Premier Magazine October-December 2010 Putting care and creativity into your leisure area

Transcription

1 Premier Magazine October-December 2010 Putting care and creativity into your leisure area Traditional Georgian proportions, coupled with state-of-the-art 21 st -century systems, that is how Leys Road is portrayed in sales literature by renowned developers Chester Row. You could use similar terminology about Dröm UK, the specialists in the design, supply and installation of high-quality sauna and steam rooms. Dröm UK the Byfleet based company proudly boasts traditional values of servie and quality, whilst using state-of-the-art technology in its installations. The company designed and installed the bespoke sauna room and steam room for a poolside leisure complex in this highly prestigious development in Oxshott, Surrey. The brief at Leys Road was to create both steam room and sauna to a completely bespoke design, due to the shape of the space available. The design team at Dröm UK used mirror image double benches with concealed lighting behind the backrests to create a stunning effect in the sauna. The interior was constructed of the finest blonde aspen wood and the sauna heater was centrally situated to create symmetry. Similarly, the steam room has mirror-image benches clad in marble mosaic tiles, with a tiled central crystal light pedestal with integrated steam outlet. Both rooms have frameless glass exteriors to help create an impression of timeless elegance, light and space. It all helps to illustrate that in design terms, the sauna in particular has come a long way no longer a wooden box, the exterior can be as modern or traditional as its surroundings. One popular trend is for a tiled exterior using modern, large rectangular ceramic tiles, possibly offset with a mosaic panel for stunning effect. Alternatively, frameless glass doors are stylish and elegant, offering a great feeling of space. The interior of a sauna will be mainly in timber, using aspen, beech or spruce, depending upon taste and budget. A stone feature wall is becoming popular, while the interior of a steam room will usually be tiled. The trend is for walls and floors to use large format rectangular tiles, and mosaics for the curved benches. Accessories play an important part in the finishing touches of sauna and steam rooms too. Customers will want to add loudspeakers linked into the home sound system, mood lighting and of course aromatic oils to invigorate or relax. Jolyon Prowse of Chester Row said of the Leys Road project, We are delighted with the work carried out by Dröm UK and as a result of the success of this project, we have commissioned the company to undertake a complex steam room installation with fibre optic lighting and a domed ceiling on another of our developments in Kensington.

2 IDFX November 2010 Saunas and Steam Rooms by Dröm UK Imagine, if you can, a group of Nomadic tribespeople, digging a deep pit in a slope in a slope in the ground, lugging piles of rocks into the pit, then burning large amounts of wood for about six to eight hours, letting the smoke out and then enjoying the residual heat for the next 12 hours. This was, believe it or not, the origin of the sauna, which was used not only to warm the body, but also to cleanse the mind, and rejuvenate and refresh the spirit. The history of steam bathing can be traced back as far as the ancient Greeks. It was subsequently adopted by the Romans, and in Turkey the steam bath or hamam has survived thousands of years. The practice spread into Europe but in early days the popularity of steam baths was limited by the technical problems of regulating the temperature. Today, though, developments in steam generating technology have made it possible to install steam baths and now steam showers almost anywhere at a reasonable cost. Today s sauna rooms and steam rooms bear little or no resemblance to those early designs but the concept remains the same: water and warmth are the basis for life, and bathing in a sauna or steam room is now considered a normal, regular part of many people s routine. The health and relaxation benefits are well documented and people flock to spas, boutique hotels and health clubs to enjoy these. In design terms, the sauna in particular has come a long way no longer a wooden box, almost any shape, size colour or finish is possible, and in keeping with today s trend for openness and spaciousness, the frameless glass frontage has become very popular. Sauna rooms have a new dimension once you rid yourself of the wooden box mentality clad the exterior in large format tiles, create an interesting interior with blonde and dark wood for contrast and place a mosaic mural on the wall for an exciting bathroom finish. At Dröm UK, we are continuously being asked to design new and unusual saunas and steam rooms and no doubt, technology permitting, there will always be the opportunity to go one better! Watch this space.

3 Surrey Life October 2010 Women in Business Kicki Carlsson-Boyd Dröm UK, based in Byfleet, specialises in the design, supply and installation of the finest quality saunas, steam rooms and steam showers. I was born and raised in Sweden, where we understand the huge benefits of sauna and steam bathing, so when I came to teh UK I was surprised that unless you were wealthy, you could normally only have a steam or sauna treatment in a sap or hotel. I was determined to spread the word after all, for centuries people have recognised the rejuvenating, healing powers of warmth and water which are the basis for life. I decided that I wanted to be able to offer leisure products of unsurpassed quality that would enhance people s lifestyle and wellbeing. As a result, Dröm UK was established, originally as Dream Leisure (Dröm is the Swedish word for dream). This dream grew organically, and with it my insistence that we expand only at the correct speed as and when we had the turnover and cash flow to put new initiatives into place, to employ the right people and invest in our products and our showroom. For the future, we will continue our expansion and our marketing strategy. We have already expanded from being a company attracting business within our Surrey catchment area, we now gain contracts from around the UK and beyond we have this year been commissioned to work on projects in Palma, Majorca, France and the Middle East. Our most exciting project at the moment is working in the Penthouses on One Hyde Park, arguable London s finest address. We are taking on projects that stretch us, our skills, manpower and imagination, almost to the limit of our comfort zone, but we know we have the strength to stay ahead. And, with our innovative approach, when we meet the right, like-minded people, at the right time, we will be able to take on new staff and with them, new challenges. Most companies in the sauna and/or steam business sell boxes of product either to the end user or to an architect/designer. At Dröm UK we pride ourselves on the advice we give to all our customers, as well as our bespoke design and our after-sales service. If I were to offer a piece of business advice, it would be: follow your dream; thoroughly investigate your markets; offer the best possible products and service; and don t be tempted to be too price-driven, even in a downturn. Just know your passion and go for it! My hobby is my work, which is why I love what I do so much. I enjoy my spare time with my family, friends and work colleagues often relaxing in the sauna!

4 Bridge for Design Autumn 2010 The History of the Sauna From Sacred Space to Luxury Design Room Imagine, if you can, a group of Nomadic tribespeople, digging a deep pit in a slope in a slope in the ground, lugging piles of rocks into the pit, then burning large amounts of wood for about six to eight hours, letting the smoke out and then enjoying the residual heat for the next 12 hours. This was, believe it or not, the origin of the sauna, which was used not only to warm the body, but also to cleanse the mind, and rejuvenate and refresh the spirit. As tools and techniques advanced, they were later built above the ground using wooden logs. Rocks were heated in a stone fireplace with a wood fire. The smoke from the fire filled the room as the air warmed. This type of sauna, still used in parts of Scandinavia, used to be a holy place a place for instance where women gave birth. There were also many beliefs and charms that were connected to sauna. It was, among other things, a place for worshipping the dead it was thought of as such a wonderful place that even the dead would surely like to return to it. Wind forward to the industrial revolution and the invention of the metal woodstove which could then be housed in a wooden structure. As travel between countries and continents increased, people from Baltic and Scandinavian countries took their customs with them... hence the spread in popularity of the sauna and steam rituals. Today s sauna rooms and steam rooms bear little or no resemblance to those early designs but the concept remains the same: water and warmth are the basis for life, and bathing in a sauna or steam room is now considered a normal, regular part of many people s routine. Installing a sauna or steam facility in a private residence, though, is quite simple, and their popularity has led to many architects and designers automatically incorporating a wet leisure experience into new build and refurbishment projects at the top end of the market. In the middle market, a home can easily incorporate a sauna or steam room for two or more people. Even where space is tight and cost an important factor, a steam facility can be incorporated into the space of a normal bathroom shower. In these days of keeping lean and mean, many people are choosing to refurbish rather than move home, especially in bathrooms and kitchens, where a well designed space now can reap financial benefits later. In design terms, the sauna in particular has come a long way no longer a wooden box, the exterior can be as modern or traditional as its surroundings. One popular trend is for a tiled exterior using modern, large rectangular ceramic tiles, possibly offset with a mosaic panel. Alternatively, frameless glass doors are stylish and elegant, offering a great feeling of space. The interior of a sauna will be mainly in timber, using aspen, beech or spruce. A stone feature wall is becoming popular, while the interior of a steam room will usually be tiled. The trend is for walls and floors to use large format rectangular tiles, and mosaics for the curved benches.

5 Premier Magazine July-September 2010 When only the best will do One Hyde Park, Candy and Candy and belvedere bespoke luxury homes: when the goal is to create truly amazing properties with the highest level of leisure specification, it s the services of a local Surrey company that they ve been calling upon to get it absolutely right Byfleet-based Dröm UK says it is proud of the reputation it has established as being the specialists in the design, supply and installation of the finest quality sauna rooms, steam rooms and steam showers. The company has worked with clients of all sizes, from corporate facilities buyers and renowened designers such as Candy and Candy on their sumptuous One Hyde Park project, through to private clients with small to large apartments and houses, all of whom, they say, have expressed delight with the end result. It was obviously with great pleasure, therefore, that Dröm UK was able to reacquaint itself with a client of the stature of Belvedere DWS an organisation renowned for its excellence in the construction of bespoke homes. Belvedere had previously used Dröm UK s expertise for an installation, so when planning a sumptuous new property, it visited Dröm UK to view its latest designs. Keith da Costa, MD of Belvedere, asked Dröm UK to recreate (with some alterations) two of the bespoke designs on display in the showroom within a basemetn leisure/spa suite for the proposed new build in Camp Road, a private road in Buckinghamshire. The project, which ahs recently been completed and named Glenridge, comprises a steam room and sauna. The steam room, which uses a high quality Tylö steam generator, has luxury Bisazza tiling and a full glass frontage, as well as a colour-changing fibre optic light feature in the ceiling and luxury curved anatomically shaped benches. The sauna boasts a top-of-the-range Tylö heater and features high-quality, modern, narrow-profile Aspen benches for the interior and is also fully glass-fronted to match the steam room. Typically clever attention to detail touches include discreet low voltage lighting concealed behind the backrests which give a soft, gentle glow, both the sauna and steam rooms incorporate specialist speakers linked to the in-house audio system, and each will seat 6 or 7 people comfortably. Belvedere Homes has a high reputation to maintain says Keith da Costa, and we take care to appoint only those companies which can produce quality work, on time and without our budgets. Dröm UK is a company we trust to do just that and we are currently negotiating further projects with it.

6 Building for Leisure July/Aug 2010 Quality Street Belvedere Homes has installed a basement leisure/spa suite at a high-end property in Camp Road, a private road in Buckinghamshire. The steam room, which uses a Tylö steam generator, has luxury Bisazza tiling and glass frontage, plus colour changing fibre optic lighting in the ceiling and curved anatomically-shaped benches. The sauna has a high-end Tylö heater and features modern, narrow profile Aspen benches and glass frontage to match the steam room. The spa was designed and installed by Dröm UK.

7 Weybridge Life July/August 2010 Full Steam Ahead The pleasure of bathing in steam has been enjoyed since Ancient Greek and Roman times. A steam bath is not only relaxing and energy-renewing, but promotes health and beauty too. Recommended for such conditions as bronchitis, catarrh, rheumatic complaints and joint pain, it can also be beneficial for people suffering from poor skin circulation, sleeping disorders and dry, chapped skin among others. Enjoyed correctly, a steam bath will help to overcome the stresses of everyday life, to relax and recover and to gain new strength and improve general physical and mental wellbeing. The heat helps the body to release endorphins, which are neuro-transmitters in the brain, helping to relieve pain and promote happiness and a feeling of wellbeing. Whilst many people have experienced steam bathing or steam showers at their health club, or whilst at a spa or hotel, they probably don t realise that having their very own steam facility is quite a simple matter. Many architects and designers are automatically incorporating a wet leisure experience into new-build and refurbishment projects, with swimming pools/spas, saunas and steam rooms integrated at planning level at the top end of the market, while in the middle market, a home can easily incorporate steam room with space for one or more people, making the experience not only relaxing but involving the whole family in an invigorating or relaxing break together. Even where space is tight, and cost an important factor, a steam shower can be incorporated into the space of a normal bathroom shower. Dröm UK is a leading specialist in the design, supply and installation of quality saunas, steam rooms and steam showers. All clients are invited to view and learn about a project in the conveniently situation Byfleet showroom before making a decision. They will then discuss all the various options in order to achieve the most aesthetically pleasing, most practical and most cost effective solution to a customer s needs. T his may be a prefabricated product, but individual spaces often need individual solutiosn and that is where Dröm UK s bespoke design service is invaluable. All tastes, styles and most budgets cna be catered for a steam room or shower to fit in with the your period cottage, modern apartment or luxurious mansion Dröm UK will design and sintall the dream facility for your home. After all, dröm is the Swedish workd for dream!

8 Traditional Homes & Interiors July 2010 Wet Rooms Water, Water Everywhere Wet rooms are becoming increasingly popular, and if installed properly, can actually add significant value to your property, particularly in a second bathroom. The simple designs of a wet room not only lend themselves to a huge choice, they also create a real wow factor and a timeless addition to your home. Picture caption: This stunning steam room is made with exquisite mother of pearl tiles from Bisazza and uses a Tylo steam generator. Frameless glass frontage adds to the spacious feel of the room. A twist on Pearl is that by replacing the steam generator with a refrigeration unit, this design could easily become an ice room! Available from Dröm UK.

9 Your Showhome June/July 2010 A Spa in Your Own Home - An Everyday Treat Visiting a spa for a day or a weekend break is a fabulous, once or twice a year treat. Just think how wonderful it would be to continue those disciplines at home, EVERY DAY! Installing a sauna/steam room/steam shower is more affordable than you may think just installing a steam feature in the space taken by a normal shower is simple and effective and affords pleasure and health benefits. Dröm UK has years of experience in finding the perfect solution to a client s requirements, be they in a small cottage or a large corporate environment. Working with the renowned Swedish manufacturer, Tylö, Dröm UK can be confident that these quality projects will stand up to years of pleasurable use, while their own commitment to a client s satisfaction extends well beyond the point of sale. You can visit the showroom and learn about any product that takes your fancy before presenting Dröm UK with whatever space/design/budget needs you have they will take care of the design, supply and installation of your chosen sauna/steam room or steam shower. Saunas and steam rooms are a great way of relaxing and socialising and offer exceptional health benefits. Water and warmth is the basis for life, and the pleasure of bathing in steam can be traced back to ancient Greek and Roman times, while the deep warmth of an infra red sauna can ease many aches and pains. De-stress your life, enjoy your very own temperature, chill out with the family and welcome to your world of wellbeing from Dröm UK.

10 Premier Magazine April-June 2010 Bringing the Feelgood Home Would you like to invest in the feelgood factor, reap the dividends of good health and vitality year after year? Simple, says Kicki Carlsson-Boyd of Dröm UK invest in a sauna. No longer just a wooden box, the modern day sauna meets new standards of design and functionality. While the tradition of sauna bathing stems from Scandinavia, its popularity has spread around the world, and millions of people now enjoy its many benefits on a regular basis. Kicki Carlsson-Boyd, Managing Director of specialist sauna and steam room company Dröm UK, came to the UK from her native Sweden and was surprised that people here had to visit an expensive spa, club or hotel in order to enjoy what was, to her, a daily experience. Sauna bathing can relax or invigorate you, depending upon the time of day, the temperature and the aromatic oils you use says Kicki it s a time to take refuge from the stress of the world, to be alone and contemplate or to relax with friends and family. Space is rarely an issue when planning to install a sauna room. There are prefabricated models in a wide range of shapes and sizes or alternatively, a bespoke, original design can be created to suit your own space, design and budget. The interior will usually be in timber, although a feature wall in stone or marble could be incorporated. The exterior can be as modern or traditional as the rest of your home. For example, frameless glass doors are extremely popular now, to give a great feeling of space, while tiled exteriors complement the tiling in the rest of your bathroom or pool area. There are two traditional forms of sauna bathing. The classic sauna is best enjoyed at temperatures of 75-90⁰C in a relative humidity of 20-35%. You occasionally sprinkle a ladle of water on the hot stones and feel the unique tingling sensation as a wave of heat penetrates deep into your skin, your pores open, you perspire and when you shower, dead skin cells simply disappear! Sauna addicts sometimes prefer a dry sauna at very high temperatures (95-110⁰C) and an almost totally dry atmosphere. In these conditions, the only way the body can cool down is to perspire. This is not for the faint-hearted! A final addition to a sauna is an infra-red panel, which is widely used to alleviate the effects of rheumatism, tense muscles and other aches and pains. It also speeds up the heating process, allowing you to use your sauna more quickly. When buying or designing a sauna, the following factors must be taken into consideration: Quality of timber, Quality of heating unit; Energy consumption: Safety (cut-offs, sensors etc); Ventilation: Comfortable seating; Ease of control; Lighting to create the mood; Perfectly fitting doors

11 Bridge for Design Spring 2010 Dröm UK is specialised in the design, supply and installation of the finest quality saunas, steam rooms, steam showers and wetrooms. This stunning bespoke steam room, using frameless glass and tiles by Bisazza, could also be an ice room, by replacing the steam generator with a refrigeration unit and ice making machine.

12 Surrey Life April 2010 The ultimate in refreshing luxury is a bespoke steam room. This Pearl design incorporates mother-of-pearl tiling and relaxing seating, 15,000

13 Focus Magazine Spring 2010 Dröm UK Getting Hotter and Hotter Dröm UK, the Byfleet-based sauna and steam specialist, has reached new heights of luxury they are to provide sauna and steam rooms for what is possibly the most prestigious development in the UK One Hyde Park. One project will include apartments up to the size of 27,000 sq ft and will be the biggest they have ever made for private residences. Getting there Dröm UK has previously worked with Candy and Candy, the interior design group for the development, and that is, says Kicki, probably why we got the job. They are very happy with our work, maybe because we very rarely say that something cannot be done. Their brief is always very specific and they want what you cannot find elsewhere, something unique with superb quality. Dröm UK will be providing saunas and steam rooms for several of the apartments although it is not yet certain how many. Luxurious Heights Dröm UK was started by Kicki and her husband Barry Smith seven years ago and has progressed from selling and installing spas for residential properties to being a leading specialist in the design, supply and installation of top quality saunas, steam baths and steam showers, mainly for exclusive residential properties, boutique and spa hotels. Our reputation now precedes us so that when an individual, a designer or architect wants to install a sauna or steam facility, we are often already on their list, which is really gratifying. We can handle projects of any size, but we do seem to be selected for the more exclusive projects, says Kicki. The company does, of course, still provide a service for individuals, offering advice on how to convert a regular bathroom into an exclusive spa area, and either supplying and fitting a prefabricated product or designing and installing a bespoke product to suit a client s space, existing decor and budget. The natural path When asked if One Hyde Park, with its rumoured 100 million penthouse flats, was the kind of project she was hoping for when she started out, Kicki gives a small laugh Honestly I don t think I even knew that those kind or properties existed. I think the change in our business has more to do with our general attitude; the way we listen to and work with designers, she says. We have simply followed the path that has been given to us.

14 Scan Magazine February 2010 Dröm UK Getting Hotter and Hotter Dröm UK, the business of Swedish born Kicki Carlsson-Boyd, has reached new luxurious heights as they are to provide sauna and steam rooms for what is possibly the most prestigious development in the UK One Hyde Park. The project will include apartments up to the size of 27,000 sq ft and Kicki reveals that one of the private spa areas, which is currently in the planning phase, will be the biggest they have ever made for a private residence. Getting there Dröm UK has previously worked with Candy and Candy, who is behind the interior design of the developement, and that is, says Kicki, probably why we got the job. They are very happy with our work, maybe because we very rarely say that something cannot be done. Their brief is always very specific and they want what you cannot find elsewhere. Dröm UK will be providing saunas and steam rooms for several of the apartments although it is not yet certain how many. Luxurious Heights Dröm UK was started by Kicki and her husband Barry Smith seven years ago and has progressed from selling and installing spas for residential properties to being a leading specialist in the design, supply and installation of top quality saunas, steam baths and steam showers, mainly for exclusive residential properties, boutique and spa hotels. Our reputation now precedes us so that when an individual, a designer or architect wants to install a sauna or steam facility, we are often already on their list, says Kicki. We can handle projects of any size, but we do seem to be selected for the more exclusive projects, The company does, of course, still provide a service for individuals, offering advice on how to convert a regular bathroom into an exclusive spa area. The natural path When asked if One Hyde Park, with its rumoured 100 million penthouse flats, was the kind of project she was hoping for when she started out, Kicki gives a small laugh Honestly I don t think I even knew that those kind or properties existed. I think the change in our business has more to do with our general attitude; the way we listen to and work with designers, she says. We have simply followed the path that has been given to us.

15 Building for Leisure February 2010 Sauna with floating benches A sauna with a bespoke design incorporating floating benches that seat 12 people has been introduced. The new Asia model on display at Dröm UK s showroom uses sauna technology from Swedish manufacturer Tylö. The sauna is available in a choice of interior wood finishes, including Aspen, Beech and Alder. The exterior can be finished in a choice of styles such as this season s fashion statement colours plum and grape.

16 Premier Magazine January/March 2010 Full Steam Ahead The pleasure of bathing in steam has been enjoyed since Ancient Greek and Roman times. A steam bath is not only relaxing and energy-renewing, but promotes health and beauty too. Recommended for such conditions as bronchitis, catarrh, rheumatic complaints and joint pain, it can also be beneficial for people suffering from poor skin circulation, sleeping disorders and dry, chapped skin among others. Enjoyed correctly, a steam bath will help to overcome the stresses of everyday life, to relax and recover and to gain new strength and improve general physical and mental wellbeing. The heat helps the body to release endorphins, which are neurotransmitters in the brain, helping to relieve pain and promote happiness and a feeling of wellbeing. Many architects and designers are automatically incorporating a wet leisure experience into new-build and refurbishment projects, with swimming pools/spas, saunas and steam rooms integrated at planning level at the top end of the market, while in the middle market, a home can easily incorporate steam room with space for one or more people, making the experience not only relaxing but involving the whole family in an invigorating or relaxing break together. Even where space is tight, and cost an important factor, a steam shower can be incorporated into the space of a normal bathroom shower. Surrey based Dröm UK is a leading specialist in the design, supply and installation of quality saunas, steam rooms and steam showers. All clients are invited to view and learn about a project in the company s Byfleet showroom before making a decision. The staff will then discuss all the various options in order to achieve the most aesthetically pleasing, most practical and most cost effective solution. T his may be a prefabricated product, but individual spaces often need individual solutions which is where Dröm UK s bespoke design service comes into its own. All tastes, styles and most budgets cna be catered for a steam room or shower to fit in with the your period cottage, modern apartment or luxurious mansion Dröm UK says it will design and install the dream facility for your home. After all, dröm is the Swedish word for dream!

17 Drom UK in successful collaboration with Regal Holmes and Kelly Hoppen Audust 2010 Drӧm UK has recently completed sauna and steam room projects in two high-end properties in North London, working in close collaboration with Regal Homes and world-renowned interior designer Kelly Hoppen. Regal Homes name is synonymous with quality, and attention to detail is their passion. The first property, located in prestigious St Johns Wood, is a double fronted period style villa, with an extraordinary sense of volume and light. On the garden level the house features an amazing leisure complex with pool, gymnasium and treatment room. Adjacent is the stunning all-white steam room designed and installed by Drom UK, using Corian for the benches, ceiling and floor, with pebble marble mosaic for the walls. The LED lighting is also in white to continue the theme, and the steam is generated by a Tylӧ generator with digital control panel. The exterior is finished with luxury frameless glass doors for a feeling of light and space Tucked in a secluded close off the Winnington Road area of Hampstead Garden Suburb is our second property. An indoor pool complex is also host to a gymnasium and very modern style sauna, this time using heat treated dark ash cladding as a contrast to the luxury blonde Aspen benches. Using a Tylӧ 15 kilowatt sauna heater, the room has two benches and a raised ceiling for an airy feel. The steam room next door has a striking mix of black glass mosaic benches with large format marble slab tiles for the walls and floor while, unusually, the ceiling is also black glass mosaic to match the benches. The 24 kilowatt steam generator is by Tylӧ and has a digital control panel. The rooms incorporate integrated speakers linked to the property s audio system and feature luxury frameless glass doors. Paul Eden, CEO of Regal Homes said we met Drӧm UK at a trade show in Frankfurt. We were already aware of the company and its involvement with such prestigious projects as One Hyde Park, so decided to ask them to quote for our upcoming developments. Their prompt response, attention to detail and attitude far exceeded that of their competitors. We demand a high quality of product from all our suppliers, and Drom UK met all the criteria. We have been delighted with their service and work on site and will certainly use the company in the future.