The vision
This Ballwin homeowner has a home gym in their unfinished basement. When they decided to add a sauna alongside it, they wanted something that would complement the space — not require finishing the entire basement first. The decision turned out to be the right one.
The brief was clear: a custom cedar sauna that could sit alongside the gym and serve as the recovery anchor for the whole space. The homeowner had one additional request — infrared light therapy integrated alongside a traditional HUUM electric heater. Two modalities, one room.
The combination is increasingly popular for a reason. Traditional Finnish sauna operates at 160–190°F with steam from a heater and rocks. Infrared panels operate at lower temperatures — around 120–140°F — and penetrate the body differently, targeting muscle tissue more directly. Having both gives the user the choice of experience depending on how they feel that day.
“It’s perfect having the stunning sauna right where we work out.” — Ballwin, MO homeowner
The build
The sauna was framed and clad in western red cedar, with infrared panels integrated into the bench wall. Electrical was run for both the HUUM heater and the infrared system — two separate circuits, one seamless room. The glass door with its full-length window lets the red light glow into the basement even when closed, which ended up becoming a design feature in itself.
Traditional + Infrared
This sauna features both a HUUM electric heater for traditional Finnish-style heat and infrared red light therapy panels. Use the heater for a deep sweat session, the infrared for muscle recovery and light therapy, or both together for maximum effect.
The result
A finished cedar sauna that serves as the centerpiece of a basement wellness space — with the flexibility to use traditional heat, infrared therapy, or both depending on the day. The sauna now sits alongside the home gym — a complete wellness space in one room.