Scott McGillivray Has Created the Spa Bathroom We All Wish We Had
If pampering yourself is high on your list of priorities (and if it isn't it should be…), a luxurious home spa is exactly what you need. In Scott McGillivray's latest Reno to Reveal project – follow along on social media using #Reno2Reveal – he turns a small basement bathroom into a majestic getaway fit for a king (or queen).
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Curbless Glass Shower Enclosure
If you want your bathroom to feel more open there's one sure fire way to do it. Install a glass shower enclosure. It's way more luxurious than a shower curtain, and it removes the visual obstruction. In addition, I also designed the shower to be curbless, which has a significant impact. It opens up the sightlines and when combined with the frameless glass, makes this small room feel huge.
Makeshift Steam Shower
Within the glass shower enclosure I added a special feature. The glass goes all the way to the ceiling and has a vent at the top that can be opened and closed. So if you feel like indulging in a steam shower you can close the vent and allow steam to gather, and when you want a regular shower you can open it up and allow the steam to escape. Steam generators can be very pricey, but this solution allows you to get a similar experience at a fraction of the price. Keep in mind that if you're creating a steam shower it's highly advisable to tile the ceiling to ensure it's properly waterproofed.
Custom Shower Bench
No decent steam shower can be without a bench. To up the luxury factor I installed a custom bench directly in the shower and tiled it to match the rest of the space. While you can bring in another type of waterproof bench, nothing looks as good as a custom built-in unit. Another built-in feature is the tiled niche. It's a great way to add a decorative accent while also giving you a place to put all your shampoo bottles and soap.
Handheld and Rain Shower Head Options
This bathroom is all about indulgence so I added both rain and hand-held shower options. Rain showers provide full coverage when you stand underneath, so every inch of you gets to enjoy the sensation. It would be silly to have a spa bathroom and not include one. But that said, sometimes you need to wash and go so I included the hand help option for the ultimate in convenience.
Heated Floors
No luxurious space is complete without heated floors. The worst thing would be to step out of a great steam shower only to put your feet down on an icy floor. While heated floors can be expensive to install in an existing room, it's well worth considering when you're going through a renovation.
Vanity Storage
Nothing kills serenity like clutter. To avoid the problem of bottles, jars and toothbrush holders taking over the space, I installed a large vanity with plenty of storage. Above it I hung a nice big mirror that reflects light along with two hanging pendants. Never install lights over a mirror in a bathroom if you can help it – it casts shadows on the face.