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From the outside the unassuming, 125-year-old building looks like a colonial home. Inside, it's the stuff that dreams are made of. Westport's Dream Spa and Hairspa is celebrating its tenth anniversary and owner Lori Dodd is looking ahead to greener dreamscapes.
Lori, a longtime Westport resident, opened Dream Spa after spending 20 years in retail, design and beauty industries. Now, after a decade pampering clients with services including massage, body treatments, waxing, hairstyling, manicures and pedicures, business is still growing. "People keep coming back to us because we provide traditional services in a simple, tranquil and elegant environment," she says.
That environment is as green as it is elegant. Lori has taken steps at every level to reduce waste and lower energy consumption. "We installed eco-friendly coir and sisal carpets for the stairs and now only use low volatile organic compounds (VOC) paint on the walls," she says. Additionally, Lori did away with disposable plastic water bottles and serves filtered water in reusable glasses. "We went from 5,000 plastic bottles a year to none," she says. She also trashed the use of paper towels, instead providing organic cotton towels.
Dodd likes to spread the green word. As a longstanding holiday tradition, the Dream Spa building gets gift-wrapped in a giant red bow every December. But last year Lori decided to change the red banner to green. On it was written: "Go Green with Dream." Passersby took notice. "It definitely got the town talking," she says.
Hanging on a wall in the Spa is a quote from Lord Alfred Tennyson that asks: "Do we not live in dreams?" Maybe we do, but Lori's dream is her reality.
Dream Spa and Hairspa celebrates 10 years with a "10 for 10" promotion that includes 10 services at a 10 percent discount. Go to dreamdayspa.com for more details.
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