This master bathroom in a Tribeca NYC residence combines an interlocking vanity with concrete bathroom sinks, tub surround, and shower elements, and seamlessly integrates them with a bath of glass and tile to create a peaceful urban oasis. No material but concrete could produce the complex intricacies of this design in such a cost-effective way, while allowing such diversity in finish.

Jeff Kudrick (Infinicrete founder) and his New Jersey-based decorative concrete studio JM Lifestyles created a mold for the bathroom sink that was so distinctive, it won Best of Show at the 2010 Cheng Concrete Exchange Design Challenge.

Kudrick reported that the clients had a concept of “clean and sleek and simple” for their master bath and asked for as much vanity space as possible next to the glass shower. Upon project completion, Kudrick said the loved it. “It was everything that they wanted in their bathroom.”

JM Lifestyles was given the freedom to design the bath within the clients’ overall aesthetics. The biggest challenge during the design process was aesthetically and functionally bringing together two very different materials, glass and concrete, where the vanity meets the shower. To beautifully integrate the materials while fulfilling the request for maximum vanity area, Kudrick decided to bring the vanity into the shower, effectively cutting through the shower wall with the vanity extension. This led to the idea of casting a monolithic concrete leg—half in and half out of the shower—that became both vanity support and shower seat. To further carry the design throughout the bath, the tub surround carries into the shower, and cast vertical shower niches break the conventional planes of the shower.

To save the client some money, Kudrick decided against a custom shower pan and instead cast a single-piece curb that would give the illusion of a full shower base and tie together the two sections of the bathroom, tile and concrete.

JM Lifestyles precast the project without templates before the bathroom was built. They provided shop drawings of what they were making and pulled two “control” points – one horizontal level line for the floor and a vertical line in space – from which all pieces were assembled. Because of this measurement method, general construction for the master bath was uninterrupted and the client’s challenging schedule was met.

Using multiple types of Cheng DFRC mix made it easy to match different techniques and fabricate. They used the face mix and backer for the strength of the length of the piece. They also put basalt rod in the casting. The shower curb and the one-piece tub surround were also cast with the face and backer. The sink was custom colored using blends of SureCrete Color Packs.

MATERIALS AND TOOLS USED:

Infinicrete Tribeca Sink Mold
Cheng DFRC mixes
Custom perforated drain plate (NOTE: Infinicrete only has the drain plates available in blank or three-hole, not perforated.) 
SureCrete Color Packs 
An eased edge with phenolic-faced plywood forms made in-shop 
One-piece tub surround 
Infinicrete drain jig 
Hopper gun