Sweat equity: At these home spas, no appointments are necessary | Canada Voices

Every Sunday, Shadi Ramos, a Toronto-based interior and landscape designer, escapes to her basement spa for her weekly ritual. For the mother of three young children, it’s the ultimate way to end the week.

The spa is an aesthete’s dream, from its dark floor-to-ceiling tiles that resemble tarnished metal to the Turkish bath towels. There’s a steam room with heated benches and floors, as well as a waterfall faucet; the cedar-ceilinged shower includes a suspended cold-water bucket.

“I call it my reset Sundays,” Ramos said. “I put the kids to bed, have a steam, put on a face mask and listen to music. It’s extremely relaxing.”

Forget “spa-inspired” bathrooms: Those who can afford to do so are splashing out on straight-up private spa sanctuaries, complete with saunas, steam rooms, cold plunges, soundproofing and relaxation lounges. All that’s missing is the attendant asking your sandal size.

Ramos and her husband built their spa in the underused lower level of their Rosedale home last June. After underpinning to elevate the ceilings, a team that included architect Joseph Siatecki of Strata Design and Development and contractor Craftsman Renovations carved the space into a series of wellness zones.

She wanted a Turkish hammam vibe, hence the abundance of stone along with clean lines and tranquil lighting. The result feels like unwinding at Toronto’s Othership, minus the crowds. Like any good spa, there’s even a hydration station, in the form of a marble sink. “I wanted something spectacular. You get dehydrated,” Ramos said.

“Homeowners are increasingly willing to invest in a home-based spa experience,” said Andrew Polischuk, owner-partner of Alair Homes Lorne Park in Toronto, who oversees residential renovations and custom home builds. He believes social media has helped amplify the health benefits of spa culture, taking it from niche to mainstream.

His top tip for anyone thinking of undertaking such a reno? If you’re incorporating a steam shower at home, moisture control is critical. He advises running the exhaust fan before and after use until the room is bone dry. Cold tubs require more upkeep, he added, including regular filtration, chemical balancing and system cleaning.

His company recently built a swanky basement spa for a male client in Toronto’s Beaches neighbourhood. Designed by Julia Black, principal designer of Julia Black Design, the space couldn’t be more different from the typical shabby man cave.

“We had a lot of boxes to check,” Black said. “As someone with a demanding, high-profile career who travels a lot, he wanted to channel a luxurious, five-star hotel.”

Inspired by the moody palette at the Shangri-La hotel in Toronto, Black covered the space in dark marble and tile. Showstopper items include a custom infrared sauna by SaunaFin, a steam shower, a lounge area and a bar with a mini fridge. The client will host up to four friends there to watch a game, making the space both social and restorative.

Other amenities include integrated lighting, a separate washroom and a large vanity with premium products to titillate the senses. “He loves Aesop, so he wanted their soaps and moisturizers. … It goes back to that five-star-hotel feeling, when you see that level of branding,” she said.

Martha Franco, a Montreal-based architect, has also been designing more residential wellness rooms.

“Lately, cold plunges are really popular and the most requested,” Franco said. But many clients want the full range of amenities, or a “sequence” of activities.

“What clients love the most is to be able to exercise, massage, do sauna and steam and to chill inside a relaxing room,” she said. “A secluded space, acoustically treated, where they can truly disconnect.”

An elaborate set-up isn’t necessary to achieve the desired effect, however. Eva Pianezzola, an urban designer, built a stunning spa-like bathroom on the second floor of her historic home in Toronto’s Parkdale neighbourhood without including every bell and whistle.

Done as part of a whole-house renovation by Kfir Gluzberg, principal architect of Kilogram Studio, the bathroom has a bare-bones simplicity. Indigo tiles blanket the grotto-like soundproof space.

“I had been to Japan and visited the onsen to soak in warm water at the end of the day. I wanted to recreate that here,” Pianezzola said. “Specifically, I wanted a bathroom my partner and I could go into, without visual distraction.”

In terms of traditional spa features, there’s only a soaker tub and a standard shower, but for Pianezzola, it’s more than enough.

“It’s peaceful – no noise or movement,” she said. “There is stillness.”