Photos: Emilia Rotko

At the beginning of 2025, a plumbing renovation was carried out in the semi-detached home of Emilia Rotko, a social media influencer and digital marketing professional living in Southern Finland. From the perspective of the family of four, the renovation came at the right time, as updating the wet areas was already planned. The old wet areas were no longer stylistically up to date, and they were also considered impractical in terms of the placement of fixed furniture.

MORE PRACTICALITY AND SAFETY IN THE WET ROOMS

The main goal of the renovation was to make the wet rooms more practical: the family wanted more space as well as more durable and safer material choices. At the same time, it was decided to replace the sauna heater, as the old one did not meet everyone’s preferences. Instead of offering varied sauna steam, it produced only hot and sharp heat.

During the renovation, the positions of the sinks were changed, allowing for more room to move around. The new color palette of the renovated wet rooms is earthy and warm: sand-toned tiles, wooden furniture, and the beautiful alder wood surfaces in the sauna create a visually pleasing whole. In addition, the wet rooms became significantly safer: the old tiles were not only outdated but also slippery. The new tiles have a light texture that reduces the risk of slipping.

The new wet rooms are not only modern but also safe and practical. In addition to new surfaces and a more functional layout, the family invested in lighting, allowing for both atmospheric lighting and brightness when needed. This has brought both visual interest and a greater sense of space to the rooms. The sauna benches are also slightly deeper and sturdier than before, and a safety railing was built around the heater.

The renovated sauna features timeless alder wood.

A MODERN HEATER ENCOURAGES THE FAMILY TO USE THE SAUNA MORE OFTEN

Perhaps the most surprising outcome of the renovation has been the change in the family’s sauna habits. Before the renovation, the sauna had an on-off type heater that could only be turned on or off, with no temperature control. “The change is incredible – we actually use the sauna and want to use it. The previous sauna wasn’t inviting, and it didn’t feel like a place where we wanted to bring our children. Now, using the sauna has become an important weekly routine for us,” says Emilia.

For many who grew up in Finland, shared family sauna moments are among the most cherished childhood memories. The family’s new sauna is a place for important shared moments together, but also a space where the adults can unwind and clear their minds on their own. "My partner and I also have very different sauna preferences: I prefer gentler steam, while my husband likes it more intense. Now the sauna allows both of us to enjoy it in our own way!” Emilia adds.

A RELIABLE AND EASY-TO-USE APP FOR REMOTE CONTROL

In everyday family life with children, adults often have their hands full, which is why remote control of the heater appealed to Emilia and her partner – and for good reason. The family chose the Mondex Teno E2 WiFi heaterfor their sauna, and after a few months of use, the WiFi feature has already proven to lower the threshold for taking a sauna. “My husband, who is a fan of smart technology, appreciates how easy and reliable the app is,” Emilia says. It was also important for the family to choose a heater made in Finland, as they trust Finnish quality and durability.

Through the mobile app used for controlling Mondex WiFi heaters, it is easy to manage the heater’s scheduling, operating time, and temperature. The app also provides interesting statistics related to sauna usage, energy consumption, and the cost of heating.

A SAFE HEATER FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN

For remote use of a Mondex WiFi heater, a door sensor included with the heater must be installed on the sauna door. To control the heater remotely, someone must first check that the sauna is safe, close the sauna door, and set the heater to standby mode using a control panel installed, for example, on the wall of the bathroom or changing room, out of children’s reach.

If the sauna door is opened before heating begins, the standby mode is cancelled, and the heater cannot be operated remotely until the sauna has been checked again, the door closed, and standby mode reactivated via the control panel. “As a parent, I feel a great sense of relief knowing that the standby mode is cancelled if the children open the sauna door,” Emilia says.

Watch the video to see how the new sauna transformed Emilia’s family’s sauna habits:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DH0Hqhqte7H/

You can follow the humorous and authentic everyday life of this family with children on Emilia’s Instagram @emiliarotko.

Julkaistu 10.6.2025