Wellness with that holiday feeling on the seafront

A bespoke sauna by KLAFS as an integral part of the bathroom

What appears from the front to be a compact, rural house on the dykes unfolds at the rear into a spacious family home in the Betuwe. The house, built entirely from scratch on the site of a former bungalow, has been designed as a place where comfort, technology and atmosphere come together. The PREMIUM bespoke sauna by KLAFS, subtly integrated beneath the stairs in the bathroom, forms a surprising and essential part of everyday enjoyment.

From demolition to a well-thought-out housing concept

The original house proved unsuitable for renovation from a structural point of view and was replaced by a completely new design. A rural, modern style with a warm and personal feel was chosen at an early stage.

Working alongside interior designer Heleen van den Berg of Helemaal Heleen, the aim was to strike the right balance between high-quality finishes and a homely atmosphere. Not a stark, impersonal interior, but a home with character and depth, where comfort and a sense of security take centre stage.

The residents’ wishes were clear: a practical family home that feels like a place to relax, almost like a holiday destination of their own.

Clever use of space: a sauna under the stairs

During the design of the bathroom, the space under the stairs emerged as a surprisingly suitable spot for a sauna. Precisely because of its specific positioning, this solution required a fully bespoke design. KLAFS, which specialises in high-quality bespoke sauna solutions, designed a PREMIUM bespoke sauna that is tailored to the available space down to the millimetre and blends seamlessly with the bathroom’s design.

The project required precise coordination throughout the construction process and a high level of craftsmanship in its execution. Thanks to the clever layout, the recess under the stairs has been put to optimal use and transformed into a surprisingly spacious sauna, where one can stretch out comfortably.

Choice of materials and integration into the interior

The sauna was designed as a natural extension of the bathroom, rather than as a separate feature. This vision, shared by both the residents and the interior designer, formed the basis of the design. Dark ash wood plays a key role in this. The material adds warmth and depth and complements other elements in the home. The vertical wooden slats of the sauna continue onto the adjacent wall, creating a powerful visual whole and allowing the sauna to blend seamlessly into the bathroom. The MAJUS sauna heater is also fitted with a surround in the same ash wood, which contributes to the calm and uniform appearance.

In addition, a generous, frameless glass front made of clear safety glass has been chosen, ensuring that the sauna remains visually connected to the room and appears open and transparent from the outside. At the same time, its positioning beneath the stairs creates a cosy, intimate atmosphere inside – precisely the feeling required for a relaxing sauna experience.

The bathroom features a subtle starry sky, which adds to the serene wellness experience of the space and is also visible from the sauna. In the sauna, a conscious decision was made to use understated lighting, including the CLARA sauna lamp and SUNSET under-bench lighting, which enhance the warm ambience of the wood and create a calm, relaxing atmosphere.

Accessible wellness as part of everyday life

Although the residents were not regular sauna users beforehand, the sauna has proved to be a valuable addition in practice. It is precisely its immediate accessibility – a sauna in their own bathroom – that makes all the difference.

It’s so easy to relax: no planning, no need to go out – simply pop in whenever the mood takes you. As a result, the sauna has become a regular part of the daily routine.

A home that feels like a holiday destination

The property demonstrates how architecture, interior design and wellness can complement one another. Through clever integration and bespoke design, a living environment is created that goes beyond mere functionality and feels like a holiday home.

The sauna plays a central role in this: not as a striking feature, but as a natural part of an overall concept in which comfort, tranquillity and experience come together.

www.klafs.nl