New This Week: 5 Dramatic Powder Rooms
Get inspiration for a dark and moody bathroom from new projects recently uploaded to Houzz
For some people, using bold wallpaper or high-end materials in a large, prominent room like a kitchen or living room might be too risky — and expensive. But in the intimate confines of a powder room it can be just right. These small spaces, often the most frequently used bathroom in a home, are great spots to let loose with the design in a way you might not in another area. Here, design and remodeling pros share how they created dramatic style in five powder rooms.
2. Bold in Black
Designer and homeowner: Ana Stein of Anahita Studio
Location: Glencoe, Illinois
Size: 44 square feet (4 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. This powder room is in designer Ana Stein’s own house and was part of a full renovation of the 1970s home. “The bones of the house were great and the overall layout had great potential, but the home needed a lot of love, updating and a personality,” she says. “The powder room was going to be its very own moment, and the idea for it was to have a moody jewel box and play up the drama using a black-and-white color palette where the walls were the artwork and the vanity and washbasin were a striking dark modern rendition of a dresser.”
Main feature. “We wanted to do a twist on the classic monochromatic bathroom, and the starting point and the design star in the room was the Fornasetti II Nuvolette 97/2007 wallpaper from Cole & Son,” Stein says. “The delicate billowing cloud etching and soft visual movement in the wallpaper was a great counterpoint to the graphic marble hex tile flooring.”
Other special features. Stein designed the vanity, which features a powder-coated matte black finish and a Carrara marble countertop; it sits on a plinth of walnut with tapered legs. The hexagonal knobs coordinate with the floor tile. “The round mirror and teardrop globe pendant lights soften the space and balance the angular edges of the vanity and flooring,” Stein says.
Designer tip. “I custom-designed a simple shallow, stepped flat-profile molding that we used as a ceiling treatment,” Stein says. “It’s applied to the ceiling, not the wall, and helps lift the space, drawing your eye up to make the ceiling feel higher and adding just the right finishing touch to this jewel box.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “The room started out as a square but we had to carve out space to accommodate a need for an additional kitchen pantry accessed from a common hallway,” Stein says. “This posed a challenge as the new dividing wall between the two spaces would hit the middle of the window. So we jogged the wall to clear the window and created a perfect nook for a freestanding modern metal cabinet for extra storage for linens [opposite the vanity].”
Mirror: Hub, Umbra; ceiling light: Strada flush-mount in Gild, Visual Comfort
Shop for a bathroom vanity
Designer and homeowner: Ana Stein of Anahita Studio
Location: Glencoe, Illinois
Size: 44 square feet (4 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. This powder room is in designer Ana Stein’s own house and was part of a full renovation of the 1970s home. “The bones of the house were great and the overall layout had great potential, but the home needed a lot of love, updating and a personality,” she says. “The powder room was going to be its very own moment, and the idea for it was to have a moody jewel box and play up the drama using a black-and-white color palette where the walls were the artwork and the vanity and washbasin were a striking dark modern rendition of a dresser.”
Main feature. “We wanted to do a twist on the classic monochromatic bathroom, and the starting point and the design star in the room was the Fornasetti II Nuvolette 97/2007 wallpaper from Cole & Son,” Stein says. “The delicate billowing cloud etching and soft visual movement in the wallpaper was a great counterpoint to the graphic marble hex tile flooring.”
Other special features. Stein designed the vanity, which features a powder-coated matte black finish and a Carrara marble countertop; it sits on a plinth of walnut with tapered legs. The hexagonal knobs coordinate with the floor tile. “The round mirror and teardrop globe pendant lights soften the space and balance the angular edges of the vanity and flooring,” Stein says.
Designer tip. “I custom-designed a simple shallow, stepped flat-profile molding that we used as a ceiling treatment,” Stein says. “It’s applied to the ceiling, not the wall, and helps lift the space, drawing your eye up to make the ceiling feel higher and adding just the right finishing touch to this jewel box.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “The room started out as a square but we had to carve out space to accommodate a need for an additional kitchen pantry accessed from a common hallway,” Stein says. “This posed a challenge as the new dividing wall between the two spaces would hit the middle of the window. So we jogged the wall to clear the window and created a perfect nook for a freestanding modern metal cabinet for extra storage for linens [opposite the vanity].”
Mirror: Hub, Umbra; ceiling light: Strada flush-mount in Gild, Visual Comfort
Shop for a bathroom vanity
3. Pretty in Pattern
Designer: Michelle Berwick Design
Builder: David Butler of Alair Homes Waterloo
Location: Richmond Hill, Ontario
Size: 40 square feet (3.7 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “The homeowner was looking to modernize and upgrade their home,” builder David Butler says.
Main feature. Floral-patterned wallpaper (Summer Squall by Ellie Cashman Design), which also depicts butterflies and bees.
Other special features. 8-by-9-inch Carrara marble hexagonal floor tile. Marble-topped vanity with matte black powder-coated steel frame base. Black sconce, faucet, mirror frame and other details.
Key Measurements to Help You Design a Powder Room
Designer: Michelle Berwick Design
Builder: David Butler of Alair Homes Waterloo
Location: Richmond Hill, Ontario
Size: 40 square feet (3.7 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “The homeowner was looking to modernize and upgrade their home,” builder David Butler says.
Main feature. Floral-patterned wallpaper (Summer Squall by Ellie Cashman Design), which also depicts butterflies and bees.
Other special features. 8-by-9-inch Carrara marble hexagonal floor tile. Marble-topped vanity with matte black powder-coated steel frame base. Black sconce, faucet, mirror frame and other details.
Key Measurements to Help You Design a Powder Room
4. Stylish in Stone
Designer: Leah Muller Interiors
Location: Vero Beach, Florida
Homeowners’ request. This powder room is in a new-construction home owned by a couple who recently downsized. They love to travel and collect personal pieces. “The goal was to keep prized pieces in the downsize while also adding some wow factors that reminded them of their travels,” designer Leah Muller says. “They followed a modern aesthetic and added several different textures to stand out.”
Main feature. Custom-designed stone vanity with Kohler Leaf sink
Other special features. Split-face ivory travertine stone accent wall. “It’s stunning, especially in contrast with the standout Harlequin Formation navy wallpaper,” Muller says.
Designer tip. “Don’t be afraid to have more than one texture and pattern in a room,” Muller says. “The dynamic combination in this room allowed for it to feel much bigger than it was.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “Our biggest concern was making sure that we measured everything twice and cut once,” Muller says. “Everything in this room fit together like puzzle pieces, and if any measurement was even a hair off, the design would be noticeably askew. At first, the inset niche for the mirror was measured slightly smaller. Thankfully we had top-notch masons working with us that were able to adjust the size and placements of the stone to fit the mirror’s dimensions seamlessly.”
Designer: Leah Muller Interiors
Location: Vero Beach, Florida
Homeowners’ request. This powder room is in a new-construction home owned by a couple who recently downsized. They love to travel and collect personal pieces. “The goal was to keep prized pieces in the downsize while also adding some wow factors that reminded them of their travels,” designer Leah Muller says. “They followed a modern aesthetic and added several different textures to stand out.”
Main feature. Custom-designed stone vanity with Kohler Leaf sink
Other special features. Split-face ivory travertine stone accent wall. “It’s stunning, especially in contrast with the standout Harlequin Formation navy wallpaper,” Muller says.
Designer tip. “Don’t be afraid to have more than one texture and pattern in a room,” Muller says. “The dynamic combination in this room allowed for it to feel much bigger than it was.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “Our biggest concern was making sure that we measured everything twice and cut once,” Muller says. “Everything in this room fit together like puzzle pieces, and if any measurement was even a hair off, the design would be noticeably askew. At first, the inset niche for the mirror was measured slightly smaller. Thankfully we had top-notch masons working with us that were able to adjust the size and placements of the stone to fit the mirror’s dimensions seamlessly.”
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5. Beautiful in Blue and Brass
Designer: Greg Busch Architects
General contractor: Al Kelekci of Hask Custom Homes
Location: Atlanta
Size: 30 square feet (2.8 square meters); 5 by 6 feet
Homeowners’ request. “This room is very special to the homeowner,” contractor Al Kelekci says. “Her father personally made the wood table and wanted it incorporated into her home. We had our artisans transform the table into a vanity piece with a sink and faucet.”
Main feature. A deep blue paint color on the shiplap walls complements the warm tones of the custom vanity.
Other special features. Brass sconces and wall-mounted faucet. A black-framed mirror creates a mixed-metals component. The horizontal lines of the shiplap highlight the length of the room rather than the height, making it feel more spacious.
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
More on Houzz
The 10 Most Popular Powder Rooms of Spring 2021
Browse bathroom photos
Find a bathroom designer near you
Shop for your bathroom
Designer: Greg Busch Architects
General contractor: Al Kelekci of Hask Custom Homes
Location: Atlanta
Size: 30 square feet (2.8 square meters); 5 by 6 feet
Homeowners’ request. “This room is very special to the homeowner,” contractor Al Kelekci says. “Her father personally made the wood table and wanted it incorporated into her home. We had our artisans transform the table into a vanity piece with a sink and faucet.”
Main feature. A deep blue paint color on the shiplap walls complements the warm tones of the custom vanity.
Other special features. Brass sconces and wall-mounted faucet. A black-framed mirror creates a mixed-metals component. The horizontal lines of the shiplap highlight the length of the room rather than the height, making it feel more spacious.
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
More on Houzz
The 10 Most Popular Powder Rooms of Spring 2021
Browse bathroom photos
Find a bathroom designer near you
Shop for your bathroom
Designer: Christine Vroom of Christine Kimberlee Design Studio
Location: Manhattan Beach, California
Size: 36 square feet (3.3 square meters); 6 by 6 feet
Homeowners’ request. “The look we were going for was an urban beach house,” says designer Christine Vroom, who uses Houzz Pro software to manage her business and collaborate with clients. “Something with some city vibes, but still could fit in our upscale Manhattan Beach area. We wanted it to feel edgy but not so edgy that it didn’t feel comfortable in it.”
Main feature. “The jumping-off point for this room was the marble mosaic tile floor,” Vroom says. “I knew I wanted an eclectic floor that had some flavor and was really modern but was still really beautiful and could lean toward transitional. We used this to weigh down the room and then were able to pick and choose from the many colors in the marble for other elements in the space.”
Other special features. Blue-painted vanity (Westcott Navy by Benjamin Moore) with fluted drawer fronts. Dark ceramic tile wall with dark grout. Concrete-and-brass pendants.
Designer tip. “My design tip here is to take risks and don’t be afraid of color, metallics or different textures,” Vroom says. “Not everything has to match perfectly. You can use an element as your jumping-off point so you can bring in a few more different finishes.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “The front of this vanity was supposed to have a waterfall apron front that dropped down about 16 inches to cover the flat part that you see, and then we had a long towel bar coming off it. The ‘uh-oh’ point was that the installer missed this on the drawings and we wound up running with this other look, a simple clean front with lower drawers. We later installed the long towel bar on the front and it worked out just beautifully.”
Pendants: Brielle in aged brass, Hudson Valley Lighting
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