When the Asworth family - the owners of the Watergate Bay boutique hotel in Conrwall, UK - opened the new £3m spa at the hotel they opted to move away from the hushed, clinical approach and challenged the traditional way of thinking in spa design.

Stride Treglown and Household, the designers who worked on the Cowshed Spa, were responsible for creating a warm, lived-in space, complementing the easy-living feel embodied in the rest of the Watergate hotel, which overlooks the Newquay bay and sits next to celebrity chef Jamie Oliver's 15 Cornwall restaurant.

Blue and white stripes are used to add interest to walls and cushions add colour. The ambience is more exhuberant than soporific, in keeping with the active spa team.

Creative director at Household, Sarah Page, says the design allows the guests to find whatever they need to leave the chaos behind: "You're taken on a journey to discover what fits your mood, whether that's hideaways, social hubs, lookouts, foodie treats, feet-up, snooze spots or sun-spots."

Facilities include three treatment rooms, an infinity pool, a cardio suite, timber-decked terraces with outdoor hot-tubs and a café area for chilling post-treatment.

Manicures and pedicures take place in armchairs overlooking the sea. Whale music has been thrown out in favour of a handpicked soundtrack of mellow tunes, likewise the traditional spa uniform has been replaced by colourful, jersey clothes from White Stuff.

The spa menu has an emphasis on dynamic massage and people create their own treatment from a range of options: where, how long and whether they want deep, relaxing, hot rocks or a mixture.

Hotel managing director, Will Ashworth, says he wanted the new development to further blur the boundaries between the beach and hotel.

"This is active, social relaxation in a truly inspiring location; creating beach-house comfort with lots of light, open spaces, complemented by rich textures and colours," he says.

"Watergate Bay Hotel is all about the balance of life. It's being active, getting amongst the elements, eating and drinking well, spoiling yourself a little, chilling out, getting cosy and most of all, having a good time."