BATH TRENDS
Personal Luxury for the SHOWER Body Sprays
Originally designed solely for hygienic purposes, showers have come a long way from the simple designs of yesterday. With the popular rise of “custom showering” through the creative yet purposeful use of body sprays, steam generators and alternate shower head designs, today’s in-home showers can be designed for relaxation, therapy and stress reduction. “Custom showering is anything other than just your ordinary valve and shower head,” said Tom Christensen, showcase manager of Keller Supply Co. in Bend. “I want my clients to have a shower as a personal space they can relax in.” In the spirit of adding an element of personal luxury to a shower, Tom outlines a few options popular with clients today:
Quite simply, a body spray is a miniature shower head that sprays the bather from a location on the shower wall. According to Tom, clients typically opt for four body sprays in their showers for better coverage. “The term ‘human car wash’ comes to mind because that’s what it is — water that sprays your body from the walls. “Body sprays are vehicles for cleaning you from all angles, but they also add an element of massage to the showering experience.” Body sprays can pivot side to side or up and down, depending on the bather’s preference. Sprays are typically positioned in the upper torso and abdominal levels.
Rain Heads & Hand Showers
While some may enjoy the concentrated spray offered by most shower heads, many
clients opt for the calmer experience of what’s called a “rain head” — a larger, wider shower head up to a foot or more in diameter. “A rain head offers a more gentle flow of water with broader coverage as opposed to a direct frontal spray. “It’s a nice cascade of water from above. It’s like a gentle rain rather than a downpour.” A hand shower on the other hand is composed of a spray wand on a hose for personalized spray or rinsing down the shower after use. They’re wonderful for showering young children as well.
Steam Generators/Showers
While some shower customization is for simply improving the bathing experience, other options can expand the functionality of your shower. Steam generators, for instance, can turn your shower into a personal sauna. “A lot of people like to use steam in the shower for relaxation or as a body cleansing system,”. “Steam relaxes and soothes muscles, relaxes tension, stimulates circulation and rids your body of impurities and toxins.” Following a good steam bath, you
can just turn on the shower, rinse and get on with your day. Tom suggests that not all custom shower options work for every home or lifestyle. “When I walk through the process with a homeowner, I ask what they want the shower to do for them,” he said. “Are you active, athletic? Do you like nice long showers? Do two bathers use the shower at the same time? “I want them to have a shower that can provide them with a personal spa experience.”
“Body sprays are vehicles for cleaning you from all angles, but they also add an element of massage to the showering experience.”
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541-385-0837 | 200 SE Bridgeford, Blg. #2, Bend, OR 97702 Early Spring 2012 | Central Oregon Living | 23