Spa Inspired Sitting Room

The aroma of essential oils and herbal exfoliating scrubs…

The sound of a brook – and not a child – babbling in my ears…

My eyes should have been closed in relaxation while I received a fabulous facial, right?

Instead, they were wide open and fixated on the gorgeous faux-tin ceiling and quatrefoil light fixtures in the spa’s treatment room.

The brand new spa at the Omni Mt. Washington Resort in Bretton Woods, NH was designed by the Virginia-based firm Beaty & Brown, and it’s truly stunning. My BFF, Jenn, and I were treated to a spa afternoon when we were all up at the resort for an outing that the company that I (and Jenn’s hubby) sponsor annually. The guys surprised us with facials and an incredible water exfoliation treatment, but the big treat was having time to ourselves, and with each other, in a beautiful setting.

The hotel is a gem in the White Mountains, sitting in a valley at the base of Mt. Washington. The grand hotel opened its doors in 1902, but until a major renovation that was completed in 2010, there wasn’t a decent spa (I know, I’ve gone nearly every year since 2003).

Jenn and I were blown away by the spa’s relaxing, beautiful design and I’m still kicking myself that I didn’t have my camera with me. My favorite quatrefoil motif and ikat prints abounded, right down to flush-mount lights dotting the hallway ceiling. The color palette in the women’s lounge consisted of (appropriately) spa blue, creamy white, taupe, and a touch of gray. The designers brought the natural setting of the mountains into the spa through branch chandeliers and botanical wall art.

The co-ed lounge had a more masculine vibe, with darker browns and blues mixed with the lighter shades of the ladies’ side. The combination led us to think that the co-ed room merged the decor of both the ladies’ and mens’ lounges (sadly, no pics of the mens’ lounge!)

The ladies’ lounge was very me – the space just wowed me from the moment I entered it, wearing my terry cloth robe and spa flip-flops. The turned legs of the chairs and leafy wall paper have a very British Colonial vibe. Here’s a lower end version of the look that would be perfect for a little sitting area, a place to paint your nails and read a celeb magazine while the kids are napping.

1. Wall stencil kit, Cutting Edge Stencils – $35
Instead of spending oodles on wall paper, try stencils instead. Start the wall with a creamy base paint and add the leaves in colors from the pillow fabric.

2. Tie-back curtains, Ikea – $50 for the pair

3. Botanical clip art, My Sweet Savanah – FREE!
What a fabulous find this was. Just click on the clip art, print yourself, and slap it into an inexpensive matted frame.

4. Twig chandelier, CSN Lighting – $262

5. Armchair & ottoman, Pottery Barn – $499-$899

6. Ikat pillow fabric, Lewis & Sheron – $19.98/yard
This fabric is on my must-have list, and Lewis & Sheron has the best price around. I plan to make a bed skirt with it for our master bedroom.

7. Table lamp, Home Decorators Collection – $199

8. Side Table, Allcoffeetables.com – $478 (eek – check a thrift store first!)

9. Geometric rug, Overstock – $366

Have you been wowed by a spa or other commercial space recently? Would you give your left arm for a day at the spa? It was such an unexpected treat, and those are the best kind!

Images courtesy of Omni Hotels & Resorts.

P.S. The winner of the Uprinting.com business card giveaway was comment #17, Rachel! Congratulations!