Electronic systems are right at home in today's spacious spa-like master bathrooms, giving you one more reason to stay at home

Twenty years ago you'd have been hard-pressed to find a bathroom with more than a simple commode, a sink and a shower stall. The bathroom's role was practical, utilitarian and, quite frankly, boring. You got in, you dried off, you got out. Not anymore. By outfitting your master bathroom with luxuries like entertainment showers, TV-clad whirlpool tubs, mirror-covered TV screens and waterproof speakers, the room can function as a lavish, spa-like oasis with every conceivable comfort conveniently at your fingertips. All it takes is a little creativity and careful planning to incorporate a bevy of electronic products into a bathroom, making it a space that's so enjoyable you may never want to leave it.

The Right Tub

TVs and speakers can be added to the walls of just about any master bath. But for a nice, neat package, consider buying a shower or a bathtub with entertainment components built in. Integrated into the perimeter of Jacuzzi's LaScala entertainment whirlpool bath, for example, are a 42-inch plasma TV, surround-sound speakers, an AM/FM radio and a CD/DVD player.

With this many gadgets surrounding the tub, a handheld remote control is a must. Keeping in mind that conventional clickers and moisture don't mix, Jacuzzi created a splash-friendly unit that floats.

Built-in entertainment systems offer bathers a choice in music and video. Manufacturers are also giving users more flexibility and comfort by integrating into their whirlpool tubs intelligent jets and lights that can be easily programmed to create several unique water treatments. The Whirlpool tubs in Kohler's Experience line of whirlpools, for example, include a variable-speed motor for 18 different hydromassage treatments, with colored lights that activate in one of eight sequences for a water-based chromatherapy session.The jets, lights, heater and water flow are all controlled either from a built-in keypad or from a floating remote.

The Right Shower

Showers have come a long way in term of functionality. No longer is the shower stall merely a place to jump in, quickly soap up, rinse off and jump out. Designed with lavish amenities such as multiple showerheads, integrated footbaths and steam generators, even stereos and TVs, the shower has evolved into a miniature home spa.

These feature-packed showers let you customize your bathing experience. From an electronic control pad inside the BodySpa Shower from Kohler, for example, you can adjust the intensity and direction of the water flow for just the right degree of massage action.

Controls are also helpful in a shower like the Temazkal from Bain Ultra. Although this product does function like a typical shower, it's really more of a "therapeutic space." The Temazkal combines luminotherapy, thermotherapy and aromatherapy features in one compartment. At the press of a button, you can begin a luminotherapy session where halogen lights help synchronize the body's internal clock and combat sleep-related disorders. Switch to the thermotherapy setting, and you'll feel like you stepped into a sauna. Finally, by adding few drops of essential oil to the Temazkal's diffusers, you can bask in your own private aromatherapy room.

There's also a way to tan while you shower. Integrated into the Idrolux shower system are sleek panels of tanning lamps, which can be activated with or without the shower.

If Jacuzzi has its way, you may not even need a towel to dry off after a shower. The Ambient Air Body Dry System, optional in Jacuzzi's Summer Rain shower series, emits warm air through multiple heated jets to completely dry your body. A control panel lets you adjust the temperature and airflow to your liking.

Maintain that feeling of warmth all the way down to your toes with a radiant floor heating system from a company like Warmly Yours or Nuheat. The system comes in the form of an electric mat that is applied between the floor and the subfloor of your bathroom. The system usually includes a programmable remote so you can set the floor heat to kick on right before you leave your bed. Naturally, it is easiest to install a mat underneath hard-surface flooring when a home is under construction, so be sure to plan accordingly.

The Right Sound

For years, homeowners have been carting radios and boomboxes into the bathroom. After all, it's a great place to get your morning news or catch the weather report while you're getting ready for work. Fortunately, technological innovations now make it possible to hear your favorite stations, as well as music from a CD player, without any noticeable equipment in your bathroom at all. The same whole-house music system that feeds tunes to the family room, patio, master bedroom, kitchen and other rooms can also reach the privacy of your master bathroom. Once you've decided to utilize a whole-house music system in the bathroom, the biggest decisions you will need to make are where to put the speakers and the control keypad.

Waterproof speakers are definitely the way to go in a bathroom. OWI, for example, makes a speaker that's designed to fit perfectly into the space of a four-inch shower tile. These water-tight speakers are meant to get wet, but beware: Even though some manufacturers claim their speakers are waterproof, the products are actually better kept dry. (If you're concerned about the integrity of the speakers, mount them in the ceiling instead.)

If you do decide to mount speakers overhead, consider a single-point stereo speaker like the Virtuoso from Sonance. When space is an issue, you may have room for only one speaker anyway, and even in larger baths, there is often so much packed inside the ceiling (plumbing, electrical wiring, vents and other necessities) that there may be only one good location for an in-ceiling speaker. If nowhere else, place a speaker above the whirlpool tub. This is the one spot where you'll sit long enough to enjoy a lengthy stretch of music.

The Right Remote

Wall-mounted keypads are the common way to command a whole-house music system. But who wants to leave the warmth of a tub or shower to change the radio station or bump up the volume? Portable handheld remotes offer the convenience of on-the-spot control, but most can't handle the water. Fortunately, that's changing. Realizing that homeowners are creating master bathrooms that function and feel like luxury spas, electronics manufacturers are designing their products to fit the part. For Crestron, that means building a rugged all-purpose remote control that works just as well in the shower or tub as it does on the bathroom vanity. The unit can be customized to control any brand of whole-house music system, as well as the bathroom lights and the controls on the tub and shower.

The Right Light

In most households, the only room that's totally free of distractions -- as long as the door is shut tight -- is the master bathroom. Having the lights on low instead of at the ordinary get-ready-for-work bright is the perfect antidote for an overworked mind and body -- especially if there's hot, bubbly water involved. A single-scene system, like the SatiLite Station from LiteTouch, sets a single lighting scene for the bathroom. That scene might switch off the lights over the vanity and illuminate the sconces around the whirlpool tub to a soft 20 percent intensity. It's really the only setting you'll need for this room. The remainder of the time, the SatiLite functions like an ordinary dimmer switch.

The Right Windows

Thanks to technology, your bathroom can have big beautiful windows without forfeiting your privacy. Any size or style of window shade can be motorized to raise and lower at the press of a button, which is particularly helpful for skylights and that hard-to-reach window over a whirlpool tub. You may not even need to use a button at all if you tie the motorized window treatment to a photocell. Sensitive to sunlight, a photocell can trigger the shade to lower at night but stay open during the day.

As with many electronic systems, it's best to plan for motorized window treatments as early as possible in the construction of a home. The type of window treatment (be it wood blinds, roller shades, Roman shades or drapes) and the weight of the fabric will determine what kind of motor you'll need. Each motor is wired to a central electrical panel. By planning for the motorized treatments early, you can install the necessary wiring before the walls of the home go up.

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