Digital valves and steambaths give homeowners that
on-vacation feeling.
Luxury fixtures in the bath are still a top request among
pre-sold custom homes.
“Our clients want their baths to feel like a
vacation,” says Anna Schwabero, vice president of design for
Southampton Homes in St. Charles, Ill.
While Southampton uses plumbing subcontractors for
the installation of the bathrooms, its design team is heavily involved from the
beginning with creating the space the homeowner wants. “We work closely with
homeowners, and that’s part of the fun ― discovering their wants and needs and
creating a design that works for them.”
And with today’s valve technology, you’re only limited
by your imagination ... and of course your budget.
“Kohler has a fun feature in its digital
thermostatic valves that has garnered a good response from our clients,” says
Schwabero. With this new “Performance Showering,” a variety of custom shower components can be used: multiple showerheads,
handshowers and bodysprays, rainshowers, and more.
“They’re all effortlessly controlled by the simple and
intuitive digital interface of the Kohler DTV,” says Michael Wandschneider, senior product manager
– performance showering for Kohler Co. “You can step into your Kohler performance shower and
simply push a button to choose a pre-set hydrotherapy experience or recall your
favorite showering preference.”
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| ThermaSol's basics of steamshower design |
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Another luxury for
the bath gaining attention in the spa-at-home market is steamshowers.
However, the
master baths of custom homes oftentimes include cathedral ceilings. “Clients
are usually more interested in height and volume in their baths, so the steam
option is lost in favor of other design choices,” says Schwabero. But with the
number of total baths increasing per household, installing a luxury steambath
in any other bathroom in the house is still possible. And adding a steam system
to an existing shower has become an easier task.
ThermaSol
steamshowers operate in existing shower stalls as long as a steam-proof shower
door and completely moisture-resistant shower environment exists (i.e., tile or
stone should be installed everywhere inside the shower).
Users can
take their regular showers using existing plumbing fixtures, and then activate
their steam option with an in-shower control.
The
ThermoSol steam generator can be installed up to 50 pipe feet from the shower.
The equipment requires a cold water supply line and a dedicated 240v circuit.
Other
options to increase the spa-like feel in a steambath are programmable LED light
fixtures for chromatherapy; waterproof speakers for music; and a steamhead that
can distribute aromatherapy oils while relaxing.
Check Out These Resources ...
The custom shower design process will go a lot smoother if you put some extra thought into it up front. Click here for Kohler's "Design and Plumbing Considerations" before your next project.
