New Look, Same Layout

During the renovatio of this home, we decided to update the powder room. We kept the same layout, but the client wanted a new, elegant look.

Where we started: a wonderful Cowtan & Tout black wallpaper with a pink-flowered vine. The vine has green undertones with iridescent gold over the green, which adds such a great depth to the paper. TIP: Often people think they have to choose light colors in small spaces, but don't be shy about choosing a darker color for your small study or powder room. Dark colors (with appropriate light) can make a space feel sophisticated or intimate.

What we added: a small piece of molding 8 inches below the ceiling. Then we painted the ceiling and molding a black base coat and gold wash as a second coat. This trick adds the kind of depth we love in the wallpaper's vine pattern.

What we kept: the mirror and antique sconces, but we added new red shades to the sconces. 

BEFORE:

        

 

DURING:


AFTER: TA-DA!

 

 

 

 

Quick Tour: Master Bath Redo

People often ask me for a few of my favorite sources, when they get tired of looking at the same stuff from the run-of-the-mill stores. Here's a round-up of places I found the elements for this master bath remodel:

Tile: Thassos and Ming Green tile from Decorative Materials at the Denver Design Center.

Fixtures: Rohl

Vanity: Aspen Leaf

Sconces: Visual Comfort

Mirror: Horchow

Rug: Dash and Albert

Stool: Wisteria

And the cool poster over the tub of Jacqueline Kennedy's Dresses. Add a frame and ta-da!

After: Vanity

 


Before: Shower Area (Beautiful, right?)


After: Shower Area

Beautiful Bath

 

On one of Denver's prettiest historic streets, this home had four large bedrooms, so we stole one to create a master suite, complete with a pretty master bathroom. Here's the skinny:

We started with the tile and slab. We wanted slab without dark veins to have a lighter look throughout, and we found Valley Gold Vein to be the best option. TIP: Select slab a few weeks before installation to make sure you have a great selection from the slab yard because at times, the slab yard may be out of what you are looking for. On the floors, we used Calcutta Gold marble in 12-by-12-inch squares set in a diamond pattern with accents of Mosaic Black marble. Glam!

The fixtures come from Rohl and the sparkly sconces are from Waterworks. Our crowning achievement? Rosslyn paper from Farrow & Ball for the water closet. What do you think?



 




 

 

Pretty Powder Room

Often clients ask me to make their spaces do more--help small rooms appear bigger, improve the "flow" of a room, maximize closet space--but in this case, the client had a full bathroom where she only wanted a powder room. 

We began by figuring out the proper size and style for the vanity. Standard height is about 34-36 inches for counters right now. (It always seems to be changing and I hope soon it won't be taller than me!) We placed the toilet with plenty of room around it, and then looked at the space left over. We came in from the opposite wall about 12-14 inches to give the space a sense of airiness. We wanted a traditional vanity and polished nickel fixtures because it fits perfectly with the rest of her house.

Then we found the Bianco Antico countertop at Decorative Materials at the Denver Design District. If you live somewhere with a design center, it's absolutely worth your time to walk through the showrooms before you get too far into your project. Most showrooms will sell only to the trade (meaning designers, architects, and builders), but you can get great ideas. Plus, designer centers can often pair homeowners with designers who will help make the purchases and shape up the design!

We pulled a color from the slab to select the paint- Benjamin Moore Aegean Teal for the vanity. We wanted wallpaper from the start and finally settled on The Ringwold Papers from Farrow and Ball. (Their stuff is so delicious, I could just eat it!) And the sconces--jewelry for any bathroom--are from the client's previous home. Voila!

 

BEFORE: Down to the studs

 

 

 AFTER: A good-looking, traditional powder room with just the right amount of sparkle.