Don’t Forget about the Men

Just call me, “TheSpaDude”, (Scott is also o.k.).  It is a pleasure to work with some of the most talented, and creative designers in the world!  And being the lone male in the group, I feel like I have been hiding in the shadows for too long and would like to give some male perspective to the spa scene.

Of course, the spa industry is predominantly a female industry.   Women mainly visit and operate day spas, but recently men have realized the benefits of going to spas as well.  A few very simple and basic ideas/concepts will attract more male clients and keep them returning for more.

Having spa services specifically for the men will make them feel appreciated.  For example, maybe you offer a facial treatment that targets problems associated from facial shaving.

 

Or have a “sports type” deep tissue massage that tired, achy, athletic muscles would love!

On the Design side, obviously if you are going with an ALL pink interior, don’t expect to attract many male clients.  But if your spa does have a very “girly” feel you might be able to attract more men by having an area that is at least gender neutral in design and color.  You can never go wrong with natural, earthy colors/tones and or textures like some stone or slate.  Throw in a couple really comfy leather chairs with a flat-screen TV and the men might never leave!

I think that’s enough for now, until next time!  -“TheSpaDude”

 

The Holiday Must List

Dazzle your spa guests this holiday season with thoughtful additions to your decor.  These cozy details will keep your customers coming back, even after the stockings and trees have been packed away!

 

Invite lounging guests to kick their feet up and relax with a bold patterened ottoman.  It’s a simple and afforadable way to add seating, color, and interest to your space. 

It’s that time of year when a cozy throw and a hot cup of tea can make even the coldest day feel cheery and warm.  Pamper yourself and your guests to a fluffy, warm throw to snuggle up with.

 

 Add soft touches of color and texture with pillows.  A mixture of patterns, solids  and  stripes give a luxurious and balanced look.

Holiday Inspiration:

Get inspired with these beautiful spa spaces…

The lounge room of the Dolder Grand Spa in Zurich

 

Soaking up the serenity ::  Soaking tubs face a stone wall with cutouts gazing into the frosted forest outside.

 

The Dolder Grand’s modern indoor pool.

 

:: Recipes ::

Warm up with Mulled Apple Cider

What you’ll need:

1 Gallon fresh cider
1 tsp whole cloves
3 cinnamon sticks
1 tsp whole allspice
1/2 Cup brown sugar
1 square of cheesecloth or a  coffee filter
large stock pot or crock pot
ladle
mugs

1. Pour one gallon of fresh cider into a large pot on the stove or into a crockpot or slow cooker.

2. Add a half cup of brown sugar.

3. Place 1 teaspoon of whole cloves, 1 teaspoon of whole allspice, and 3 cinnamon sticks on a square of cheesecloth or coffee filter and tie up. Add to the pot.

4. Heat the cider to a boil, stirring regularly. Leave the pot uncovered so that you and your family or guests can enjoy the warm, delicious aroma.

5. Once the cider boils, lower the setting to simmer for at least another 15 minutes to allow for thorough infusion of the spices. Stir occasionally.

6. Remove the spices from the pot and ladle hot mulled cider into mugs.  Sip, relax, and enjoy!

 

 

 

Simply Stunning Mani’s and Pedi’s

 

It’s the high season for nail salons!  Make your nail spa stand out from the pack with unique finishes and fixtures.   Check out some of our favorite inspirational spaces below!

Charles Worthington Manicure Area

Sleek stainless steel counters are easy to take care of and make this manicure area super modern.  Make your nail polish a focal point with a glowing back-lit panel.  Mirrors help to make this small space feel open.   A tall vase with green grass keeps it fresh.

Le Creme Spa Manicure Polish Display

This quirky shabby chic nail spa uses a long table to display their nail polish.   White washed walls and a sky blue floor leave this room feeling open and airy.

The Intercontinental Spa San Francisco

The Intercontinental combined light woods, glimmering glass tiles, and clean white in their San Francisco spa.  The result is cool and clean but still comfy cozy.

Mandara Spa Pedicure Lounge

Don’t have alot of space for your pedicure area?

Turn any corner into a mini retreat with portable pedicure bowls and a comfy lounge chair.

Sophie Pedicure

Add some glam to your nail salon with a customized pedicure unit! 

www.SpaPedicureBowls.com

 

Get the Look: Pure Zen

Our Inspiration:  The Chi Spa at the Pudong Shangri-La in Shanghai

Couple's Treatment Room at The Chi Spa

This earthy modern zen look is created using natural wood tones with a palette of warm neutrals.  A bolder accent wall in deep, textured red and rich treatment table linens add a hint of color.

Spa Hall of The Chi Spa Pudong Shangri-La Shanghai

The hall of The Chi Spa with it’s quiet, understated beauty, was created through the use of architectural elements and spectacular lighting design.

Bantal Floor Lamps

Set the mood with natural bamboo floor lamps with softly illuminated shades.

Wen Lounge Chair

A modern take on a zen-style chair.

Kyoto Glazed Abaca Natural Wallcovering

Grasscloth Wallcovering

Add texture and warmth with natural grasscloth wallcoverings.

 

Merbau Luxury Vinyl Flooring

Create the look of an exotic wood floor without the cost or maintenance.  Amtico vinyl floor is soft underfoot, easy to clean, and made for years of high traffic use.

Bamboo Reed Diffuser with Ciela Frangrance

The Ciela fragrance features subtle and earthy notes of bergamot,  green tea, and pockwood.

Antigua Treatment Table

Pamper your guests with the Antigua spa treatment table.  It has plenty of storage and a fully adjustable top.

Tranquil Afternoon Artwork

Textural modern artwork framed with dark, exotic wood frames complete the room.

More on Spa Design:  Click Here

 

More Gorgeous Spa Artwork

Hello Spa Style readers!  I’m the art director and a designer for SpaStyle spadecor.com, and I’ve put together a selection of  inspiring artwork for your spa interior.  Look for my upcoming  posts with new and fabulous artwork that we’re adding to spadecor.com!

Bamboo by Broussard

A print that features elements of the sea and fresh, green bamboo.  This framed artwork is a substantial piece, measuring 53″ wide and 32″ high.

Aqua Drops by Parker

Framed in a rich espresso frame, and featuring double-matting, this print reflects the image of falling drops of water.  It can be hung vertically or horizontally, and measures 25″ x 49″.

Tranquility Found by Ridgers

A gallery-wrapped print resembling a calm morning at the ocean side.  An abstract that is soft and restful to the eye.  Measures 27″ x 27″.

Ginko Art

Made of wood and framed in a shadowbox style, the ginkgo leaves are painted in soft metallic paint with an espresso frame.  A warm and neutral piece.  Size 24″ x 24″.

I’ll leave you with a little inspiration for your own spa interior – the treatment rooms of the Four Seasons Silicon Valley featuring artwork hung from the ceiling to create dimension in the room.   So gorgeous!!!

 

 

Trend: Spa Style Mix

I am loving the spa interior movement that is putting out environments that cannot be defined by a particular style class.  These environments  are sophisticated, fashion-forward and timeless.  Case and point:  this Portuguese spa and haven, situated in a historical building in the heart of Lisbon’s old town is adorned with classic styles (Eames, Gehry) and vintage pieces while fusing modern touches with rich pallets.  The flux from light and airy to exotic and almost primitive demonstrates typical Portuguese flair and fashion yet keeps us guessing.

Modern Mix of Classic Style and Vintage Pieces.

Eclectic Decor has rich pallets and vibrant color.

The salon is light and airy in direct contrast with the spa rooms.

Oh, and be sure to check out the spa owner’s brilliant 2010 Summer Fashion Collection.   I’ll take one of each!   http://www.alvesgoncalves.com

 

 

Refresh Your Retail

Take retail sales to a new level this year!  Your spa interior will play a strong roll in this endeavor.  Start with an objective walk through your retail.  Does your environment effectively communicate your brand?  A consumer’s perspective will give you the necessary insight to initiate change that leads to increased retail sales.

If your shelves are too sparse fill them in with organics, baskets, decorative vases or shelf-talkers to compliment the product.  If your shelves are too cluttered, neatly organize products so that they are visually appealing according to color, size, and type.

Benefit from display tables with tiered levels and seasonal foliage that encourage shopping, browsing and buying.  Add well-lit window displays that effectively communicate with anyone passing by.

Wall units take on a new life when a retail graphic is placed above it.  A retail graphic visually organizes the display, communicates your brand and draws immediate attention to the products.

Diffuse a subtle fragrance into your retail space.  The sense of smell is very powerful and major retailers have recognized this for years.  A familiar, comfortable scent that compliments your products and your interior can be a useful tool for enticing sales.

For great return on little investment, paint a wall!  Choose a feel-good color that compliments your products.

Nourish Retail Experience

Love the signage and graphics.  Minimalist displays effectively merchandise the luxury products.

Christopher Charles Retail Environment

We love the retail pods, a great way to introduce product testing with mirrors & graphics into the retail.  The soft warm colors compliment the products.  Back lit retail displays add interest and entice shoppers.

FaceLogic Retail Display

This a great example of a well stocked and organized retail display.  Approachable and attractive.

H2T Retail Environment

Round hanging signage and graphics are so cool!  Bold colors and signage organizes the products.

The Red Cottage Retail Environment

Sculpted Fleur Di Les retail panel in sky blue is gorgeous and unique drawing attention to the products.  This retail system is flexible and makes it easy to have neatly organized retail.

Blissful Med Spa Retail Environment

Captivating, this retail display is back-lit. The wall color compliments the products and their brand emphasizing the specialty retail products.

 

 

Spa Sensory

One of the most important details in any spa interior is how to engage the senses.  There are many ways to appeal to your guests’ sense of sight, touch, taste, sound and  smell.  Tranquil music for sound, plush robes for touch, a vase of fresh flowers for sight, a tray of spa snacks for taste and a fragrance diffuser for smell are simple and easy ways to accomplish this.  The sense of smell is one of the strongest as it is tied to emotions and memories. Keep scents subtle and seasonal to help guests connect to the space.

Spa Fragrance Diffuser

A Functional and Fab way to Engage the Senses.

These diffusers are small enough to be placed on a candle shelf or in a corner. They have a quiet beauty that blends with any interior. We love the bamboo accent!

Spa Music & Sounds

Check out the wide variety of Healing Spa Sounds and Music to help promote wellness, relaxation, and create an overall tranquil retreat.  These will help open your guests to receive the healing benefits of the spa.

Start the spa journey off right with these oh so cozy shawl collared robes by Kashwere.  Featured as one of Oprah’s favorite things!  Soft and luxe, this also makes a great gift for any spa-goer.  Available in a variety of colors and sizes.

 

Gorgeous Spa Artwork

Adding artwork throughout your spa interior is a simple easy way to add interest and comfort to your space.  Cluster artwork in groups for maximum effect. Don’t be afraid to pair photography with abstract art and various mediums of different shapes and sizes to create a unique and sophisticated focal point.  A few examples of artwork in cool spa blues are featured below.

Nightshade I & II

Two long linear prints colored with the hues of twilight.  Matted and framed with a 1 1/4″ Natural Espresso wood frame and non-glare glass.

Framed Size: 36″H x 18″W  Print Size: 9″W x 27″H

Static Impulse by T. Graham

Abstract artwork matted and framed with a 2 1/4″ Espresso Wood Frame.

Outside Dimensions: 24″ x 24″   Print Dimensions 15″ x 15″

Natural Expression II by Sara Abbott

The beauty of trees reflected over water are the subject of this piece.

Matted and framed with a 1 5/8″ metallic silver frame.

Preview and shop for more artwork at Spadecor.com!

 

About Us

About Spa Style, Spa Decor. Com

Created by professional spa designers exclusively for spas, SpaDecor.com features unique spa furniture and accessories for today’s modern day spa, resort spa, destination, wellness, medical and fitness centers.  SpaDecor.com offers a distinctive collection of art, spa lighting, finishes, spa furniture, and specialty items to fulfill every functional and esthetic detail for any spa design or style.  The finest products from around the world have been resourced and identified to enhance the image, quality and experience of the spa interior.   These items are now available exclusively at SpaDecor.com.

About Us

We are a team of professional spa interior designers with experience creating successful spa interiors nationally and internationally.  For years, we have personally resourced and identified the most effective items to enhance the image, quality and experience of today’s spa environment for effective spa design.  We created SpaDecor.com to offer these exclusive items to you.   We feature art, lighting, seating, spa furniture, finishes and specialty items to fulfill every functional and esthetic detail for your spa interior.

Founder, Michele Pelafas, ASID, IIDA, has over 16 years of spa design experience and understands the exceptional needs of both form and function for any spa interior.  An educator and an expert, Michele developed SpaDecor.com after years of success creating, specifying and sourcing from around the world the special details, spa furniture, finishes and accessories that make up the spa environment.    These items are now available exclusively for you to experience at SpaDecor.com.

For professional interior spa design services visit us at:

http://www.SpaInteriors.com

Spa Style

We look forward to sharing lots of great spa interior design tips.  Look for topics on just about everything, like what is the best spa lighting to the best flooring, how to accessorize your room and many more great spa design ideas.  We welcome you to join our subscriber list and welcome the new year!

Cheers!