Homes Brief
The spa bathroom is going whole-house
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A spa bath with heated floors. Photo: Greg Powers, Courtesy of Tracy Morris Design
It's time to think outside the bath. D.C.-area homeowners are reconsidering wellness as a whole-home feature beyond the washroom.
Why it matters: After years of focusing on spa-like finishes in the bathroom, homeowners now want their entire spaces to support their wellbeing — physically and mentally.
The big picture: "We're past the point where a rain showerhead counts as 'wellness,'" Michael Winn, founder and principal of McLean-based WINN Design + Build, tells Axios.
- Clients are turning primary bathrooms into a "recovery space" with steam showers, radiant heated floors and better ventilation. But that's just the start.
- "The real shift is that wellness features are moving out of the master bath and into the rest of the house," Winn says — from advanced air filtration to whole-home water purification.
Zoom in: McLean designer Tracy Morris says clients are asking for dedicated physical therapy rooms, indoor cold plunges and even cryotherapy spaces.
- "There's a big focus on recovery as well as relaxation," says architect Peter Miles of The Drawing Board in Annapolis. That can mean a home gym designed for working with a trainer, paired with a sauna and a steam shower.
- Saunas are evolving, too — from large spa-style installations to smaller versions that can fit into more homes.
The goal: Create spaces that function as personal retreats, supporting both performance and everyday well-being.
The bottom line: "Homes are being tailored to support both physical and mental health," Morris says — extending wellness beyond the bathroom and into daily life.