Powder Room Perfect

March 9, 2011

By Heather Segreti

Q. People underestimate the importance of the powder room. It’s a small space that your guests will use every time they visit, so you have a limited area to make a big and lasting impression. Can you suggest some sure-fire ways to impress with a pretty powder room?

A. I absolutely love designing and decorating powder rooms. They are one area where you can really make a statement. The powder room should reflect and work alongside the other design elements of the house, but with more luxury and extravagance. Go all out!

Examine your plumbing fixtures first. If they are dated, you may want to invest in a few new pieces – after all this is the room your guest will use.  Drama and extravagance or simplicity with classic touches will be the way to go. Just confirm your design direction and you will be on your way to a new powder room.

First a glamorous decorative mirror will catch your guests’ eye for certain. A new vessel sink and faucet would add that touch of luxury and extravagance to your new room as well. Replacing existing towel bars and paper holders can freshen up any powder room. Finish off with new accessories and you will love your new look and so will your guests.

Considerations for your new powder room: Where you might hold back on that expensive faucet set or sink in your secondary bathrooms, the powder room is the place to splurge and invest in that unique upscale piece that suits your fancy. Traditionally I like to add drama with a darker wall colour or wall covering. Take the wall covering up onto the ceiling for added effect. Mirrors can also expand the space and give the illusion of a larger room. A carefully selected mirror can really make a statement over your vanity.  Lighting is paramount and must be positioned to light the face properly.  One big mistake people make is putting only overhead or pot lighting at the vanity – overhead and pot lighting will create shadows on your face. Lighting should be placed on the wall above the mirror or on either side of the mirror. The idea is that the light will shine directly on your face and reflect back into the mirror for a glowing complexion. There are several free-standing vanity cabinets that you can purchase locally that are easy to install and come equipped with a sink and faucet ready to go. These cabinets come in both traditional and contemporary designs and are great for powder rooms. You just need to call the plumber to hook them up!

Q. I’m making over my main-floor powder room and want to get the biggest bang for my buck. Where would be the best place(s) to invest my budget?

A. If you decide that the flooring needs to be replaced then this is the first thing you should do. Just a warning – flooring may eat up a fair chunk of your budget with demolition and installation.

The biggest bang for your buck will be in your royal throne – the toilet. If it is out dated or disheveled, it will be a grand turn-off for your guests. So, first consider a new toilet and then do the same for your sink. Porcelain that is scratched, stained or rusted has a very unclean appearance. You can purchase a new toilet for a great price at your local building-supply house and find a reasonable but reputable plumber through family or friends. Your bathroom will feel brand new.

Secondly, you don’t have to spend a lot of money on a new custom vanity. There are several wonderful prefabricated cabinets on the market as I mentioned earlier. This can be very budget friendly and leave you more money to spend on other items. Another great perk with some of these vanities is that the sink and faucets are included in the price. Now that you have the staple pieces in place, you can consider a new coat of paint, wallpaper and some updated lighting.

A budget is a must before getting started. Budgets can eliminate unforeseen costs. Make a list and include every item you would like to include down to the toilet paper holder and towel bars. Then prioritize and see what fits into your budget. The fun part is finding the perfect accessories to coordinate with your new powder room. This is where you can get a big bang for your buck, Artwork, towels, soaps and glass jars are just some examples of great budget-conscious accessories.

Q. With compact homes growing in popularity, I made the purchase and now am faced with a reno dilemma – should I include a powder room AND full bathroom in my plan, or forgo the powder room and invest my efforts (and money) in the main bathroom?

A. A compact home can be a bathroom dilemma, however my answer would be to keep the powder room as well as the full-sized bathroom.  Bathrooms and kitchens are great for resale and life is just that much more comfortable with an extra bathroom.

The other big consideration is when you have company, the idea is you don’t want company to use your main bathroom. The powder room is for guests. Keep the powder room as part of your plan and you will not be disappointed in your decision down the road or when you want to sell. A small powder room can be made to look fantastic, even on a modest budget. In every design situation start with the basics and build on that. You can always phase in all your design ideas down the road.

One more thing no one likes a line up at the bathroom and with one bathroom, you could be asking for trouble!

Founder and President of Toronto-based Segreti Design, Heather Segreti is a member of ARIDO and IDC, with more than 22 years of experience. Working with both commercial and residential clients, she brings innovative design ideas to each one of her projects. For more information visit Heather online at segretidesign.com

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