The Block | WE INSTALLED THE First Steam Shower

FANS V FAVES 2021 – CONTESTANTS MITCH & MARK

MITCH AND MARK, AND MR STEAM

As two of the most popular personalities in The Block’s history, Mitch and Mark have indeed made their mark on
Australia’s design landscape. Lighting up the screen in 2019, Mitch and Mark set a new standard for the Australian reality series in terms of design innovation, and instantly connecting with audience with their zest for life.

When invited to return to The Block for the 2021 series of Fans vs Faves, their enthusiasm was immediate.
“They offered us a few days to think about it,” explains Mitch. “But we were in!”

H2-RM4-Steam-room-Mitch-_-Mark-003-1 | two man mrsteam in showeroom

First Steam room on The Block

As week four goes to air, Mitch and Mark’s most innovative room to date is revealed to The Block’s judges, and to Australia’s eager audience. The first steam room to appear on the series is located in the basement space. Whilst all of the other contestants installed theatre rooms, Mitch and Mark felt it wasn’t suitable for a home of their size, so they seized the opportunity to create a dedicate spa room and wellness space.

H2-RM4-Steam-room-Mitch-_-Mark-024 | steam shower white showerroom

Your Home is A Sanctuary

Explains Mark, “We had the concept of installing a Mr Steam steam room bubbling away in the back of our minds. Since COVID, Australians have been focusing more attention on their homes as a sanctuary, so it seemed very timely to have a bathroom that also offered a spa-like retreat. The ensuite would have been the logical place for it. However all of the skylights were set in position in the first few weeks of the build, and a skylight was positioned in our ensuite which meant it would be impossible to install a steam shower in that space. The ceiling was just too high for the steam to be effective. So the basement became the ideal solution.”

H2 RM4 Steam room Mitch _ Mark-036 | steam gold shower head

Executed to Perfection

Creating a steam room in the basement did present the team with enormous challenges. “We learnt about the basement space on the Sunday night, so we set to work on the Monday morning and went on a journey of discovery about what was required to install a bathroom in a basement, and importantly how to install plumbing below ground level. The level of technical expertise required to carry out the workmanship to meet strict building standards, and to carry it all out in such a short space of time was overwhelming. But the way the team executed it to perfection in just a few days was extraordinary.”

H2 RM4 Steam room Mitch _ Mark-033_alt | ipad temperature controller mrsteam

Like Walking into another world

The spacious area allowed for a large bathroom complete with a stunning double shower and full length built-in bench seat. “When you walk into the space it’s like walking into another world. It is so beautiful,” says Mark. “Having our incredible team work so hard to execute the structural elements was wonderful, and then to see Mitch create such magic in the space with the finishes was amazing.”

Adds Mitch, “I had a real vision for this steam room. I used a rock-salt-look slab tile for the floor, bench seat and rear wall to create a seamless effect and a sense of being in a cloud. This led me to selecting the aqua blue tiles for the walls. I hadn’t used blue anywhere else in the house which predominantly features soft pinks, but I really felt I could create a sense of escape with the materials I selected for this steam room. The shades emulate the sky and clouds and make for a heavenly space.”

RM12 H2 Mitch _ Mark Working-012_ALT2 | phone temperature controller mrsteam

Spa-like Steam Room At Home

Mitch also explains that because the steam room was spa-like rather than having to function as a practical everyday bathroom, the need for storage was eliminated from the space planning. The result is a spacious shower that also doubles as a steam room, with the only addition being stylish pedestal basins, inline toilet, stools, shaving mirrors and open shelving for towels and amenities.

In terms of the expertise required for the project, Mr Steam’s Australian distributor Adrian Barr of Geyser Steam, was on hand to provide the perfect equipment for the space and guide the team in terms of installation. Explains Mitch, “We couldn’t have executed what we did in the time frame without Adrian, he was amazing. He helped us through every step of the process and having him on board as a Mr Steam expert was crucial.”

RM12 H2 Mitch _ Mark Working-017 | man in steam shower

A Wellness Retreat In Your Home

It looks like Mr Steam will be a part of Mitch and Mark’s life after The Block when they return home to Sydney’s northern beaches. “Our home was built in the 1970s – designed like an Austin Powers home gone wrong. So we are renovating it to suit our style. We had originally planned to keep the five bedroom, but now that we have experienced a Mr Steam steam room it’s totally impacted our lives. We really want to change it up, so we’re now planning to turn one of the bedrooms into a spa-like steam room. By combining the practical engineering elements of Mr Steam with considered space planning and beautiful materials, you can create a wellness retreat at home which becomes such a sanctuary and also adds value.”