Here are a few things to know about wet rooms.

With no curtains, doors or shower trays, the clean aesthetic provides a spa-like bathing experience, and whats not to love about that?

From easier access to efficient cleaning, an open-concept shower and bath area has numerous functional advantages.

If you dont have the space for both a soaking tub and a separate walk-in shower, this style can be a great solution.

Working with a designer will ensure your bathroom is fashionable and functional.

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Wellness is a hot topic these days, specifically when it comes to home design. Luxury homeowners have come to expect their living environment to promote both physical and mental well-being, and theyre willing to pay top dollar for it. If youre looking to transform your abode into your own personal sanctuary, here are a few ways to create a healthy and relaxing environment.

Circadian Lighting
All of our screens"phones, tablets, laptops and televisions"emit blue light that tells our brains its time to be awake. To counteract this, there are now a variety of different smart lightbulbs available that dont give off any blue light, while also syncing with your circadian rhythm and helping to regulate melatonin production.

Spa-Like Bathrooms
Having your own private spa at home is a fool-proof way to experience instant relaxation. These days, features go far beyond having a walk-in rain shower, as homeowners are installing infrared saunas, massage rooms, and more, to help keep in touch with their bodies and ensure they feel their best.

Neutral Colors
While a splashy palette is fun and exciting, theres a reason why you dont see too many wellness retreats designed with a vibrant color scheme. Neutral colors tend to be more soothing and help put us at ease.

Biophilic Design
It may sound very scientific, but biophilic design is simply about creating living spaces that connect to the outdoors. Focused on a balance between sustainability and well-being, its being embraced by those who feel at peace in nature and want to preserve it.

Healthy Materials
Unfortunately, some products commonly used in home building can be pretty nasty. Be sure to use materials that are free of formaldehyde, phthalates and volatile organic compounds (known as VOCs) when doing work on your home. The good news is that there are plenty of nontoxic materials that are safe to use.

Purification and Filtration
Having a water filtration system throughout the house ensures that every fixture is running clean, potable water that will leave your skin and hair feeling healthier. Whether you have allergies, respiratory issues, or simply want to breathe air thats free of contaminants and pollutants, an air purifier is another sound investment to promote well-being in your home.

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Picking out the right color scheme in each room can be daunting, but sometimes a simple monochromatic design is the best solution. When done properly, a single-color palette can make for a sophisticated and relaxing setting, yet achieving this takes careful planning. Before you get started, here are a few dos and donts to keep you on the right track to creating a well-balanced monochromatic room.

Do: Start with a base color
The first thing you want to do is pick out the primary tone for this space and how its going to be applied. Whether its the walls, a sofa or bedding, this will be the center of the aesthetic that you build off of and will define the mood in the room.

Dont: Feel like you have to stick to neutral tones
If youre on the fence about a monochromatic room, neutral tones can be a safe way to test it out. However, the look can certainly be pulled off with more ambitious shades, like crisp and fun pastorals or dark, moody hues.

Do: Use a variety of shades
The entire room shouldnt be the exact tone of your base color. That would be boring. Mix it up with different shades that complement each other so that the space doesnt feel flat. A bit of variety goes a long way.

Dont: Overdecorate
When the palette revolves around a single color, it can be easy for the room to feel too intense. For this reason, its best to keep the decor uncluttered and even somewhat minimalist. This allows the color scheme to speak for itself without being overwhelming.

Do: Focus on layers
To avoid monotony, introduce different textures and patterns in the room. Window treatments, rugs and fixtures all play into providing layers that allow ones eye to flow across the room.

Dont: Be afraid to break the color scheme
Even though its a monochromatic room, you can still have a surprising accent piece that creates a bit of contrast and balances everything out.

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More and more homeowners are embracing green living. That can mean making substantial changes within the home, but the good news is that using environmentally friendly materials doesnt require compromising your design aesthetic. In fact, there are plenty of stylish and sustainable options for the whole house.

If youre remodeling your kitchen or bathrooms in the near future, consider these materials for eco-chic countertops that are sure to impress any potential buyers:

ECO by Cosentino
Cosentino is world-renowned for producing high-end surfaces, and the companys ECO line is no exception. As stunning as it is impressive, ECO is made from 75 percent recycled materials, such as glass, porcelain and earthenware. The result is a low-maintenance surface that reduces landfill waste and saves natural resources.

FSC-Certified Wood
Butcher block is both timeless and practical. When you use FSC-certified wood, its also an eco-friendly surface. The Forest Stewardship Council ensures that forests around the world are managed responsibly while guaranteeing that the wood has been sourced in a manner thats environmentally and socially responsible.

Durat
Durat countertops are stylish and durable, but, best of all, this surface is made from post-industrial plastic waste that would otherwise end up in a landfill. A sleek kitchen that reduces the burden on the environment is a win-win that you can feel good about with every meal you prepare.

RichLite
Made from 100-percent recycled paper, RichLite is an ideal material for kitchen countertops, and pretty much anything at all (its even used for exterior cladding). The composite material is available in a wide variety of colors and could easily pass for a stone surface, giving your kitchen a breathtaking look thats also sustainable.

IceStone
IceStone has been a leading surface for eco-friendly consumers for over a decade. Its terrazzo-like appearance is due to the fact that the material is made from recycled glass, Portland cement and non-toxic pigments. While it comes in an assortment of exciting colors, the one knock against IceStone is that its somewhat porous and should be resealed annually.

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Everyone loves going away on an exotic vacation, but sometimes theres nothing quite like staying home and taking a few days to relax. After all, when you have a luxurious residence, you dont need to stay at a five-star hotel to treat yourself. If youre ready to escape your daily stress without having to pack your suitcase, here are a few tips for the ultimate staycation.

Call the Cleaners
Whether its for a week or a weekend, you want your house to be looking its best when you start your staycation. Have the cleaners come do an extra deep clean so that it practically feels like a hotel. You might even want to take some time to declutter and organize beforehand, because nobody can relax in a messy environment. Youll thank yourself later.

Pamper Yourself
This is the perfect time to pick out a few products to upgrade around the house, like bath salts that you can enjoy while soaking in the tub or fine linens for your bed. A plush, new bathrobe or fluffy set of towels might also be in order.

Make Reservations
The staycation is all about planning ahead and splurging a little bit (and you dont have to feel bad about it because youre already saving money by not booking hotels and plane tickets). Book yourself a day at your favorite spa and get a few treatments, then be sure to make a special dinner reservation. If you want to go to a play or concert, get your tickets ahead of time so that everything is in order.

Stock Up on Your Favorite Foods (and Drinks!)
Of course, youre not going to want to go grocery shopping while youre taking your staycation, so make sure you have the pantry filled with all your favorites. Everyone eats well when they go on vacation, so its perfectly fine to indulge in your favorite sweets.

Family Activities
Plan out a few activities that the whole family will enjoy, like going apple picking or taking a day trip to a nearby attraction. In the evenings, its always fun to spend time cooking together or playing a board game.

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