Decorator's Plumbing: May We Supersize That (Steam) Bath For You?

"People are open and eager for new ideas, not the typical interior," North Miami interior designer Ivonne Ronderos of DKOR Interiors told Houzz. "Because so many of the homes here are second homes, the owners are much more open-minded to design; they are playful rather than formal."

"Miami is about fashion and who has the latest things,” interior designer Claudia Lujan adds.

So when the well-heeled kick off their stilettos to relax at home in a spa bath, no ordinary room will do.

“They want anything to make it stand out from the rest. It’s all about luxury and relaxation here in Miami, so the more spa-like the bathroom, the better,” says Michael Guanche Jr.., plumbing expert at the family-owned Decorator’s Plumbing.

“Flashy to clients means expensive and high tech - a rain shower will no longer suffice. Supersized wet rooms are the latest trend,” he adds. And multiple steam showers play a starring role.

Case in point for Decorator's Plumbing

Michael has had three residential projects recently that required Mr. Steam Dual Super Series generators because the wet rooms were so big. In one, the total space is about 1052 cubic feet. That’s equivalent to a room about 12'x11' with an 8’ ceiling. (By comparison, a typical 5'x7' bathroom with an 8' ceiling is about 280 cubic feet.)

This particular supersized wet room has two steam showers, one on each side with separate controls, and a freestanding tub in the middle.

“People are looking for something different, something with that wow factor. They want to make a statement,” notes Michael.

The luxuriously appointed spaces generally have a huge two-person shower with separate controls. Features are a mix of ceiling-mounted rain showerheads, waterfall showerheads, hand showers, steam, aromatherapy and increasingly, chromatherapy.  Body sprays, Michael observes, “are dying down because people don’t want a lot of clutter on their shower walls. It's all about sleek design and minimal trims.”

Even though this is Miami, the materials themselves are surprisingly restrained: mostly polished chrome with white subway tile or Carrera marble.

The flash comes more from the high tech controls like Mr. Steam's new iSteam. “It’s cool, people love it because it’s like having an iPad on the wall to control their steam, music, chromatherapy & aromatherapy,” Michael points out.

As you might imagine, these mega baths are going into “over-the-top, million dollar custom homes in South Florida.” Michael is working on one now where several houses were knocked down to the tune of about $30 million just to get the land for one new home.  The supersized wet rooms or spa showers in these types of homes are either in the master suite or adjacent to the pool cabana, or - why not? - in both.

“Steam showers add resale value to the home and if the shower has the space, they might as well add steam” Michael reasons.

In their 20 years in Miami, Decorator's Plumbing has mastered the art of exemplary service to a very demanding clientele. “That’s why we sell Mr. Steam. I can’t remember ever having an issue with the company. Everything is easy: the product, the people, the shipping,” Michael reports.

Can't supersize your bath? No need to feel blue.  Mr. Steam offers the luxury of a home steam shower in a space as small as 3'x3', making a spa shower an attainable luxury for just about anyone.