Laura Gall: The Power of an Outdoor Shower

Let’s face it, Winters can feel LOOOONNNNGGG in New England with January and February being the toughest. March often brings a glimmer of warmer days, but then, we get hit again with either snow and/or frigid temperatures.

Do I sound a tad jaded? Well, I’m not. I really do love being a “Maine” girl. As an avid skier, we trek our young family to Sugarloaf Mountain most weekends during the ski season and have an absolute ball. With that said, we do enjoy sneaking away to find some warm rays, soft sand and stunning turquoise water to sink our toes into. There’s nothing like a solid dose of Vitamin D to get you to golf and swim season!

Okay, so now that I’ve begun to conjure up sweet vacation memories and reminded you of your last warm-weather trip, I will share with you one of my most sought after amenities at home and on vacation – an outdoor shower!

The energy an outdoor shower can bestow on one’s soul (and body of course!) is very powerful. Whether you’re a Yogi seeking some Zen, a soul searching for 15 minutes of solitude or a dog owner desperately trying to rid your beloved four-legged friend of the stench put upon him by a skunk, the outdoor shower is a luxurious way to connect to the earth and bring your home, and all its routines, back to nature.

We recently returned from a trip to the Dominican Republic where we stayed at a new resort called Eden Roc, located in Cap Cana. It’s ten minutes from the airport, tucked away in a gated community and evolving into a wonderful oasis. 

Guess what our suite offered? Yes, a master bathroom that extended into a large outdoor shower area made from limestone. It featured a sunning bench peppered with colorful indoor/outdoor throw pillows, soft pebbles among limestone squares to absorb the water as well as beautiful greenery. It was DREAMY and a fabulous way to start and end each day. Our young boys loved it too and it was a seamless way to clean off the sand that had secured itself in every possible crevice thanks to the large rolling waves and their desire to body surf their way through our entire vacation! (I can almost hear you island hoppers from Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard giggling, knowing all too well about strong surf!) Anyhow, before I diverge any further, please take a peek!

Designers are often talking about how they bring the “outside” into the home, but I like dreaming up ways to bring the home outside. The options are more than abundant, but it’s important to create an outdoor shower space that compliments the existing architectural style of your home. From modern to Mediterranean and contemporary to cottage, there is a plethora of styles and sophistication, but the bottom line in my book, is they offer the soul a place to take in all that life has to offer. This first photo is of an outdoor shower area off the massage rooms at a private club in La Quinta, CA called The Madison Club. It’s the bomb! In addition to the cozy factor of the space, there are always spa-scented hair and body products within arm’s reach, Eco-friendly soaps and shampoos as well as plush robes to dry yourself off.

Simple and clean is what you’ll find in the below shot…no pun intended!

Here, the blue tiles give this area a Mediterranean vibe.

Contemporary Style…

We must not forget, New England charm…

Personally, I’m trying to find a place for this…

…somewhere along the back of this 1820s Greek Revival home in Maine…

At least until my next vacation! Enjoy the design journey and remember LOVE YOUR SPACE!

-Laura Gall

Laura Gall is a driven entrepreneur with a love for design, Laura Gall opened the doors to Spaces by LLG in 2011. She offers interior design, decorating and home staging services throughout Maine and New England. Laura was recently recognized by the Real Estate Staging Association as a 2013 Top 10 “Rising Star” Professional Home Stager in North America. www.spacesbyllg.com