Bring Home the Best of Casino Luxury Get Seriously Fit in your Home Gym

BRING HOME THE BEST OF Casino Luxury

Is your happy place a swanky casino? Then go ahead and bring it home with you!

Casino rooms are becoming one of the most sought-after recreational rooms in luxury homes, and with the legalization of online sports books in Arizona you can do more than ever with them. Your family and friends can now gather in the safety and comfort of your own home to play against the house, the opposing team and each other. When you add a casino room to your home you can furnish it however you want — you can create a Disneyland theme or imagine a casino on Mars — but there are classical casino touches that are going to get most people into high-roller mode the fastest.

These are some of the design elements that will get you in line with the world’s most luxurious gambling meccas, no matter what the stakes.

• The bar — This is even more important than any casino game-specific furnishings because it makes the room more than a typical home game room. It keeps the beverages, adult and otherwise, nearby and sets up formal service for participants, no matter who the server happens to be.

• Game tables — Poker tables are the most ubiquitous and flexible of game tables, but that wheel on a roulette table makes a high-end, eyecatching centerpiece. You might want to try a portable gaming tabletop that offers several playing options. If you’re trying to create an authentic casino vibe you can look into adding one or two slot machines or look for repurposed ones to integrate into your furnishings.

• Furniture — The more luxe, the better! Think highbacked leather upholstered chairs, sleek coffee tables and a plush sofa near the bar if you have room and maybe a room divider if you want the full casino experience with a separate lounge.

• Colors and lighting — Go with dramatic shades, most traditionally blacks and dark greens but they can be contrasted by white and pastels. The only bright lights should be over the gaming tables, and a statement pendant light fixture over the center of the room will do wonders in selling your home casino room as the real thing.

• Music — Buy the best sound system you can to play tunes appropriate for your audience.

Get Seriously Fit

IN YOUR HOME GYM

There is little doubt that a gym is the best place to go to obtain many kinds of fitness. Weight and circuit training, aerobic and dance classes, running and cycling — the list seems to go on. But technology and the rise of at-home service are making the membershipbased gym optional. And no matter how luxurious those gyms try to be, you always have to make some compromises because you’re sharing the space with other human beings. The light may not be the most flattering, their hygiene practices may be great but not excellent. So if you have a room or can add one, it’s more than a little worth considering setting up your own home gym tailored to your needs and desires to use any time! FLOORING This likely will be the most specialized element of your home gym aside from the equipment because different of activities are best done on different surfaces. Areas where you will be lifting weights need nonslip rubber surfaces to cushion your joints while you’re pumping yourself up. Foam, cork or rubber floors absorb noise and are the best choices if you want to lower the decibel level for surrounding rooms. If that’s not an issue, hardwood floors can be a more aesthetically pleasing and luxurious alternative. EQUIPMENT This of course will depend on your fitness goals and preferences, but it’s good to have a well-rounded selection to ensure better overall fitness and health. If you are a runner or cyclist at heart, a treadmill or stationary cycle (or both) are no-brainers, but do look into a home gym weight machine or a good selection of weights to get your strength training in.

If you’re more toward the bodybuilding end of the spectrum don’t forget to bring in at least one good cardio machine, such as a stair-stepper or rowing machine. Think about a climbing wall as a really cool option that takes up almost no room.

If you’re at all into tech and/or data about your performance, this is a great time to look at all the smart machines out there from the betterknown products like Peloton and Mirror to sensor-loaded punching bags and virtual free weight and resistance training systems.

Don’t forget smaller-ticket items like yoga mats, balance and medicine balls, foam rollers, resistance bands and other accessories needed for your specific activities. And if you’re planning to use online trainers or other resources, you’ll want a large, wall-mounted monitor for ease of use and communication. DÉCOR Think about what motivates and supports you in your fitness journey and blend it into your interior design.

If you seek calm and contentment, fill the room with neutrals and pastels and add some greenery and calming scents. If you’re looking for high-energy vibes turn the music up loud and use paint, rugs and art with reds, yellows, oranges and purples.

Whatever lights your fire, also try to incorporate large windows to let in lots of natural light and views of the lovely Northern Arizona you call home.