A dedicated advocate for integrating wellbeing into everyday living, Aimee incorporated a Sunlighten infrared sauna into Lume House, designing a multifunctional wellness space that supports her busy lifestyle. Here, she shares how wellness design has evolved, the thinking behind her own space and the powerful benefits she’s experienced from infrared therapy.
You’ve created a home that feels equally suited to long lunches with loved ones as it does to quiet moments of retreat. You’ve built and designed many homes, how have you seen wellness spaces evolve, and why are people increasingly drawn to having gyms, saunas and meditation areas in their homes?
In today’s world, we are living increasingly busy lives. Between work, family commitments and the everyday demands of life in general, it’s getting harder to make time to prioritise self-care. These time demands mean that people are looking more to their houses to fulfil their need for health and wellness.
In the new home and renovation market, we are seeing our clients specifically building in spaces to not only work out but also rest and recharge. COVID has really fast-tracked this need for delivering spaces that truly cater to health and wellness as a must-have for any new home build.
What was your approach to designing your wellness space in Lume House, and what was important for you to achieve?
I lead a really busy life, and due to the demands of my children’s sport schedules, it’s now impossible for me to leave home to go to a gym. But it’s achievable if I can wake up and jump straight on my spin bike or put a strength class on without having to waste time commuting. So having a dedicated space to exercise was a must.
As I am getting older, I am also prioritising muscle recovery, skin health and wellness as a non-negotiable. I love my Sunlighten Believe infrared sauna and wanted this to be part of my wellness space at Lume House.
We have designed a gym and multipurpose room on the basement level and have integrated the sauna into the foyer/mudroom space in the basement entry. We wanted to make use of the ‘dead space’ under the staircase and knew this would be the perfect place for our sauna to sit and look purposeful.
From a design perspective, what should people consider when creating a wellness space and deciding where to place an infrared sauna?
The Sunlighten saunas are so beautiful, it’s a shame to hide them away in the corner of a garage. So consider adding them into a gym space inside the home where they really become part of your daily routine. The footprint of the saunas is not huge, so they work really well in a corner of a room, or you can consider using unused space to integrate them, like we have under the staircase.
When building or renovating, when should people start planning for a wellness space? Any tips from your personal or professional experience?
Yes, familiarise yourself with the dimensions of the sauna and plan for this at the design stage rather than adding it in later. The sauna needs additional boosted power, so this is also key in planning the right point with your electrician.
It also pays to plan out everything you envision in the space to ensure you have enough room and everything is considered. For our basement gym, we marked out each piece of equipment on the floor plan to ensure it all fit perfectly and that we were orienting the room in the right way. This made moving in really easy because we knew where each piece was sitting and took all the guesswork out.
As a working parent leading a busy life, what benefits do you most value from regular infrared sauna use?
The biggest benefit I have noticed is my skin, it’s amazing! I get asked all the time what I do for my skin, and I always tell everyone it’s because of my Sunlighten sauna. The near and far infrared light targets ageing and cell renewal, and my skin is glowing.
Muscle recovery has been a big benefit for me too. I suffer from pain on and off in my lower back, and a few sessions in the sauna clear this up every time. My kids use it over winter when common colds and flus are in full swing at school, and they never seem to get sick.
I love the Sunlighten infrared sauna as it feels like sitting in the sun, rather than in a stuffy old-style sauna. It’s deeply relaxing!
How does your Sunlighten sauna fit into your day-to-day routine, relaxation, recovery or both?
I use my Sunlighten sauna for relaxation, it’s the perfect place to enjoy some time just for me. It’s so warm and beautiful, and because it has a TV, it’s the perfect place to hide away and indulge in some Netflix!
When I get out, I feel energised and amazing. I love using it in the morning before a busy day. It leaves me feeling this heightened sense of clarity, like I am ready to tackle anything.
What considerations guided your choice of an infrared sauna, and why was Sunlighten the perfect complement to your home and lifestyle?
I had done a lot of research into infrared saunas, and the research suggested that Sunlighten was the category leader with their superior infrared technology. I didn’t want just a hot space to chill, I wanted to ensure the time I was spending in there was backed by scientifically proven health benefits.
I chose the Believe two-person sauna as I wanted something compact, as it’s usually just me using it. I thought the smaller size would heat up quickly and be the perfect size to integrate under my staircase.
Quick Fire Questions
What’s inspiring you at the moment, personally or creatively?
I really love the ornate American country interiors,think rustic spaces and lots of detailing. I am loving pinning lots of this style of home to my Pinterest board!
What are you reading, watching, or listening to right now?
I love reading, I am reading the new book The Last One Out by Jane Harper. And I have just finished season 2 of Nobody Wants This on Netflix in the sauna!
Favourite way to unwind after a big day?
Definitely having a sauna before bed, it’s the perfect place to relax and let the day melt away.
Morning ritual you can’t live without?
Sauna + coffee.
What’s next? Anything on the horizon you’re excited about and can share?
I would love to design a really rustic beach house—we just have to find the right spot!
What three words best describe the joy that designing gives you?
Sense of achievement.
