Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/147234
Soak It Up The tub and shower industry welcomes an evolution in luxury, comfort and design by Laurie Jones The Dune bathtub by Antonio Lupi. Photo courtesy Ambient Bathrooms. F or people who enjoy nothing more than to soak in a tub as a way to unwind after a hard day's work, bathroom manufacturers in North America have raised the ante and introduced new luxury tubs and shower systems that are sure to please. With over thirty years' experience helping consumers improve their well-being, BainUltra is leading the way with ThermaSens, its new category of therapeutic bathtubs. This innovative product awakens the senses and invites new experiences through a combination of therapies and enhanced comfort. "Slipping into a ThermaSens bath is like immersing yourself in the calm and soothing waters of a lake, leaving you with a sense of fulfillment and tranquility," says Julie Metras, marketing project manager at BainUltra. "ThermaSens was inspired by the enveloping warmth and therapeutic benefits of Roman baths. It was designed to address the needs of consumers in today's stress-filled world by improving the conventional bathtub to promote personal relaxation, health and well-being," says Metras. This category of bathtub also incorporates new technologies AromaCloud, Chromatherapy and WarmTouchShell. "AromaCloud is an aromatherapy diffuser that is seamlessly incorporated into the bath deck of ThermaSens tubs," says Metras. "It releases a fine mist of essential oils that retain the therapeutic qualities and are readily absorbed. AromaCloud delivers the benefits of the oils, whether for the toning, antiinflammatory or regenerating properties, allowing users to immerse themselves in a calming aromatic mist of goodness." Combined with Chromatherapy, the soothing haze envelops the bather in an environment where the billowing mist and suffused colours create a harmonious synergy. Duravit USA , Inc. continues to offer clean and Bathtubs and Showers p40-43Tubs Showers.indd 41 simple lines in its selection of bathtub and shower options. The updated Starck 2 line now includes a sophisticated rectangular tub with a standout feature – a prominent, integrated neckrest. "The tub is an engineering feat because its rectangular form features clean, strong angles nearly impossible to achieve in acrylic," says Tim Schroeder, president. The Happy D.2 collection's signature D-shaped bathtubs, wash basins and toilets have been updated with particularly fine rims that create a soft and elegant form. "The new bathtub also features a comfortable, ergonomic backrest slope and the option of fitting in various whirl systems," says Schroeder. "The Happy D.2 series offers the distinct character of the original range while showcasing a move towards a more simplified architectural design." The new Starck Slimline shower trays round out this reinvigorated collection. A characteristic design feature is the flat installation height, reducing the rim to a mere four-fifths of an inch and making it ideal for all standard shower enclosures. Robinson Lighting & Bath Centre has consistently offered the latest in bathing products. "While we are seeing a trend towards showering due to busy lifestyles, people are still looking for spa-style bathrooms with large tubs for relaxing," says Matt Robinson, business development manager. "One new product, BainUltra's Geysair, provides a way to recirculate hot water in the tub that keeps water warm for an extended period of time. From my perspective, this is an industry changer." This new technology advances the benefits of air bath therapy by providing warm jets of air prolonging the hydrotherapy massage session. Inspired by the well-known therapeutic properties of hot mineral springs, Geysair delivers a true feeling of warmth when air bubbles touch the skin. A wide selection of shower products is also available at Robinson Lighting & Bath Centre. "One of our hottest selling products right now is Kohler's Moxi shower," says Robinson. "The cool thing about this showerhead is a speaker that syncs with Bluetoothenabled devices. It's on a magnet so the speaker fits inside the shower unit. You can disconnect it and take it with you to the beach, then plug your showerhead into your phone and listen to music. We can't keep these things on our shelves." After a strong and positive response following its launch in 2012, the budget-friendly Kohler HydroRail Shower Column has expanded to include the HydroRail-R rainhead and handshower column, HydroRail-S showerhead and handshower column, and HydroRail-H handshower-only shower column. The expanded configuration offers ways to easily and affordably personalize showers to fit showering space dimensions, personal preferences and budget. "HydroRail transforms a standard fixed showerhead to a custom shower experience, without the added expense and hassle of disrupting or changing existing plumbing behind the wall," says Les Petch, Kohler Faucets marketing manager of Performance Showering. "Since it uses existing valving and plumbing, in most cases the HydroRail can be installed in less than an hour." While the ease of installation has proven hugely popular, the enhanced showering experience and functionality provides additional benefits as well. "A height-adjustable handshower is one of the most sought-after showering upgrades," says Petch. "It allows users to adjust the spray angle to accommodate their height." The handshower is also a convenient addition when it comes time to cleaning the showering space. Both the HydroRail-R and HydroRail-S have a simple-to-operate diverter located at the bottom august 2013 /41 13-07-12 11:44 AM