perfectly powdered rooms, april 2010

7/30/2019 Perfectly Powdered Rooms, April 2010

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86 April 2010

p e r f e c t l y

Powdered RoomsBy Jennifer Shapira

Courtesyofkohler


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www.NortherNVirgiNiAMAg.coM 87

The small space

most seen by guests

can make some

very powerful

design statements


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88 April 2010

Just the phrase alone evokes

bygone days of glamour. Gos-

siping women with Marcel

waves may no longer be gath-

ering in plush lavatories un-

der the guise of touching up

their makeup. Still, the time-

less image of twisting a tubeof red lipstick before a well-

lit mirror persists.

The origin of the term pow-

der room has a meandering

history, says Bridget May,

professor of interior design

at Marymount University.

Centuries ago, ships were

equipped with rooms wheregunpowder was stored. Lat-

er, in the 18th century, peo-

ple used closets to have their

wigs powdered. But powder-

ing your nose likely emerged

as a polite excusal. Someone

said it, and it probably just

stuck, May speculates.

Powderingyour nose.

Archer petite vanity with Archer 24pedestal lavatory basin from Kohler

Courtesyofkohler


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Today, the traditional rst-oor

hal-bath with a sink and toilet is

making a strong statement.

Guest bathrooms were once

cookie-cutter white boxes, their

uses utilitarian and void o person-

ality. Now, experts say, they are tak-

ing on new identities.

Destination: BathroomOnce-overlooked powder rooms

are becoming destinations. Its a

room thats created or company,

says interior designer June Shea.The powder room is truly the room

thats created or your guests. Its

the one room in the house where

you have a captive audience.

Thereore, they must be inter-

esting and have lasting impact. Be-

cause powder rooms are general-

ly a tiny 35 square eet, theres an

opportunity to think outside that

white box and push yoursel out

o your comort zone, she says.

For a modern vibe, consider sleek

xtures. Are your tastes more tradi-

tional? Select elegant, ornate items.

You can change the rooms entire

favor with just a ew key pieces,

says Shea.

Case in point, a McLean hom-

eowner wanted to showcase a dec-

orative chandelier. Shea used that

as her inspiration, constructing a

graceul retreat. She chose a silvery,

textured wallpaper by Wineld De-

sign that meets clean white bead

board. A petite mirrored cabinetholdsand hidesbathroom es-

sentials, rom toilet paper to clean-

ing products. Two mirrors enlarge

the space, one above the pedestal

sink or primping, and a circular

one that expresses a bit o whimsy.

Crown molding tops of the space.

Tiny touches like resh-cut ow-

ers and sheens and textures reso-

nate with guests. The space is pleas-

ant, a conversation starter.

Designed by June Shea (above); Garden Bandana in Red fromKohler; furniture style vanity from Reico

CourtesyofJuneshea(Chandelier);Courtesyofkohler(redvesselbowl);CourtesyofreiCo(furniture-stylevanity)


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90 April 2010

Looking toredo yourpowder room?Consider this list of

helpful websites:

Kohler - K.m

Lowes - ls.m

Reico - ..

m/man

Northern Virginia

Kitchen and Bath -

.nvskb.m

The Kitchen Guild -

.knud.m

Washington Design

Center - .

ddsnn.m

You want someone to say Wow!

when they use it, says Shea. When

people walk into that powder room,

its such a surprise. They just go,

Oh, my gosh, its so lovely!

Bang for Your BuckPowder rooms deserve special con-

sideration, says Jay Ratclie, store

manager at Lowes in Alexandria.

Ratclife has noticed an interest

in sprucing up these

spaces, but adds

that improvements

can be made at rel-

atively low cost.

You can get more

bang or your buck,

he says, because

theres no need tocompromise.

Whether the

room contains in-

teresting pops o

color, swirls o de-

signer wallpaper or

a sculptural basin,

because the square

ootage is so low,

selecting pricier

materials is a via-

ble option.

Its the room with the most vis-

ibility. I you think about where any

guest is going to come into your

home, its usually when youre en-

tertaining. Your kitchen and your

powder room are the two most vis-

ible areas.

Its not that expensive to go in

and replace the oor or put a quick

coat o paint on the walls, he says.

The most striking change will be

the xtures. Adding a new pedes-

tal sink or vessel basin on a urni-

ture-grade vanity creates an amaz-

ing amount o character without a

whole lot o expense, he says.

Lovely Lavatories

These diminutive spaces play an im-portant role, but they are also meant

to be charming, says Diana Schrage,

senior interior designer at Wiscon-

sin-based Kohler Co. In recent years,

as master baths have tripled in size

and become true oases to relieve us

o a tough workday, powder rooms

have remained true to their dimen-

sions and unctionality.

Their need was so clearly iden-

tied as a secondary bathroom in

a high-trafc part o the home, she

says. They are accessible to guests,

kids, and serve a purpose or the

aging population.

Its like creating the perect

environment. Once youve got it,

youve got it. And it lasts becauseit makes sense, she says. So, why

not have some un?

Start with the mindset that the

sink and the toilet do not need to

match. The days o white-on-white

porcelain are over. Today, its all

about mixing materials and textures

to achieve a sophisticated look.

As urniture-style vanities be-

come more mainstream in todays

powder rooms, colorul, tactile un-

Wallpapers from Farrow & Ball

Courtesyoffarrow&

Ball(wallpaper)


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der-mount basins and vessel bowls

work in concert to set a dramatic

tone. Whether brass, glass, stone

or stainless steel, the experience o

washing your hands can prove to be

almost otherworldly.

These vessels sit atop equally

beautiul vanities. While people to-

day are seeking out darker woods

and nishes, these urniture-style

pieces can be just as eye-catching as

the wash basins, says Bethanny Fox,

a designer at Reico in Falls Church.

And they ulll a need, too. They

provide ample storage, rom thick

stacks o hand towels to oversize

bottles o soap rells.

Those with curved ronts might

resemble an antique store nd. An

artully chipped piece might lookrustic. Sleek lines say modern.

Schrage says homeowners are

much more daring today. For exam-

ple, theyre going or illusion, choos-

ing aucets that create a more dy-

namic water ow. Perhaps it pours

rom a stainless steel aucet thats

ush with the wall above the basin,

or a brushed nickel spout where wa-

ter decants rom the mirror.

Its all about tangible art, says

Schrage. Youll see people immedi-

ately want to touch and interact with

these products, and I think thats

lgng nsd powdr rooms as gon

mu mor nrsng, says nror d-

sgnr ezab Apr. Drama g fx-

urs su as andrs or pndans ar

bomn mu mor romnn oday.

No ony do y pqu urosy, y an

aso as spogs on a paruar p

you mg wan o sowas, says Apr,

su as a bauu ann, an anqu

jy bx, vn a vas s.

inror dsgnr Brook Suar om-

s a owdr room, nudn r

n, snau: iv aays u

a abv ,

s says. i on av on as a ngg

and u n a dmm. o yu nd

ad, s jus .

Suar onsdrs s addd ou,

usuay a sma son o som knd, knd

unky and un and amn.

Bor, n was an arou,

says Ka Bay, sor managr a Frgu-

sons cany sowroom. Now, s says,

pop ar akng m o oordna

fxurs w m o wa yr do-

n, a as ma ns and sy

aus abn knbs.

lookn o add mor arar? An-

or ouar ook s a ar o sons

n sd a m.

gon ar days o hoywood

gob gng, says Bay. howvr, you

avn ad m, n y. ta

jus mans you avn gon o a par

o your om rnovaon y. tyr s

y unna.

ty jus won rovd so ow

or drama a or, mor ars orbs

w. i nk n s a n way o add

som zzazz, says Jun Sa. evn

yu ad a vy bas dsa and a vy

bas o, you addd som ray n-

rsn ar ass nx o mrror or

rom ng, you an ang nr

k sa.

Light Fantastic

Courtesyofkohler

Kathryn 42 enameled lavastoneconsole table with bright walls


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92 April 2010

whats really exciting, the acceptance

o these statement pieces.

Bold Use of ColorBecause a homes powder room is

used more gently, it can be abu-

lous, says interior designer Barba-

ra Hawthorn. These are spaces that

lend themselves to a special sort o

hospitality; everything about them

should be inviting. And because

they are small, they can be over-

the-top wonderul, with the use o

high-end pieces.

Hawthorn created such an en-

vironment with an overhaul o a

Fairax Station space. Atop the

custom-made cherry vanity sits a

hand-painted sink. Twin sconces

on either side o the beveled gold-lea mirror provide accent light.

The walls are painted look-at-me

Rectory Red rom Farrow & Ball.

The ceiling and trim are nished in

Benjamin Moores Floral White.

In these tight spaces, experts

say theres a real opportunity to go

bold, especially when it comes to

paint color or wallpaper.

I rmly believe, even i you have

a small powder room, paint it dark

and deep and yummy! says interi-

or designer Brooke Steuart. What

is that old theory, the smaller the

room the lighter the color? I just

How are homeowners using paint color

to perk up powder rooms?

powdr rooms ar a ra a o add

rsonay o a sa. For os wo

wan oor bu don wan o omm o

a, m vd-n ms n m;

s s r a o sar. ts

spas ypay do no g a o o naura

g. embra darknss o spa

by usn a bod oor o ra a ray

dama, nma .

The powder room is a space that guests

always visit. Why is it important to cre-

ate a tone in these spaces? And how do

you do that?

consdr usn ony on oor n

makn n n mn-

mz any sarp ns o onras bwn

was and n oor, makn you ss

aa n bns

and wa nds. ts ps o mak

m b.

Aso, don or abou nsd o

abns svn uns. t s n-

n m xn an an n

abn and fndn a abuous oor, or

bauu and aa.

How can color infuence the tone o a

small room?

Fabrs, urnsns and assors

an o nan ook, bu oor

soud b sarn on. consdr

ndun xu and sn as as

oor o ra a ook. conrary o popuar

b, arns an work wondruy n

sma sas.

Q&A with Sara Cole

Courtesyofkohler

Director, Farrow & BallManufacturers of Traditional Papers and Paint


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June SheaPresident Shea Studio Interiors

Shea Studio Interiors, Inc

7721 Fun rd., Su A-2, Snd;

703-891-1570; .sasud.m

i your ookng o rdo your powdr room,

says Jun Sa, oow s sps o r-a a mn nvnmn:

1.Start with a theme, an nsan . And

us a as a jumn-f n. i s a

a, a knd vb ds a a v

yu? lk ms a n a m.

2.Continue the theme rou your sdmns: vany, snk, au, mrror, a-

ssors, good gngvn o-papr

d.

3. Talk to someone. Your os soud b

usy. ty n ak yus u das. And

you nd a b o xra onfdn,

ak o an nror dsgnr, and g som npu

m m/.

Brooke SteuartInterior designer

Brooke Steuart Interiors, LLC

301-980-3920; bksua.m

1.Dont be afraid to use color: i frmy bv,

vn yu av a sma d m, an

dak and d and yummy!

2. Make the powder room eel special. Add

pry mns k a bauu prum bo.

is r or your uss o us, or vn jus

k a.

3. Provide stacks of folded, vvy-s and

ows n a oordnang oor. consdr mxng

m u n days aund.

do not believe in that theory one

iota! The smaller room, the dark-

er the color! It makes it more inti-

mate and it kind o embraces you.

It eels cozy.

Too daring? Steuart begins withthe basics, asking: Whats your a-

vorite color? Its not going to be

white! she says. It might be yel-

low. But mostly theyre going to say

red, green, cobalt blue. I say, Why

dont we paint this room your a-

vorite color!

A Newfound IdentityAs these once-lackluster rooms

begin to experience a newound

identity, May says that could be an

example o the progression o com-

pleted home renovations.

Weve kind o gone through this

phase o designing the kitchen and

the bathroom, and I think this is anatural outgrowth o ocusing in on

these more utilitarian spaces, along

with the rest o the other spaces in

the home. Once youve done the

kitchen, the [powder room] is the

last piece, she says. We hear over

and over that kitchens and baths

sell homes.

As blank canvases, they should

oster creativity, says Steuart. Ater

updating the xtures, use the walls

to exhibit mementos. Consider ar-

ranging amily photographs like

those in a gallery. Showcase trav-

el artiacts. Think o such pieces as

jewelry, and dress up these spaces.

The powder room should be a

showpiece that is special and re-

fective o your personality. Ater

all, its very easy to have medio-

cre, says Shea. It takes guts to

have great.

Ballard Vanity and Mirror; Iron/Impressions

Intergrated Top and Bowl (left); Vapour Pink-DolceVita Lavatory with Antique Lavatory Faucet; Bar-bara Hawthorns Fairfax Station powder room.

Courtesyofkohler(pinkbasin);CourtesyofBarBarahawthorn(

redwall)

perfectly powdered rooms, april 2010

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