Luxury Hotelier - November 2007 - (Page 39)

Shower under the stars A basic shower becomes a super-luxe experience— simply by moving outside O utdoor showers have become a luxury staple,” says Sarah Hartman, senior interior designer for Sandals Resorts. At one of her newest projects, Sandals Grande St. Lucian Resort in St. Lucia, she designed the freestanding circular Rondoval Suites to include open-air, outdoor shower mixers in matte stainless steel from Hansgrohe (www.hansgrohe. com). The showers are adjacent to a private patio with plunge pool, Jacuzzi, chaise lounges and hammocks. A glass door separates the indoor bathroom from CALISTOGA RANCH the outdoor shower, so guests can move freely between the two spaces without walking through the suite. “Outdoor showers complement the exotic island feel. Bathing under the Caribbean sun or stars is the ultimate,” Ms. Hartman says. “Guests feel that nothing stands between them and the environment.” Calistoga Ranch in California’s Napa Valley is nestled in a woodsy canyon, shrouded by oaks and pines. Cedarshingled indoor/outdoor guest lodges have outdoor living rooms, dominated by a large open-air fireplace, covered by an oak canopy and within earshot of the gurgling creek. In such a setting, outdoor showers fit right in. “My goal was to provide a ‘bungalow in the woods’ experience, combining luxury accommodations with an intimate connection to nature,” says Scott Lee, who, as partner-in-charge of Calistoga Ranch and senior vice president and principal of SB Architects, was responsible for the resort’s design. “Outdoor shower gardens directly connect guests with the beauty of this setting.” Accessed through French doors off the master bath, nothing but sky and overarching tree limbs are above, with cedar walls or natural topography ensuring privacy. Shower valves from Butler Mill & Brass Works and rain head shower fixtures, both supplied by SunFlower Shower Head have a raw copper finish, and the shower floor is Mangerus (a hardwood similar to teak). Shower pans and drains are concealed beneath the deck. Teak chaises and plush cotton towels and robes complete the experience. “Guests LITTLE PALM ISLAND Guests commune with nature while showering at the woodsy Calistoga Ranch [left]. At Little Palm Island [above] showers perched on an elevated deck overlook lush tropical gardens. feel they are showering in the woods,” Mr. Lee says. “Hawks, deer and other local inhabitants add to the charm.” At Little Palm Island, a private-island resort in the Florida Keys, outdoor showers have been a favorite feature for more than 20 years. “Showering outside, especially at nighttime under the stars, is a relaxing, romantic experience,” says general manager Emmanuel Gardinier, who recently widened the showers to accommodate couples. The outdoor showers, with Danze Downpour showerheads (www.danze.com), are on an elevated deck adjacent to the indoor bathroom. A thatched roof provides partial cover for guests who want overhead shelter, and a bamboo wall ensures privacy. “The showers overlook our gardens, so guests feel they are in a beautiful tropical forest,” Mr. Gardinier says. “The only soul they will see is Bucky, our neighboring Key deer. He sneaks in once in a while to drink from the drain.” » BY MARYANN HAMMERS www.LuxuryHotelier.com | November 2007 | Luxury Hotelier http://www.hansgrohe.com http://www.hansgrohe.com http://www.danze.com http://www.LuxuryHotelier.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Luxury Hotelier - November 2007

Luxury Hotelier - November 2007 Contents Editor's Letter Publisher's Letter Inform: News and Notes Network: People Personalities: Traditional Innovator Insight: Smith Travel Research / The Bench Insight: Ypartnership Properties: A Front-Row Seat to Moscow Properties: Northern Star Inspire: Outdoor Showers Deliver: Wellness and Fitness Protocols: The Real Deal Insight: Cornell University Innovate: In-Room Technology Development: Global Project Pipeline Indulge: Coffee and Tea Insight: Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne Connect: Regional Marketing Update: IH/M&RS Luxury Product Collection Dossier: Davide Bertilaccio of The Rocco Forte Collection’s Le Richemond

Luxury Hotelier - November 2007

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