From the Floors Up

Decorate Your Powder Room

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When it comes to interior decorating, people can often forget about the powder room.  Just like your kitchen or living area, the powder room is important to incorporate your own style.  Keep in mind it’s one of the most utilized rooms in a home and is seen not only by you, but also your family and guests.

Bathroom designs used to be restricted by the usual basics – a toilet, sink, and mirrors.  More often now, homeowners are breaking out and experimenting with different design ideas.  There are always great deals and finds happening, which can make this design process much more affordable just in case you don’t want to go out and splurge.

Here are a few decorating choices for a Powder Room:

  1. Wall Paper. Install subtle wallpaper or add dramatic patterns to give your powder room a distinct look. There are an endless variety of wallpaper choices so you can cater to your personal style. Choose gorgeous wallpaper that will match the overall theme of your home and one you can enjoy.
  2. Lighting. Hang a chandelier or a chandelettes at the center of the powder room or directly above a vanity set to give your powder room that wow effect.  By adding nice lighting or a detailed fixture can really enhance the overall feel of the room since some powder rooms can be smaller in size.
  3. Sink. Use a cabinet or vanity sink for more storage.  You can find many different types and styles.  If it’s a small space, try a pedestal sink. They’re simple, and can add an element of design into your powder room.
  4. Art. If you have a big empty wall in your powder room, hanging a piece of artwork will give it an added identity.
  5. Flooring. The flooring can dictate the mood and theme that you want to set for your powder room.  There are so many choices between hardwood, ceramic tile, stone, laminate, etc. Don’t forget, you can always make a pattern out of your floor covering choice.

Gone are the days when the mirror is the only decorating piece that you can add to your powder room.  An added tip: try drawing inspiration from a wonderful hotel powder room you’ve seen before.

Tips for Adding Glamour to Bathrooms

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Adding a little glamour to a bathroom, master bathroom or powder room can be done with a few simple and easy additions. If you want a more glamorous bathroom, you don’t have to start from scratch.  After quick changes and a few additions you’ll have a more glamorous bathroom.

 

One of the easiest ways to add glamour to the bathroom is to add a beautiful mirror. In this bathroom, a Venetian style mirror is hung above the free standing soaking tub.  The mirror adds sparkle and brings in additional light to the space. Adding molding around a wall mounted mirror or replacing the builders’ standard with two smaller mirrors can add a glamorous touch as well.

 

Luxurious materials like marble and crystal can instantly give a touch of glamour to the bathroom. While marble floors and counters would be gorgeous, if you aren’t renovating the bathroom you can still add luxurious touches. Thick bath towels and bath mats can add texture and soften the straight lines of the bathroom. Monogramming the towels with your initials personalizes them as well as adds a touch of glamour.

 

Reflective surfaces can also add sparkle and glamour. The soaking tub in this bathroom has a rich metallic finish on the exterior. Chrome and shiny nickel on fixtures are good choice for extra glamour. Add a bit of crystal in a chandelier or wall sconce. Sparkling glass and silver containers for bathroom necessities can add glamour to the counter top.  A small nosegay of flowers is the finishing touch of glamour for the bathroom.

Two are Better than One: Bathroom Sinks

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The standard for master bathroom design is to have his and hers sinks. In newer homes the master bathroom is the largest bathroom in the home and can accommodate a counter top long enough to fit two sinks. In older homes and smaller homes that lack en suite master bathrooms, two sinks are a luxury.

 

Two sinks ideally mean that you each get your own sink. This can be true in some homes while in others the extra sink is rarely used other than to store makeup and hair dryers.  Sometimes one sink with extra counter space is a better option. Even a vanity or make up area would be preferential to the second sink for some couples.

 

If you do have a bathroom that has enough space for a long vanity and two sinks there are many sink options available.  Vessel sinks continue to be popular as do undermounted sinks. Vessel sinks’ smaller footprint will allow more counter top to show around the sink. Vessel sinks may allow you the space to install two sinks on a smaller counter top space.  Wall mounted faucets can also save precious countertop space. Atypical shapes like these rectangular sinks are popular in contemporary and modern design.

 

Because double sink vanities are such large elements in a bathroom, coordinating the sink color and material with the counter and flooring helps give a polished looking design to the room. Matching the counter top with the stone or tile of the bathroom floor can unify these two design elements.

Bathroom Meets Wet Room

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A separate shower and bathtub, preferably a soaking tub, have been standard in a master bathroom for quite a while.  And while showers and tubs have become fancier over the years with more spray and deeper soaks, the layout is pretty standard.  With freestanding soaking tubs becoming more popular, we’re seeing a change in the layout of large master bathrooms.  One of the changes we’re seeing is the creation of a “wet zone”.  Have you seen these? Do you have one in your own master bathroom?

 

A wet zone puts the shower and tub in a single area in the bathroom, like the picture above.  This one has a glass enclosure that contains both the shower and tub. If the glass goes all the way to the ceiling, a sort of steam room is created.  The shower can be a step up from the rest of the bathroom or simple divided from the room with the glass partition; a tiled wall would also work to delineate the space. Continuing the same flooring, whether it be slate, tile, or marble, throughout the bathroom and wet zone helps unify the room. For the wet zone, a textured flooring surface will prevent slips when showering or getting out of the tub.

 

The remaining area of the bathroom can be dedicated to a large vanity with double sinks and storage. A water closet for the toilet keeps that separated as well. Containing the wet zone and steam is ideal for a master bathroom that opens onto the walk-in closet or dressing room.

Design for Awkward Spaces

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This bathroom is a great example of working with the space you have to design a beautiful room. Not every room will have perfect proportions, ceiling height or perfectly placed windows.  Most homes, and bathrooms especially, have their quirks and awkward corners that need to be incorporated into the design or designed around. Utilize the entire space and maximizing the positives.

 

The pitched ceiling in this bathroom makes us think it is probably a converted attic or other garretted space on the top of the home. A walk up attic is the perfect space to carve out a master bedroom with en suite bathroom in an older home. Small homes in the Cape Cod or Dutch gambrel style may also have sharply angled ceilings on the second floor, including in the bathroom.

 

Maximizing the height of the ceiling where it is most needed is key in an awkward space. Keeping the toilet and shower in the tallest part of the bathroom ensures you won’t bump your head. Splitting a double vanity into two separate vanities means they can be tucked under the roof line. A large rectangular mirror and simple wall sconce make the vanity nooks feel more spacious.

 

Light wood flooring and a skylight make the overall space in this bathroom feel larger. Natural light through windows and sky lights make the room feel more open as well.  Skylights are a great feature for second floor bathrooms, especially ones that do not have a window.

From the Floors Up

From the Floors Up blog was created with the goal of providing a destination for consumers, designers and those interested in the flooring, design, and kitchen and bath industries. Here you’ll find, current, accurate and informative information that is always just a click away!

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