Still Water

As the wellness-at-home movement grows, Kohler is redefining the bathroom through digital showering, steam systems, and cold therapy designed to bring the spa experience home.

By Susan Semenak 

The shower isn’t just for jumping in and out of anymore. Thanks to the rise of digital shower systems—part of a broader global shift toward wellness at home—what was once a quick, functional routine is being reimagined as a restorative ritual. 

For many homeowners, the shower has become the focal point when designing wellness-oriented bathrooms, says Amy Hampton-Davies, marketing director at Kohler Canada. “The shower really has become an escape. An escape from the craziness of our lives and the stress of our days,” she says. “And in many cases, it has replaced the bath.”

Kohler’s Anthem Digital Showering System reflects that shift, transforming a standard shower into a customizable spa environment and allowing users to create their own “personalized escape,” as Hampton-Davies puts it.

You might program your morning shower, she suggests, with a cold, invigorating blast of water and bright lights that wake you up. In the evening, after a long day at work or an intense gym session, something more calming may appeal—gentler sprays from a rain head that help you wind down, paired with dimmer lighting and soft music that set the tone for the night ahead.

Kohler, which introduced the first digital shower valve more than 20 years ago, continues to expand the possibilities of technology, allowing homeowners to tailor shower settings that go well beyond basic water controls. 

“It’s not just about the water temperature or the flow anymore,” Hampton-Davies says. “Imagine being in the shower with low purplish lights that wash over you. It’s so calming and soothing.”

Through a sleek digital interface, users can control water temperature, flow, lighting colour and brightness, sound, and even steam from a single control panel with just the touch of a hand. The system can manage multiple water outlets—rain heads, hand showers, body sprays, and more—while saving up to six personalized presets so each member of the household can summon their ideal shower.

At Kohler, the digital shower is just one part of a larger movement toward wellness at home, Hampton-Davies says. As interest in wellness-focused living continues to grow, the company has established a dedicated wellness business unit devoted to products such as steam systems, cold therapy baths, and other spa-inspired technologies. The move reflects a growing demand from homeowners who are creating dedicated wellness rooms and seeking amenities once found primarily in hotels, high-end gyms, and luxury spas.

“Where in the past, square footage might have been reserved for a home theatre, we are now seeing that space occupied by a wellness room.”

Steam systems have long been a cornerstone of these spaces, but another ritual has surged in popularity: cold therapy. That’s where Kohler’s collaboration with Remedy Place—the world’s first “social wellness club”—enters the picture, bringing the increasingly popular practice of cold plunging into the home.

The Remedy Ice Bath, a freestanding dark-wood unit with a black bathing well, pairs minimalist design with performance-driven technology. Precision temperature control allows the water to drop to 39°F, creating the bracing conditions required for cold-immersion therapy. Inside, ergonomic seating, a cushioned headrest, and integrated hand grips help stabilize the body during sessions, while a guided breathwork light and timer encourage mindful breathing and track the length of each plunge. A skimmer unit maintains water clarity, while adjustable circulation outlets keep the bath refreshed. 

Together, digital showers, steam systems, and cold plunges are transforming the modern bathroom into a space designed for restoration and ritual. “Where in the past, square footage might have been reserved for a home theatre, we are now seeing that space occupied by a wellness room,” Hampton-Davies says. “People don’t want to have to go to the Four Seasons for a spa. They want the experience right at home.”