New luxury and convenience items provide for the perfect home retreat (ARA) - If there is one room in the house that has been completely redefined in recent years it is the bathroom. Kitchens are still for cooking, living rooms are still for living and rec rooms are still for recreation. But the bathroom has evolved so far beyond its traditional functions that to truly reflect its current status in many homes, "spa room" or the "retreat" might be more appropriate names for it.

Today's bathrooms, particularly those incorporated into master suites, are being designed and built to be a source of luxury and relaxation. After all, for many parents the master suite's bath may be the only room in the home where they can truly enjoy some private time for relaxation away from the kids. Add to this the fact that bathrooms add more to a home's value than any other room -- with the possible exception of the kitchen and so it's no wonder more and more people are spending more and more time and money to create an in-home retreat in their master bath.

It's Like A Day Trip to the Spa -- At Home Vertical Spas, which incorporate multiple showerheads, water diverters and sophisticated temperature control systems, are perhaps the biggest trend in today's baths. They offer the relaxation and luxury of a whirlpool spa, but without the time required to fill a large tub. And they still function as an ordinary shower for times when functionality is all-important. Moen Inc., which may have coined the phrase "Vertical Spa" when it brought its shower/spa product to market in 2000 says customer demand and acceptance of the concept has been increasing steadily as more consumers become aware of the option to turn their showers into spa-like havens. "We're seeing more consumers make luxury a priority when they redesign their bathrooms, and products such as the Vertical Spa are among the most sought-after add-ons," said Gary Pember, Moen Group product manager, Bath. "They want a steamy massage in a relaxing environment and they want to walk out feeling clean and refreshed. No other environment can accomplish that quite like a Vertical Spa." Vertical Spas vary in design and some, such as Moen's unit, work with standard plumbing.

Others require special behind-the-wall modifications to install larger water supply and drainage lines, or an extra hot water heater. These styles may be more suitable to new home construction instead of renovation where entire rooms are gutted and walls rebuilt. But Vertical Spas are definitely catching on and many believe they are the new millennium's replacement for the whirlpool tub, which may be on the decline. "Not everyone who's had one of these whirlpools really wants one when they do another bath," said Linda Lentz, features editor at Home Magazine and an expert in modern kitchen and bath design trends. "They find they don't want the extra maintenance or that the tubs are noisier than they expected. Because of that, a lot of people are opting for Vertical Spas and taking longer showers, or installing soak tubs, or both." In general, the trend is toward larger showers, often with stylish frameless doors and glass block walls that allow in more light while sealing off the shower stall.

With the extra room in the shower stall, homeowners are not only putting in items such as Vertical Spas, they're sometimes installing oversized showerheads or even entire Vertical Spa units on opposing walls, enabling two people to shower simultaneously without having to share a showerhead. "The shower is coming into its own and we sell more "showering systems" than ever before, whether that means a Vertical Spa, two opposing Vertical Spas, or just twin and flexible hand showerheads on opposing walls. People love to shower and they're showing it by devoting more space than ever to their showers," said Moen's Pember. In addition to Vertical Spas, many homeowners also are adding steam units to their showers, or