The American Council on Exercise (ACE) offers the following minimal square footage for typical equipment:

Treadmills 30 sq. ft.

Free Weights 20-30 sq. ft.

Bikes, Recumbent and Upright 10 sq. ft.

Rowing Machines 20 sq. ft.

Stair Climbers 10-20 sq. ft.

Ski Machines 25 sq. ft.

Single Station Gyms 35 sq. ft.

Multi-station Gyms 50-200 sq. ft.

2. Allow for a resting bench, typically anywhere from 18" to 36" wide by 48"/60"/72" long, 14" off the floor.

3. A massage table is typically 28" x 72"
4. A typical yoga mat is 24" x 72". In addition to the mat, a yoga enthusiast will normally have wood or foam blocks, as well as a rolled blanket. In that many yoga enthusiasts enjoy following an instructor on a favorite television program or practicing a routine following a video leader, access to clear sight line to a media screen may be required.

But what about the towels? Bathroom linens today are a big part of the space. A stay at a hotel used to be an away from home stay that one endured. Over the years, as four-, five- and five-plus-star hotel properties have tried to outdo one another, bed and bath linens have become of paramount importance. As your consumers have pampered themselves by staying in these hotels, they have come to appreciate the luxury of pure Turkish bath sheets and the finest bed linens.

The key to these linens from a bathroom designer standpoint is they’re fluffier and bigger – therefore, they need more space to store and to hang.

In addition, here are some final things to consider:

1. All of these "to do" lists seem pretty extensive – and they are if you’re thinking about capturing some of the business opportunities and design satisfaction of creating master bath retreats. To really "win," design firms should also expand their showroom space to show possibilities.
2. Designers truly need to understand (and I recommend that understanding only comes through experiencing) the spa concept of wellness, comfort and relaxation. If you are not a spa enthusiast, at least make an appointment with a local day or resort spa in your area and meet with the owner or manager to learn what spa patrons enjoy. Once you’ve created a great showroom display, perhaps some joint cross-marketing programs could be developed between the two firms.
3. Focus on partnering! For total suites, combining your talents with those of an interior designer who is planning all the fabrics for the adult retreat, a plumbing wholesale or boutique showroom specialist who knows all the details of the fixtures and fittings you'll be specifying, while working closely with heating and plumbing specialists with make for a great project.

This is part of a quarterly series of "Designer's Notebook" stories, which will run throughout 2005 exclusively in KBDN.