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!

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.