By Amber Katz
There’s a subtle renovation trend happening behind the doors of Rye’s homes, one that has less to do with open-concept kitchens and more to do with infrared saunas, cold plunges, and dedicated yoga rooms.
Whether it’s a lower level being reimagined as a spa-like retreat or an unused outdoor balcony enclosed into a private studio, Rye homeowners are increasingly investing in wellness at home — and the local designers and real estate professionals who work with them say the demand isn’t slowing down.
Starting with the bones
Before any sauna panels go up or cold plunge gets installed, the first conversation is always about infrastructure. Caroline Howard, client and operations manager at JWH Design & Cabinetry, said her team begins every wellness project by evaluating the fundamentals.
“We start with ceiling height, plumbing access, electrical capacity, and overall accessibility,” she said. “Access is particularly important, not only for the client’s day-to-day enjoyment, but because many pieces of equipment can only be broken down to a certain extent and may not fit through narrow staircases or tight doorways.”
Dawn Merkel, Rye resident, interior designer and principal of Merkel Interiors in Mamaroneck, has worked on numerous wellness spaces in the area. She breaks it down by feature.
Cold plunges, she said, are essentially bathtubs from a plumbing standpoint.
“I need drainage and plumbing lines,” she said. “For a sauna, I don’t need plumbing lines; it’s really a box, and it’s more electric than anything else. Saunas are pretty simple to install, but electrical is the biggest component. I need to make sure there’s enough amperage, regardless of whether they’re doing a finished sauna or an infrared. Infrared takes more power.”
Steam showers, she added, come with their own set of considerations, chief among them, where to hide the steam unit.
“You can’t have the steam unit sitting in the middle of the bathroom, it’ll get moldy,” Merkel said. “We find a place to conceal it, often in the ceiling, but we have to be able to access it in case things break. Steam showers have a tendency to break down over time and need servicing, so accessibility is non-negotiable.”
One thing that surprises many clients: you can’t simply retrofit an existing shower for steam. “The walls have to be open, it has to be plumbed correctly, and the electric has to be done correctly. You can’t just say, ‘I redid my bathroom four years ago and now I want to add steam.’ It won’t work.”
Location, location, location
When it comes to where in the home these spaces work best, both designers point to lower levels.
“Walk-out lower levels are especially desirable,” Howard said. “They provide natural light and a connection to the outdoors, allow for easier delivery and installation of larger equipment, and open the opportunity to incorporate exterior elements like a plunge or sauna, especially when paired with a pool.” The goal, she said, is to create a true retreat — “something that feels distinct from everyday living spaces.”
Merkel has seen an even split between basement installations and master bathroom-adjacent spaces. The latter have a practical advantage: proximity drives usage.
“The ones closest to the primary bathroom probably get used a lot more because you’re seeing it every day. Maybe you’re looking into the sauna while you’re in the shower thinking, ‘I should’ve done that first.’ It sets your mind to carve out the time.”
Design details that drive daily use
Having a beautiful wellness space and actually using it are two different things. One of the most underrated features Merkel builds into saunas is also one of the simplest: speakers and Wi-Fi.
“It encourages people to get in and sit there for a while without just being in silence,” she said. “Some saunas come with packages that include a TV or sound, which matters because you can’t bring your phone in — it gets too hot.”
The idea is that entertainment infrastructure lowers the mental barrier to actually stepping inside.
But carefully choosing the right materials will also make using the space more enticing, according to Howard.
“Ceiling height, proper spacing, and lighting design are critical. Incorporating recessed lighting, layered lighting, and reflective elements like mirrors can dramatically enhance the experience,” she said. “Material selections also play a large role — durable yet elevated flooring and textures like fluted wood-look tile help create a calming, spa-like atmosphere that invites daily use.”
For cold plunge devotees, the people getting the most out of the experience tend to be doing it as part of a deliberate circuit.
“They’re going into the sauna, coming out, cold plunging, and going back in,” Merkel said. “There’s a whole routine — in for 20, plunge for five, back in. The people doing it accurately are really gaining everything they can from it.”
One homeowner’s story: The yoga Studio that survived COVID
Yoga instructor Naomi Norman took a different path to her wellness space — one that started with an underused outdoor balcony on the second floor of her Rye home. About 20 years ago, as part of a larger upstairs reconfiguration, she and her husband decided to enclose the porch.
“We decided if we enclosed this outdoor space, it would be more usable,” she says. “So it became my yoga room.”
The most meaningful design detail she incorporated was a palladiun window that mirrors one on the opposite side of the house, in the primary bedroom.
“It reflects the window we did on the other side of the house, so it kept the design very balanced,” she said.
The studio paid dividends in ways she couldn’t have anticipated. When COVID hit, Norman was able to continue teaching all of her classes virtually from that dedicated space.
“It was a lifesaver,” she said. “And because of COVID, some of my virtual classes just stayed virtual — people preferred it, so I could still teach from there.” She also uses the space for private in-person students.
What it costs — and what it’s worth
Budgets for wellness build-outs vary widely depending on scope, but the numbers can climb quickly. Merkel said the least expensive sauna she’s ever completed came in around $50,000, while a recent project ran $80,000 — with an additional $10,000 to add a steam shower component. Howard puts the range for a full wellness build-out between $250,000 and $500,000 plus, “with costs varying based on structural work, mechanical requirements, and level of finish.” She advises against value-engineering the core elements. “They’re central to how the space functions and performs long-term.”
Both designers recommend selecting the specific sauna or plunge model early in the process, before design documents are finalized. Howard’s firm frequently works with Sun Home Saunas.
“Selecting the exact make and model early allows us to fully account for ventilation, drainage, and electrical requirements and integrate those needs into the space so that outlets, drains, and access points are placed in a way that feels intentional and visually unobtrusive.”
From a real estate perspective, the investment can pay off, provided the execution is right, said Rye-based realtor Sandy Chittenden.
“What used to feel like a niche add-on is now showing up across a broader range of price points,” she said. “A well-designed sauna that feels like part of a cohesive spa experience — paired with a gym, cold plunge, or a luxe bath — can absolutely elevate perceived value and desirability, especially for waterfront properties.” The caveat: features that feel too personal or too permanent can work against a seller. “Buyers in Rye still prioritize versatility and clean design. If a wellness feature compromises that, it can actually hurt appeal.”
The takeaway for anyone considering a wellness conversion: Start early, plan thoroughly, and design for daily life — not just the Instagram version of it.
