by Brandon Schultz

Created on: July 02, 2008   Last Updated: July 15, 2008

With today's hectic lifestyle, stress-relief and relaxation are the keys to success for the modern American. A weekend at the spa may be in store on occasion, but what about the every day relief and pampering that we deserve? The answer is the newest wave of home luxury: the spa bathroom.

The most important feature of a spa-quality bathroom is the shower and too often it is considered just a place to rinse, lather, and repeat. Your shower is the heart of your luxury experience and it should do more than just drop water on your head. For the latest in shower extravagance, there is no substitute for the Monza Steam Shower from Wasauna. Already in the finest European hotels and the most upscale homes in America, Wasauna's 59x59x89" steam shower comes equipped with 20 jets, an overhead, rain-fall showerhead, a LED display that controls seven chromotherapy lighting settings, FM radio, and two seats for relaxation. For more information, visit www.wasauna.com and explore your options of finishes, sizes, and features.

The latest in bathroom sinks is the countertop basin. Usually made of marble or the finest stone materials, these chic bowls transform your bathroom into an art display. Check out the onyx sink collection by Sunshine Stone at www.chinasink.com or choose from dozens of other natural materials. For the finest craftsmanship and most exquisite appearance in bathroom hardware (faucets, towel bars, etc.) visit www.phylrich.com and browse Phylrich's numerous options of hand-casted, bronze hardware (available in several finishes including golds, nickels, silvers, and chromes) which are finely sculpted, hand chassed fixtures whose artistry rivals that of true sculpture.

For the individual touch that exudes luxury and success, include monogrammed toilet paper in your new bathroom. Available online from www.printedtp.com, toilet paper is now available to be printed with any image. No luxury bathroom is complete without this personalized necessity and, while any image or text is possible, stick with monograms for the elegant touch.

When it comes to the glamour of the spa experience, the products used are as important as the bathroom fixtures. To truly pamper your skin, use a high quality body wash like the Lavender & Moroccan Olive Leaf offered by Kew. Apart from the peaceful scent of this product, the olive oil is a natural anti-oxidant and emollient that combines with fennel oil, hyssop oil, and chamomile in this heavenly spread that will leave your skin fresh and rejuvenated. For hands and feet, Kew offers a body scrub by the same name with some added ingredients for those rougher-skinned parts. The growing popularity of this line makes it harder to come by, but a little perseverance online will bring it to your door.

Hand-painted wallpaper, Italian tile floors, and plush bathrobes are all fine touches to America's more beautiful bathrooms, but to really stand apart and experience the cutting edge of bathroom luxury, take advantage of these technological and aesthetic advances that only the most elegant spas and resorts are currently introducing.

Learn more about this author, Brandon Schultz.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.