A Couple’s Farmhouse Bathroom Remodel in the Country

A bathroom renovation in Riverhead, Long Island turns a closet into an ensuite bath

• Homeowners: New homeowners Michelle and Nate posted their Riverhead bathroom remodel on Sweeten
• Where: Long Island, New York
• Primary renovation: Transforming an alcove closet into a guest bathroom
• Sweeten general contractor in Long Island
• Sweeten’s role: Sweeten matches home renovation projects with vetted general contractors, offering advice, support, and secure payments—for free.

Written in partnership with homeowner Nate. “After” photos by Lena Yaremenko.

A new home becomes a passion project

Michelle and Nate, both freelance advertising creatives from Brooklyn, bought a 2,010-square-foot house in Long Island, NY. Built in 1994 by the previous owner, Nate found the home in good condition. “Luckily, the house didn’t need anything to enjoy it right away,” he said. “We looked at it as a fun long-term project to turn it into an escape from the city,” Nate said. Nestled in the woods and surrounded by local farms, wineries, and nearby beaches, the Long Island home was perfect for their plans. The first item on the to-do list was to add another bathroom.

A closet repurposed

To make it easier to accommodate guests, the couple wanted each bedroom to have its own bath. There was a large alcove in the upstairs hallway that they thought would be the perfect ensuite guest bathroom. It was conveniently located above the downstairs bathroom and plumbing so they hoped it wouldn’t be too difficult to transform. “Our main question was really just how difficult would it be to add a bathroom where one hadn’t existed before,” said Nate. He posted their Riverhead bathroom remodel on Sweeten and was matched with a Sweeten general contractor.

We had to be out of town a lot during the work, but our contractor was really good about sending work-in-progress pictures.

A modern farmhouse bathroom

Before getting started, Michelle and Nate nailed down the look and feel of the bath, opting for a modern country vibe that was clean and simple. Because the angled roof affected one of the walls, they got creative with the layout, choosing to build a triangular storage nook in the uniquely-shaped space.

Shiplap was added to the slanted wall, giving the room the desired farmhouse style the couple hoped to achieve. They also incorporated some personal touches, including handmade shelves that Nate built from reclaimed wood. A pull-out drawer was repurposed from an old door to hold cleaning supplies and extra toilet paper. For the entry, the couple took a style cue from the neighboring farms. “We especially like the look and function of the sliding barn door,” Nate said.

Managing the Riverhead bathroom remodel from afar

Michelle and Nate searched a variety of brands to outfit their bath but always found themselves coming back to one retailer. “The nice thing about getting fixtures from one place is that you know the metals will match. Oil-rubbed bronze, for example, can look very different from one brand to the next,” said Nate.

“We had to be out of town a lot during the work but our contractor was really good about sending work-in-progress photos,” he said. “The pictures helped make sure things came together the way we imagined them.”

Renovation materials

Sliding barn door: Rustica Hardware. Santa Rosa Kohler Toilet: Home Depot. Manhattan Series 6” x 24” subway tile and Ardesie “Black Reef” floor tile: Forever Floors & Design Center. Vanity, medicine cabinet, faucets, fixtures, sconces, and hooks: Restoration Hardware.

Thanks for sharing your clever new bathroom, Michelle and Nate!

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