Health, Fitness and Wellness Focus in 2024
It’s the New Year and according to Forbes Health, the top resolution for 2024 is to improve fitness. This month, we’d like to share our top 5 indoor spaces that will keep you focused on your health and wellness, but also help you make the most of winter.
Personalized Home Gyms
Home gyms and exercise rooms continue to increase in popularity as personalized “smart” technology and virtual experiences become more and more integrated into fitness systems. Convenience is a large part of home exercise as it saves you time and tailors to your specific fitness needs. Once you have your state-of-the-art equipment, selecting finishes such as custom flooring, floor-length mirrors, lighting, and audiovisual systems truly makes the gym yours.
Here are just a few custom home gyms Nor-Son Custom Builders have incorporated into luxury homes around the Twin Cities and Brainerd Lakes Area.
Sport Court Recreation
Create the ultimate family recreation area with a sport court. While not new in custom home design, personalization is endless and can be fun and rewarding. Sport courts are perfect for active families! Whether it will include basketball, tennis, rock-climbing, or pickle ball, you have a space to gather for the entire family.
Indoor Pools and Spas
Go beyond the home gym and sport court with popular features like year-round access to aquatic activities and relaxation. Water therapy is a proven way to reduce stress and provides a great total body workout. Indoor lap pools are perfect for all ages, skill levels, and exercising needs with multiple current options, speeds, and temperatures control. The customization of indoor lap pools and spas is limitless and can range from intimate private spaces to larger spa areas that accommodate multiple people.
Smart Saunas are Gathering Steam
Another spa-like amenity that has been around for over 2,000 years and remains popular in custom homes design is the sauna. Also considered a health and mental wellness benefit, “smart” saunas can be turned on remotely for a quicker experience, setting the exact temperature and humidity desired. In addition to tracking the usage of your sauna over time and when maintenance may be needed, “smart” saunas offer customized lighting options.
With saunas gaining popularity in custom home design, Nor-Son Custom Builders are installing them in various locations throughout a home, typically in a small room or space like a bathroom or exercise room. Sauna kits can even be purchased and customized into a space by adding details like custom trim or metal accents around the enclosure to match the finishes in the rest of the space.
Biophilic Design Movement
Biophilic design connects people with nature by using natural materials like wood and stone, incorporating plant and water features throughout the home, or creating soothing, serene spaces, to name a few. Architectural Digest has coined this term as a “movement” rather than a “trend” as many custom and luxury homeowners search for more ideas to bring elements of nature into their homes in an effort to create calming and relaxing spaces.
The use of natural and native materials like wood and stone are the most common ways to introduce biophilic design into your custom home. This Adirondack style boathouse (above) incorporated actual trees including the base. On a lighter note, this modern home incorporated a simple twig pattern in the custom metal railing of the stairwell which was replicated in a TV stand. Bold floral-patterned wallpaper, indoor plants and nature-inspired artwork are extremely easy methods to try biophilic design without a lot of cost and can be swapped out as interior design aesthetics change.
A four-season porch is the perfect room in a home to extend your connection with nature well into the winter months of Minnesota. Add a fireplace and decorative ceiling heaters and you have a comfortable space for relaxation. These are only a few of the ways to bring nature into your home…the options are endless.
Nor-Son Custom Builders welcome the opportunity to create a custom home personalized to your lifestyle, family, and fitness aspiration. Contact us today to start planning!
