The perfect powder room
A great place to create an exuberant décor statement
Q: My husband and I recently purchased a Victorian house that was renovated in the late 1980s. Needless to say, the kitchen and bathrooms need updating. On the main floor, there is a narrow powder room with a toilet and sink. Both need replacing.
I would like to know if you have any ideas for a small powder room that would give character to a great old house that just needs some tender loving care. A: I have a fondness for majestic old Victorian homes. To me, that type of home stands proud, exuding elegance like grand old dames of a bygone era. Lucky you.
My inspiration for your powder room actually comes from a design firm from an area with a heavy concentration of Victorian homes: San Francisco. Olive Juice Designs (olivejuicedesigns.com) designed the narrow powder room pictured here for clients transplanted from New York.
I spoke with design principle Lisa Konjicek-Segundo, who told me this powder room is tucked away at the back of the house and her clients like that it’s a surprising gem when guests open the door.
Consider an elegant wallpaper, or do as I once did for a client and paste the pages of a book onto your bathroom wall. I used the reproduction plates of plant and animal drawings from Cabinet of Natural Curiosities.
Limited on storage space, Lisa brainstormed the per- fect solution. She had an open shelving unit recessed between the studs in the wall. Built off-site in two pieces and then installed, it provides a finished width of approximately 11 inches and a depth of about five inches.
I happen to like the sculptural element of rolls of toilet paper, but realize it’s not for everyone; you could showcase decorative accessories or books.
The petite bowl sink is a request of the clients and was a splurge sourced from France. There are a number of small sinks available that aren’t expensive, and I’m certain you will find one to suit your needs without blowing the budget. The mirror above the sink goes to the ceiling and helps to make the small space appear larger.
The high ceiling is painted black to give the appearance of infinity.
The floor is black hexagon marble tile and in perfect keeping with both the period of the house and a subway bathroom. Considering you don’t have a large floor space to cover, I would splurge on something visually interesting but also timeless.
Powder rooms are actually one of my favourite rooms in a house to design. In a relatively small space, it’s necessary to provide functionality along with personality. I think this powder room delivers on both, and I hope it provides you and your husband a starting point for yours.