New This Week: 3 Stylish Powder Rooms
Beautifully coordinated wallpapers, vanities and mirrors make a big impression in these small bathrooms
Mitchell Parker
February 8, 2019
Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative trends, breaking news, industry analysis and humor.
Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative... More
You might think a small bathroom doesn’t deserve much design attention. But powder rooms have long been favorites of designers and homeowners for expressing a wild side. That’s because powder rooms are often frequently used by guests, which means these rooms are great for creating a little surprise even if the rest of the home is a bit tame. Plus, the small size means that introducing a funky wallpaper or luxurious countertop material won’t break the bank. See how these three powder rooms rise to the occasion.
1. Freshly Fierce
Designer: Paige Pierce Design
Location: Los Angeles
Size: 16 square feet (1.5 square meters); 4 by 4 feet
Homeowners’ request. During a renovation, add a powder room that feels playful and works well with the nearby kitchen and family room.
Special features. Graphic pale blue wallpaper. Hand-forged metal mirror frame in antique gold finish with burnished edges. Wall sconces in gold finish. Custom-designed furniture-style vanity with Calacatta Gold marble countertop. Designer Paige Pierce used the wallpaper as a jumping-off point for the design. “In a small space like a powder room, your wallpaper is going to really be the shining star,” she says.
Designer tip. “We wanted the vanity to feel like a piece of furniture and also work with the architecture of the house,” Pierce says. “The home was originally built in the 1930s and is an English Tudor. The backsplash design adds a touch of old-world vibe and really elevates the vanity from another bathroom piece to something unique and special.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “We originally had specified that the vanity be painted a deep blue,” Pierce says. “There was a miscommunication with the painters, and when we arrived on-site we saw that it was painted white. In the end, though, the client and I both liked how fresh the white felt off the blues in the wallpaper.”
Sconces: Go Lightly in gild, Visual Comfort; faucet: Chesterfield, Newport Brass; wallpaper: Tibet in pale blue, Clarence House
Find a bathroom designer near you
Designer: Paige Pierce Design
Location: Los Angeles
Size: 16 square feet (1.5 square meters); 4 by 4 feet
Homeowners’ request. During a renovation, add a powder room that feels playful and works well with the nearby kitchen and family room.
Special features. Graphic pale blue wallpaper. Hand-forged metal mirror frame in antique gold finish with burnished edges. Wall sconces in gold finish. Custom-designed furniture-style vanity with Calacatta Gold marble countertop. Designer Paige Pierce used the wallpaper as a jumping-off point for the design. “In a small space like a powder room, your wallpaper is going to really be the shining star,” she says.
Designer tip. “We wanted the vanity to feel like a piece of furniture and also work with the architecture of the house,” Pierce says. “The home was originally built in the 1930s and is an English Tudor. The backsplash design adds a touch of old-world vibe and really elevates the vanity from another bathroom piece to something unique and special.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “We originally had specified that the vanity be painted a deep blue,” Pierce says. “There was a miscommunication with the painters, and when we arrived on-site we saw that it was painted white. In the end, though, the client and I both liked how fresh the white felt off the blues in the wallpaper.”
Sconces: Go Lightly in gild, Visual Comfort; faucet: Chesterfield, Newport Brass; wallpaper: Tibet in pale blue, Clarence House
Find a bathroom designer near you
2. Gorgeous Gray
Designer: Reisa Pollard of Beyond Beige Interior Design
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
Size: 26 square feet (2.4 square meters); 7½ by 3½ feet
Homeowners’ request. Create a wow factor without digressing from the overall design concept.
Special features. Ombre wallpaper. Floating stone vanity with integrated sink. Wall-mounted faucet in brushed gold. European brushed-oak plank floor. High ceiling.
Designer tips. “The ombre wallpaper gives a fading effect to hide the overall size of the room and keeps the focus on the height,” designer Reisa Pollard says. “We used brushed-gold plumbing fixtures to stand out against the gray and elevate the overall look and feel of the small space.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “The room size was extremely narrow with minimum width,” Pollard says. “There was also a large window on the main wall that had a clear sightline to the neighbor’s home, eliminating the privacy. We added texture to the glass, making it more of a feature and eliminating the exposure.”
Faucet: Purist in brushed gold, Kohler
Shop for wall-mounted bathroom faucets in brushed gold
Designer: Reisa Pollard of Beyond Beige Interior Design
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
Size: 26 square feet (2.4 square meters); 7½ by 3½ feet
Homeowners’ request. Create a wow factor without digressing from the overall design concept.
Special features. Ombre wallpaper. Floating stone vanity with integrated sink. Wall-mounted faucet in brushed gold. European brushed-oak plank floor. High ceiling.
Designer tips. “The ombre wallpaper gives a fading effect to hide the overall size of the room and keeps the focus on the height,” designer Reisa Pollard says. “We used brushed-gold plumbing fixtures to stand out against the gray and elevate the overall look and feel of the small space.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “The room size was extremely narrow with minimum width,” Pollard says. “There was also a large window on the main wall that had a clear sightline to the neighbor’s home, eliminating the privacy. We added texture to the glass, making it more of a feature and eliminating the exposure.”
Faucet: Purist in brushed gold, Kohler
Shop for wall-mounted bathroom faucets in brushed gold
3. Island-Inspired
Designers: Laura Valdes of Insignia Design Group (designer) and Courchene Development (builder)
Location: Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Size: 51 square feet (4.7 square meters); 6 by 8½ feet
Homeowners’ request. A resort-inspired feeling. “For the powder bath, we used a wallpaper motif that would help create the desired island retreat mood, along with lots of natural light to make the room feel fresh, bright and cheerful,” says designer Laura Valdes, who used Houzz to coordinate the design direction and share inspiration with the homeowners.
Special features. Vibrant white-and-blue patterned wallpaper. White louvered cabinetry. Custom white marble countertop. Custom mirror.
Designer tip. “Lighter tones of whites and blues and the mixing of different textures and materials enabled us to create a casual, serene space,” Valdes says.
“Uh-oh” moment. “We had originally selected a different wallpaper, but upon placing the original order we found out the wallpaper had been discontinued,” Valdes says. “We reselected and found the perfect wallpaper that the homeowner ended up loving even more.”
Cabinets and mirror frame: Irpinia Kitchens; wallpaper: Baltimore in blue, Monterey collection, Thibaut
Shop for wallpaper
More on Houzz
50 Picture-Perfect Powder Rooms
10 Things to Consider Before Remodeling Your Bathroom
Find a bathroom designer near you
Shop for bathroom products
Designers: Laura Valdes of Insignia Design Group (designer) and Courchene Development (builder)
Location: Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Size: 51 square feet (4.7 square meters); 6 by 8½ feet
Homeowners’ request. A resort-inspired feeling. “For the powder bath, we used a wallpaper motif that would help create the desired island retreat mood, along with lots of natural light to make the room feel fresh, bright and cheerful,” says designer Laura Valdes, who used Houzz to coordinate the design direction and share inspiration with the homeowners.
Special features. Vibrant white-and-blue patterned wallpaper. White louvered cabinetry. Custom white marble countertop. Custom mirror.
Designer tip. “Lighter tones of whites and blues and the mixing of different textures and materials enabled us to create a casual, serene space,” Valdes says.
“Uh-oh” moment. “We had originally selected a different wallpaper, but upon placing the original order we found out the wallpaper had been discontinued,” Valdes says. “We reselected and found the perfect wallpaper that the homeowner ended up loving even more.”
Cabinets and mirror frame: Irpinia Kitchens; wallpaper: Baltimore in blue, Monterey collection, Thibaut
Shop for wallpaper
More on Houzz
50 Picture-Perfect Powder Rooms
10 Things to Consider Before Remodeling Your Bathroom
Find a bathroom designer near you
Shop for bathroom products
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That ceiling absolutely makes the room. Bold but brilliant!
LOVE the wallpaper in #1! I finally tracked down a place to buy it... and found it would cost waaaaay too much for me to EVER afford. :( But it does give me ideas.
The wallpaper in #1 is amazing!! But I am jealous as my only bathroom is a bit bigger then these "powder rooms". OY.