On the Drawing Board: A Dramatic Half Bath Makeover
We are working on another tiny powder room makeover and I can’t wait to see the transformation! These are some of my longest-running clients. I’ve worked on every single room in this antique house - some several times - over the last 30 years EXCEPT this little powder bath. Until now :)
The bathrooms in this house were all added after the fact as the antique colonial house predates indoor plumbing. Welcome to New England!
These clients have been wonderful and sensitive custodians of the property, making updates that are in keeping with the character of this gem, and maintaining it in pristine condition. It has been a classic, comfortable family home for them for many years.
This powder bath, shoehorned under the back staircase, is plagued with challenges. It is very narrow, short and has a basement stair door that opens into it 😳… If you want to be able to brush your teeth whilst seated on the throne, this is your dream bathroom?!
As the tiniest bath I have worked on yet, this redefines the term pocket powder room!
The Existing Situation
Currently this pocket powder bath has a pink toilet and tiny pink wall sink, deep eggplant-ish walls, cream trim, a plate mirror on one wall, sconces behind the toilet, and a beige vinyl floor.
Charming though all that is, it is very much not in keeping with the simple, timeless elegance of the rest of the house. And I don’t think that mirror wall is fooling anyone into thinking this room is larger than it is!
The Plan
There is literally nowhere to go with the fixtures, so they will remain in the same locations. We’ll replace the toilet and sink with timeless white ones. The tiniest wall hung sink I have found is only 10” deep, which may help the basement door situation a little.
The plate mirror will be replaced with a decorative framed wall mirror, and the sconces will be relocated to either side of it.
Finishes
I don’t think the original wide pine floors are under that vinyl, though that would be ideal. And I don’t think we have the depth for anything much thicker than the vinyl - we’ll see. In any case we’ll select something that is the closest to the adjacent antique flooring we can find.
But the biggest change will be a dramatic wallpaper with a vine pattern. I happened upon this wallpaper while looking for a black companion wallpaper for the WC in yet another bathroom project (I am the bathroom queen 😂.)
I adore this paper - it has style, drama, and simple elegance all at once.
I tried out several other options in case my client wasn’t ready for THAT much drama, but it is by far the favorite! She already has nearly black walls in there, so it isn’t that much of a leap.
With a black background paper, we’ll paint all the millwork, including the basement door in a semi gloss black.
Polished nickel faucet and toilet lever in a traditional profile and tall, chic candle sconces with shades will finish off this little half bath in style.
I cannot wait to see this one come together…it’s about 3rd on their project priority list, so it will be a while, but it will be worth the wait!
UPDATE: Now you can see pics of the completed powder room HERE
Even for the cautious among us, a powder room is a GREAT place to be bold! And a dramatic wallpaper is a fun surprise and always a crowd-pleaser hit. Would you do a black powder bath?
Other posts you might enjoy:
Project reveal: Two wallpapered powder rooms with pizzazz