Designer – MFS Studios Inc.
Architect of Record – Jonathan Seltzer
Contractor – Good Living NY Inc.
MFS Studios Inc was commissioned by this private owner to design a new master bathroom that was originally built in 2000 at 10 Jennifer Lane in Long Island NY. The goal of this interior renovation was to lay out a more efficient use of the current 75 SQFT space with updated plumbing fixtures and materials to create a rustic vibe that would include and center around a state-of-the-art infrared sauna.
Our approach started with understanding that being the sole user of the bathroom we needed to remove the redundant second sink to create a space to access the sauna and flip the shower to the opposite side. The plan became more effective, and it also came with the benefit of using the only window in the room to illuminate a potentially dark shower. The natural light allowed us to carry in the dark split-face slate ledger stone, predominately used throughout the bathroom, into the shower to enhance the rustic theme.
Thinking of the future needs and age factor of the client, we provided a direct walk-in to the shower and a mosaic pebble flooring for a higher slip-coefficient. This was not only was functional but reminded her of the times she walked and played in the streams and rivers upstate when she was a kid. A bench was also created to allow the user to sit and wash or relax after the sauna built out of a vintage diamond plated rusted steel style ceramic tile. All alcoves that cut into the ledger stone were cladded with the same tile as if it became exposed from behind the stone.
For the floor, we used a light wood plank ceramic tile to lighten the space and tie in with the wood sauna. We continued with the light wood look along what would be a feature wall that got treated with natural alder wood ship lap. The wood cladding softened the space juxtaposed to the ledger stone and provoked the memories the client had of the bungalows she stayed at as a kid. Mounted on that ship lap, we hung an operatable barn door made from the same alder wood to have similar knot patterns but stained it dark brown to be showcased on the wall. When slid to the left it reveals the bathroom closet where the same wood ship lap from the wall turns the corner and becomes the interior closet cladding.
The vanity, although small, was cantilevered out from the stone to keep a light and open feel below it to highlight the light wood ceramic plank flooring. On top of the vanity rests a hammered copper vessel sink under a wall mounted spigot style faucet. The toilet location remained but was replaced with a high tank pull chain toilet to align with the rustic theme.
