Slowing down is the height of modern luxury. Where busyness once reigned supreme, being able to switch off and reset has become the ultimate marker of success. And while day spas and bathhouses are seeing a surge in popularity, some homeowners are taking the chance to transform their daily spaces into tranquil retreats.
Sydney-based interior designer Thomas Hamel and his team collaborated with architect Christopher Doyle to transform an 1880s Italianate Victorian villa in Melbourne’s south-east into an art-inspired home, complete with a dedicated wellness zone. The Hidden Treasure project features a custom cold plunge bath, as well as a combined sauna and steam room which allows users to enjoy dry heat for muscle relaxation and detoxification, along with moist heat for skin hydration. There’s also an ambient Himalayan salt wall, which Hamel tells Broadsheet “not only adds a calming visual element but is also known for its potential to improve air quality and support respiratory health”.
As more Australians adopt European- and Asian-inspired spa and sauna rituals, real estate that might have once been given over to home theatres and entertainment spaces is instead being used for at-home hot-cold therapy tools. Ice baths and cold plunge pools, as well as saunas – traditional Finnish or infrared – and mineral-rich hot tubs have become popular features for anyone looking to cement self-care habits and optimise their health and wellbeing.
Susie Page, founder of Comma – a boutique bathhouse and spa with locations in Melbourne and Byron Bay – has seen the benefits of hot-cold therapy firsthand. “There’s no emails, no notifications – just you, oscillating between hot and cold and resetting,” she shares. “When you give your nervous system a break, it’s like hitting the reset button on your stress levels … sleep gets better, your mood gets a boost and your energy comes back swinging”. Physical perks from cycling between hot and cold include “reducing inflammation, relaxing those hardworking muscles and getting the blood flowing like a well-oiled machine”.
When it comes to picking the right sauna, Page suggests keeping a few things in mind. “If you love tradition, the ritual, and a more intense heat experience, the Finnish sauna wins hands-down. It’s immersive and feels like a timeless, sensory escape. On the other hand, if you’re seeking a lower-heat option that’s more about efficiency and muscle recovery, infrared might be the way to go.”
Of course, wellness looks different for everyone, and asking what the space is intended for is the key to unlocking a home’s full potential in Hamel’s eyes. Be it yoga and meditation, fitness or simply relaxation, he sees functionality as a driving force in setting the tone. He also notes that it’s “important to keep the space flexible and adaptable, so it can evolve with the user’s changing needs over time”.
For Hamel and his team, organic materials, including wood and stone, offer a tangible connection to nature. Lighting is also crucial: natural light can help to boost moods, while ambient lighting is ideal for creating a soothing atmosphere. Calming colour palettes and aromatherapy can further enhance the sense of wellbeing in these spaces for that magical self-care moment.
This article first appeared in Domain Prestige, in partnership with Broadsheet.
